Morning Walk About

One of my favorite things to do is walk about my garden first thing in the mornng.  I love to see what surprises await me in the garden; what is new in bloom; what wildlife I might see; the dew on the spiderwebs.  This is what I found this morning.

This bloom(s) of the Oyster Plant, Moses in a Basket, or officially Tradescantia spathacea, is really precious! So many tiny blooms held snuggly in this one bract. The dwarf version is non-invasive.

This bright red Bromeliad bloom looks like a candle flame!  

The early blooms of my Rosella are easiest to spot while their blooms are lighter in color than their leaves. As the bloom ages, it darkens and is difficult to see among the same colored leaves.

I recently moved a potted King's Mantle, or Thumbergia erecta, to a newly built deck on the west side of the house. It is blooming like crazy in its new, sunnier location!

I know many people in South Florida do not appreciate Lantana.  However, I love it as do the butterflies.

My very young Kent mango tree is in bloom!

Although small, the Jatropha bloom is stunning, I think.

This Swamp Tickseed, or Coreopsis, grows wild in my yard and along my roadside.  I purposely mow around them.

My Cape Honeysuckle is recovering nicely from the soggy fall when I feared I had lost it!

This little lizard blends so nicely with a stake in the garden. Although cute, alas, the brown species is taking over the green. 

I planted some lavendar in the butterfly garden to help hide the horrible "sticks" of milkweed necessary for Monarch larvae.  I love the addition!

This pure yellow Hibiscus has not yet bloomed...give it an hour or so.

After no blooms for the last month, the Purple Showers, or Ruellia, is blooming once again!

The Epidendrum, or Reed Orchids, have been in bloom since December!  I like the contrast in color against the bright green Bromeliad backdrop.

The cool color of Plumbago is a must in a hot Florida landscape!

Here's another Bromeliad in bloom. This one is located near the driveway entrance.

These pretty little leaves grow wild on my property. Love them!

This Black-eyed Susan Vine also grows wild on my property. Pretty and tough ground cover.

One of my Phaleanopsis Orchids in bloom

And another Phal in bloom...this the season!

My Lady Margaret Passion Vine is rebounding well after the combination of a wet late fall, a mild chill, and mass caterpillar feasts!

My pretty Vanda in bloom!

My husband found this pretty little specimen while digging post holes for a new entry gate.  Although he showed some agression from fear, this guy is not poisonous.  In our Certified Wildlife Habitat, we are happy to see him!

The little girls were happy to escape their small pullet coupe for the day.  They are just 4 months and not yet laying eggs.  From left to right is Phoebe, Cameron (in honor of our first Cameron), and Honey (who looked like honey when she was a chick - a stark contrast to her darker coloring now).

The ladies are trying to get used to the little girls.  Gina (left) and Penny (right) demand great respect from the new additions.  We have learned where the term "pecking order" comes from!

Orchid Cache!

Recently I was the oh-so-blessed finder

of an amazing orchid cache. 

Five orchids of various types

had been neglected and discarded to the curb

for the bi-weekly refuse team to collect and destroy. 

Fortunately for me and the orchids,

I happened by and came to the rescue.

These poor, pathetic plants need so much help! 

Their potting medium is all but gone

and the roots cling desperately

to the sides of the clay pots they’re housed in

extracting any moisture they can. 

They are scraggly and gangly,

reaching for a better place to live. 

However, I’m amazed at the resiliency

of these so-called “delicate” and “fussy” plants. 

In spite of the obvious neglect,

each of these orchids appear remarkably healthy! 

I didn’t say they are pretty in their current state,

but they are certainly in good condition. 

Of course they live in South Florida

and not in an icy tundra, but still! 

So many people believe orchids are difficult to grow. 

This is just another example of the

“Right Plant, Right Place” rule.

Taking a closer look, I have obtained some Cattleya species.

I checked with my local orchid society

on repotting advise. 

I will need to soak the roots to soften them

and slowly try to lift them off the clay pot. 

If I’m not successful,

I can break the pots and leave small pieces

of clay attached to the root.

I also acquired a Dendrobium...

Check out these roots!

And this tangled mess of Vanda:

Here's a new one growing out the top with it's own set of roots...

I must admit that I am excited

to untangle this beauty and

divide it into numerous plants! 

Who doesn’t love a Vanda?!?!

This Cattleya is in bloom. 

Wow! 

Can you believe someone discarded

a blooming orchid? 

I will wait for the blooms to fade

before repotting this one. 

Of course I’m wondering about the specific identity

of each orchid variety.

I’ll have to wait for those not in bloom

 to show themselves,

but I should be able to find the name

of the one in bloom, shouldn’t I?

After all, you can find anything via Google, right?

Not so.

After perusing endless photos of orchids,

I still have not found the identity of mine.

Certainly it is a Cattleya.

Or is it?

Perhaps it’s a Potinara

which is a hybrid of Cattleya

involving four different genus…

Brassavola x Cattleya x Laelia x Sophronitis to be exact.

I know about this because

I have a Potinara Hoku Gem named ‘Freckles’.

Since Potinara could be a possibility,

I researched some more only to find that

Potinaras really aren’t Potinaras anymore. 

It’s so confusing! 

Apparently the “Orchid Naming Committee” got together

and reclassified a bunch of the parent species

that created the Potinara,

thus changing the name of the Potinara. 

Just when I start to get a small grip on this orchid thing,

something or someone decides to stir the pot…

like the “Orchid Naming Committee.” 

You can read about it by clicking here.  

In short, my Potinara Hoku Gem ‘Freckles’ is now

a Brassocattleya Hoku Gem.

Seriously, I can’t keep up.

Back from my tangent,

I simply want to find the identity

of my pretty, peachy orchid.

If anyone has an idea, please let me know!