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August 8, 2015

Birds...Beware


Another beautiful day in paradise!  It's just a sultry, August day in Florida, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.  Woke up to rain this morning, now it's a steam bath outside.  Hey, at least we're not in triple digits, like part of our country.  I began my August ritual of cutting back roses, especially the knockouts.  I got about a third of the roses done this morning, a couple more sessions, and I'll be ready for a beautiful fall bloom.  I've already told them, 'if you're not great this fall, you will not be here in spring', (yes, like most of you, I talk to my flowers).  Roses are entirely too much work, unless they're going to give back.  While outside this morning, I noticed some lovely blooms on my  saucer magnolias, Magnolia x Soulangeana.  They bloom profusely in late winter- early spring, sometimes a late frost will damage the blooms, like with our azaleas.  The rains, of late, have given them another small flurry of buds and blooms.





I have six of the saucer magnolias on the property.  They're classified as deciduous, but they lose their leaves so late, I hardly notice they're bare before they burst out in leaf again.  This back yard tree, is large enough to offer a shady spot.  I don't take many photos back there, because that's where the Honey's very large shop is located.  There's a small Meyer lemon tree, and a couple Don Juan roses, beyond the sitting area. 




So, while we're visiting the shop anyway, I'll share this...

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This hawk came in a couple evenings ago, looking for dinner at the bird feeders.  They're so beautiful, I just wish they ate birdseed, instead of birds!






The rains have the shade gardens looking very lush...










The way the sunlight played through the alocasia, made it look like an x-ray.






I always have to put up another  curcuma picture...I just love them.




If you've never seen a Blue Ginger, I can't wait to show you this bloom, when it opens.  It has a way to go yet , but they are very unique.




This is where one of my Swallowtail plants is living, on the back deck.


That's all for now, I hope you are all enjoying a beautiful weekend.
































































14 comments:

  1. Wow, is that a hawk? Beautiful! I guess he's waiting for dinner to show up? ;0D
    Glad you got some rain. It's been overcast here all day, but nothing so far. Enjoy your steambath!

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    1. Yes , he's waiting patiently. All but one pile of feathers we've found in the yard, belonged to doves. They're a bit slower than our songbirds.

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  2. Your gardens are lovely even in this steamy weather we are having. I absolutely love that pink magnolia. Does it have a scent too?

    Photos of your gardens inspire me to keep working in mine. Thank you for sharing photos and information.

    FlowerLady

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  3. We have a lot of red shouldered hawks around the yard. Yours is certainly beautiful - but I also don't like how they hang around waiting to dive bomb some poor little birdie just trying to get a meal. I can't wait to see the blue ginger and the pink on your magnolia is stunning! Hope you're having a great Sunday!

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  4. The hawks are magnificent looking, and I know they have to eat...it's all about the food chain. I hope you're enjoying your day too.

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  5. Your shade gardens are stunning! Love the color combinations. I actually enjoy planting a shade garden over a sunny location. They hold up much better during the summer months. Have you noticed your caladiums beginning to fade away. After all the rain mine seem to be on their way out. I totally agree with you about the hawks. They are beautiful though!

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  6. I'd have shade beds on the entire property, if I could. Maybe just one little sunny place, for some agapanthus and daylilies. And yes, my caladiums are starting to fade also. I don't recall them ever declining before September...must be all the rain. My potted ones are holding up better than the ones in the ground.

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  7. Hi Janice!
    Lovely, lovely photos. I adore the Saucer Magnolia. Once again, I have learned something new because I did not know that they did so well here...but obviously they do. We used to have them in NC and they are so special. Aren't the Hawks beautiful? I loved your photos of it but, so sorry they attack the other birds. I haven't had a problem on the bird feeders but I did have one attack and destroy a nest that had been built in an old wall planter. That was really sad. Thanks again for sharing and inspiring. Can't wait to see the pics of the blue ginger. You've reminded me that I need to get out there this week to tidy up my roses too!
    Happy Gardening
    Kate

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  8. Thanks, Kate. My daughter and grandson just got back from Boone, NC., they took a mini-vacation before school begins again. They used to have a cabin on Buck MT., I believe it was Wilkes county. They've got us wanting to go again, maybe in the fall. Perhaps, I could find some different varieties of hostas, if we go.
    Take care

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    1. Oh I'd be so jealous of you if you went in the fall! It would be a lovely time to visit! What a great idea to go in search of more hostas...I used to have so many varieties there...I'm sure you could research a few nurseries before you went. I used to go to Plant Delights which was near Raleigh...he is a hosta guru! They have a website and ship very fast and well. I have ordered one or two things from them to Florida.

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  9. Your shade garden sure is lush, and I can't believe how colorful it is! I really want to work on bringing more color to my shady areas--and your garden is definitely an inspiration. What is the beautiful plant with all the white flowers in the front of the shade bed?

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  10. Leslie, that's a curcuma, belonging to the ornamental ginger family. I have it in white, lavender and dark purple. It's just a real carefree plant, listed for zones 8-11. They've been returning in my garden for 3 years, and some need dividing now.

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  11. These are some wonderful summery shots and the colors are just awesome to see. We're nudging toward spring here in New Zealand so your flowers are great to see!

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  12. Thanks, for visiting. We are in the dog days of summer, here in Florida. I can hardly wait for fall, and a respite from our 90+ degree days. Of course, as soon as summer is gone, I'll be missing it.

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