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August 15, 2015

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day ~ August 2015 ~ Central Florida



If plants could talk, I know my ears would be burning.  It's August, in Florida, and I'm outside with a camera, expecting to find some beautiful blooms to photograph...hmm.  They're probably just shaking their little heads and saying, "that's one crazy lady".  At times like this, I would have to agree with them.  I know there won't be much photo worthy material, but it's 'bloom' day, so I'll take what I can get.  There's at least one new ginger blooming in the back shade garden, so we'll start there...
  



Dr.  Moy, a variegated ginger, is a new plant to my garden this year.  It's not a disappointment, I love it.



This is what it looked like, two days ago.


Curcumas, belonging to the long list of hidden gingers, have been blooming for months in my shade gardens.


The pure whites have green foliage.



The lavenders...



and variegated flowers, have foliage with a lovely purple stripe.




Pinecone ginger, beginning to brighten up.




Heliconia, with it's very tropical looking bloom.




I have toad lilies throughout the shade beds, and they bloom from Spring, until frost.




Shooting Star Hydrangea





A yellow ground orchid.




Did I mention that it's YELLOW.



Another ground orchid.







A good, small climbing rose, for Florida...Don Juan.




Not sure of her name, but she's the only other rose on the property that didn't look too sad.




This tree is one of three, 'Natchez' crepe myrtles, we put out last year.  They have all been blooming beautifully, and as an extra bonus, their fragrance is divine.



Always blooming, still no ID.




Tibouchina





Beautyberry shrub, Callicarpa americana, planted by the water's edge.  The mockingbirds will be fighting over her berries, when they all ripen to a deep purple.




I know it's fruit, not flower, but she's so luscious looking, I had to include her.





Faithful, throughout the season, aloe always blooms.  I hope your gardens are making you smile, and providing you that 'quiet place' in life.


















11 comments:

  1. Love the roses!
    Pinecone ginger - most unusual looking
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
    Lea

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  2. I love your gingers. The foliage with the purple stripe is wonderful. Love your toad lilies too and your ground orchids. You really have some beautiful bloomers in your gardens. Thank you for sharing ~ FlowerLady

    P.S. Those huge planters are covered in seashells, and we literally found these curbside in front of the house where they had been standing. They had moved them somehow out to the curb and dumped them over. We couldn't leave them there and that is another story that I wrote about some years ago and will have to find.

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    Replies
    1. Seashells, that's even better. Free, better still! I know it must have taken some muscle to get them moved, but I would have grabbed them too.



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  3. Lovely, all. The unidentified bloom looks like some type of hibiscus?
    Do you prune your crape myrtles to that shape? I didn't know they were fragrant. Just beautiful.
    You've got plenty to photograph!

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  4. Yes, I think it's some wild type of hibiscus, have to go with that unless I find out differently. The crape myrtles have never been pruned, last year they were jut 3', single trunks when I planted them. The white' Natchez' are known to be fast growers, and yes, very fragrant...especially morning and evenings.

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  5. Janice, it was such a treat to "visit" your lovely garden and to see all that is blooming! I really loved the big ginger that had burst into bloom and also the lovely Toad Lillies. I get such great ideas from you about what to plant in my shady spots. You will be pleased to know that I have bought some hostas to try so I hope they will do well for me. As always, have a happy week in the garden and thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kate. I'm so glad you were able to find some hostas for your garden. I recently purchased three plants I saw in your garden, thryallis shrubs. I grew them at our last home, but had forgotten how lovely they are in the summer months. I do remember them becoming brittle, and breaking easily in the wind, so I tried to shelter them a little this time. Have a great week.

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  6. What a bounty of blooms! I just love your ground orchids ... and the little house in the last picture is so charming!

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  7. Looks like there are plenty of beautiful blooms in your summer garden. You've got a great collection of gingers. Love the one with the ruby stripe down the middle of the leaf. Your toad lilies look like orchids - so cute.

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  8. "Take what you can get" . . . are you crazy!? :-) Well, you're gardening in Florida in August, so maybe a little. Your garden is amazing and you had plenty to photograph . . . just beautiful!

    I have a white crape myrtle as well, and you're right, their fragrance is fantastic. Hard to describe, but wonderful.

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  9. "Take what you can get" . . . are you crazy!? :-) Well, you're gardening in Florida in August, so maybe a little. Your garden is amazing and you had plenty to photograph . . . just beautiful!

    I have a white crape myrtle as well, and you're right, their fragrance is fantastic. Hard to describe, but wonderful.

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