Central Florida is having absolutely, magical weather. It was 84 degrees yesterday, perfect for lazing about outside, enjoying a glass of iced tea. There's no lack of blooms for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, so I'll begin with some of the roses that are flowering...
Belinda's Dream Rose
Clair Matin Rose
Queen Elizabeth Rose
Red Cascade Climbing Rose
My smallest Sasanqua Camellia shrubs have an abundance of blooms...
'Cotton Candy'
'Stephanie Golden'
'Snow-on-the-Mountain'
This beauty is from a larger Sasanqua.
The Black Eyed Susan Vine has been in bloom for months. Some of our neighbors have gathered seeds from her, so perhaps there will be offspring to enjoy next year in our vicinity.
I bought this ginger in spring, unlabeled. Turned out to be a Costus spicatus, common name, Indian Head Ginger.
Cheerful hibiscus.
Clerodendrum Vine
A Tibouchina in the midst of the shade garden.
I cut these plants down to the ground, at the end of summer. They were a ragged mess, but they've returned beautifully. Salvia guaranitica, 'Black and Blue'.
While I was taking the photo above, a couple of our resident Sandhill Cranes came strolling down the road...
There's always a lot blooming here, and I never get around to sharing the Impatiens that are roaming around the shade garden, but they're important too.
Plants like the New Zealand Tea Tree, with their tiny rose-like blooms, are also overlooked.
Then there's begonias, often ignored too, but deserving of recognition. This large potful has returned faithfully, year after year. She gets moved about, brightening up whatever corner of the garden I place her in.
Turks cap
Gardenia
Pagoda Flower
Gloriosa Lily
I hope everyone is having a great week, whether gardening or planning next years garden. Happy GBBD. Visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see blooms from around the world.
Hi Janice, this warm weather is perfect for roses and you have a lot of beautiful ones. I've noticed that plants seem to be confused. I have caladiums coming up and the crape myrtle trees are sending out new leaves. I hope we get some cool weather before a serious freeze. Your Black-eyed Susan vine is very pretty. Is it an annual? Is it aggressive? Love the cranes. They are always a joy to see.
ReplyDeleteSo true, this continued warmth is a little too much of a good thing. The Black-eyed Susan vine never went completely away last year, it died down to about a foot tall. In spring, I cut it down to green vine and it took off again. It is a perennial vine, probably grown as an annual anywhere north of FL. It's not aggressive yet, but I would like to see the growth abated by the cold again this year.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I love everything growing in your gardens. Love your Black-eyed Susan vine. It would make a pretty addition to any garden.
ReplyDeleteI would like some chilly weather, this unseasonal heat and humidity just don't feel right at all. Although, it's not as bad as it is during our summers.
Thank you for sharing all of the beauty that is surrounding you and those wonderful cranes too.
Happy Christmas ~ FlowerLady
What wonderful constant color! Your visiting cranes are just lovely.
ReplyDeleteHelene, I have three Leptospermum shrubs, all the same variety, but I don't recall the name. I would guess mine to be about 4-5 ft. tall, but they are only 3 years old. I've grown them in the past and 5-6 ft. was the tallest mine ever got. I only prune an occasional dead branch. Good luck, and thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteJanice, where do you get your roses? You have so many interesting ones. I really like the Clair Matin--it has that lovely "wild rose" look.
ReplyDeleteI'm really impressed by your huge begonia (it's so cool that it comes back), and how neat that you see sandhill cranes just walking down the street!
Leslie, the Clair Matin, Belinda's Dream, Gene Boerner, and a couple others came from a truly weird place. There's a family owned True Value hardware store, in Ocala, that gets a nice selection of roses each spring and sells them on the sidewalk. They always have something that you can't get from Lowes or H.D. My Knockouts did come from those two stores. Louis Philippe, Pink Pet, and a couple other OGR's were cuttings from a friend. It's just unfortunate that most of the small nurseries, with interesting stock, have not been able to compete.
ReplyDeleteHi Janice! Absolutely lovely blooms - all of them!!! The New Zealand Tea Tree has me fascinated - I came across that somewhere else recently and now I've seen yours and I love it! We've got a True Value store in the area and they always have some interesting plants that others don't have as well - I had just discovered that about them last year... Wonderful post and your garden is looking so beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Janice! Absolutely lovely blooms - all of them!!! The New Zealand Tea Tree has me fascinated - I came across that somewhere else recently and now I've seen yours and I love it! We've got a True Value store in the area and they always have some interesting plants that others don't have as well - I had just discovered that about them last year... Wonderful post and your garden is looking so beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn! Kinda crazy, for a unique plant, go to True Value. Hope all is well with you...happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Gorgeous! Janice, your garden is always such a wonderful delight with so much color and lovely blooms. Isn't it wonderful to be right at the end of the year and to be able to enjoy our gardens and all these beautiful flowers?! I love your Clair Matin rose and the New Zealand Tea as well. I had one a few years ago but sadly, I think I murdered it!! Looking at yours has made me want to try again! I love seeing the Sand Hill Cranes as they are such elegant birds...I always get so worried for them because I see them crossing the road ever so slowly and people just don't slow down. Anyway, as always just lovely looking at all your beautiful flowers. Have a lovely Christmas!
ReplyDelete- Kate