Central Florida Spring Garden

A beautiful, much needed, rainy day in Central Florida!  Finally!  I've run out of things to do inside so I'll take a few minutes and share what's been going on in my gardens this week.  

I have a variety of ginger plants, but Variegated Shell Ginger is always one of the first to bloom.  The foliage is wonderful year round, so I consider the blooms "the cherry on the top".  These are rather large plants and do a great job of  screening my chicken coop. 

The garden by the front porch has erupted with color.  The Amistad Salvia is doing it's part to draw in hummingbirds - love this plant!

Just beginning to bloom, Tithonia is going to mix well in this bed.

'Belindas Dream' rose is doing well here also...one of the easiest care roses for Florida.

A large flowered Clematis by the porch...

A smaller flowered one on the arbor...

This one is so dark, almost black on overcast days.

On the brighter side, daylilies are also blooming.  These are wonderful plants for all gardeners, with or without green thumbs, nearly carefree.

A seldom seen 'for sale' plant that I just love.  I've spread it all over my shade gardens and the hummingbirds are always visiting them.  Hardy red gloxinia...

'Climbing Iceberg'

The vegetable garden is producing mouth-watering, sweet onions and summer squash.  Tomatoes, possibly by Memorial Day.

Still lovely, behind the vegetable garden, Mexican flame vine and yellow bells.

Close by the vegetable garden, this birdhouse is home to a pair of Eastern Bluebirds _ Mama...

Daddy, watching from the shop roof...

Hope you're all having a delightful spring.  Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day ~ March 2016 ~ Central Florida

Spring is wondrous!  Even though we're still five days away from the official first day of spring, my garden is awakening from it's winter slumber. 

Pink Crinum Lily

My roses were pruned very hard four weeks ago, so most are just setting buds now.  Belinda's Dream is one of the few that are blooming now, she's to the left in photo...

Yangtze Daylilies have already begun, they're an early season bloomer - too early, as I haven't gotten all the foliage cleaned up yet.

This past Saturday was the Master Gardener's Spring festival for our area.  My daughter bought me this lovely Passion Vine, I'm hoping it hosts lots of butterflies.

Here's a couple other roses just beginning to bloom, first , Iceberg Climber on top of the gazebo...

Next, a little drift rose.  I believe next month will be the 'WOW' time for the roses in my gardens. 

First Gerbera Daisy of the year.

Also, the first Desert Rose bloom.

I have a six Saucer Magnolias (M. x soulangeana) on the property,  most blooming right now.  Two are a different variety and are just beginning to color up.

These begonias are a favorite of mine, the flowers will eventually be carried on stems ranging from 12 to 18 inches.  

Lots of Impatiens roaming around the shade beds.

Plans for tomorrow are to finish planting the vegetable garden and plant a cutting garden - mostly Zinnias, Tithonia, and Coneflower.  I wish you all beautiful blooms, and a wondrous spring.  To enjoy blooms from around the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day~December 2015~Central Florida

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.