Garden Bloggers Bloom Day~April 2016~Central Florida

Central Florida is still experiencing spring like weather, which is not always our norm in April.  We often go straight from winter, to summer heat and humidity, in a blink of an eye.  I'm enjoying it while it lasts!  It's bloom day, so here's what's blooming...

'Night Beacon', Daylily.

Another early blooming Daylily, 'Challenger'.

This is an old, hardy Amaryllis...I've always known it as 'Johnson's' Amaryllis, but some refer to it as 'St. Joseph's Lily'.  This is one of the South's pass-along plants.

Another pass-along plant, this pink Crinum has been blooming awhile, and will continue for a few more weeks.  This plant has become hard to find, with the loss of our small, local nurseries.

Roses and Salvia

 Clematis are just beginning to bloom...

This one, a little ahead of the rest...

Serissa foetida, with it's diminutive flower and leaves is a dainty shrub.

Passion Flower

A common succulent, Ghost Plant.

Black-Eyed Susan Vine is making it's return.

 Confederate Jasmine blooms have begun to perfume the air with their lovely scent.

Many plants in my gardens are just beginning to show color...like these French Hydrangeas.

'Red Cascade' Rose is also just beginning...

First blooms in 'Black and Blue' Sage

Also the first of many Zinnias to bloom...

Gaura lindheimeri, pink, which I haven't planted in three years!  I have about a dozen white ones, which return each year, but the pinks never over wintered for me.  Well, one finally returned...

English Dogwood, or Mock Orange.  I've had these nearly thirty years, but over time they've become too shaded.  Next winter, I'll dig some clumps out and relocate them to a sunnier area.

Just a bud, but one I look forward to every spring, Agapanthus, Lily-Of-The-Nile, by any name...beautiful.

Happy GBBD to all...enjoy spring, and if you'd like to see more blooms 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.