December has been a lovely, warm month in Florida.  Flowers are still in bloom and butterflies are everywhere!  Although some annual flowers are gone, the pollinators are visiting whatever's available.  I've been noticing Gulf  Fritillaries hanging around the Turk's Cap and wondered how they were able to get to the nectar.

  

If you look closely, you can see its proboscis - long flexible tongue - sliding between the petals.

They're after this...sweet nectar, that I also sipped from Turk's Cap as a child.    

The Mexican Flame Vine is attracting many pollinators, including Woodland Skippers.

Gulf Fritillary

Another pollinator magnet still blooming is my Tractor Seat plant.  Polka Dot Wasp Moths are beautifully colored.

Skippers

Zebra Longwings

One of my favorite plants for the shade garden.

The first Japonica Camellia to bloom is my variegated 'Laura Walker'.

A late blooming Sasanqua Camellia, 'Hima Jiman'.

A few pictures of my 'girls'.

I'll say good-bye for now...Merry Christmas to all my gardening friends and visitors.

A Store To Love...

I found a fabulous seed store Thursday!  We had spent Wednesday indoors watching the rain, and was ready to get out of the house.  I found the store while googling nurseries, in my never ending  quest to shop somewhere other than the big box stores.  Turned out it was only 30 minutes from my house, in downtown Leesburg.  

They have a counter where they still sell seed by the ounce.  Tons of little drawers filled with every kind of pea, bean, and seed imaginable.  I haven't seen this in years, since our Seminole stores stopped doing it.  I used to love going in with my MIL, and buying a 1/4 ounce of this and that.

The store is filled with old world charm.  Along the left side of the store, running full length of the building, is a wide porch.  Loads of plants, for indoor and outdoor!  Of course, there's a resident dog sleeping on a rug by the door.  We didn't see a cat, but I'm sure there was one napping in a corner somewhere.  Also on the porch,  a cage with parrots, and another with doves.  You can walk off this porch to enter the outside nursery, which we did, even though it was drizzling rain.  My husband saw them first...camellias.  Well, here's the one he picked.  This photo was taken in the truck...

'Dr. Tinsley' Camellia Japonica

I chose 'Pink Perfection'.  her bloom was a little frazzled,  but you get the idea.

They still sell caladium bulbs singly, out of  cardboard boxes.  I have most of the varieties they were selling, but 'White Queen' is one I can always use a few more of.  Nice, large bulbs for 69 cents is a bargain.  This photo is 'White Queen', in my garden last summer.

I took a few photos today while working outside.  It was a glorious day to be in the garden!  We weeded, mulched, moved plants, and  so forth.  My body now feels every hour of it. 

New Zealand Tea Tree in forefront, with 'Desire', Japonica Camellia in background.

'Desire'

'Desire'

'Yuletide' Sasanqua Camellia

The vegetable garden is still producing broccoli, collard greens, and cabbage.  I filled one raised bed with sweet onion slips a few weeks ago.

This bed has red onions, broccoli, and cabbage at the far end.

My 'Honey' has started me a new flower bed, all that's left to do is till in some compost.  Oh, and of course, plant it in spring...what fun!

I hope all is well with you and your gardens.

  

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day~January 2016~Central Florida

Cool days, the bluest of skies overhead, and the sun shining in all it's splendor...that's Central Florida in January.  A few dreary days are quickly forgotten, when another perfect day is always just around the corner.  This past week was the closest we've come to winter weather though,  I actually wore real shoes for a couple of days, instead of flip-flops.  A few tender plants, mostly annuals, are beginning to look the worse for wear, but roses are still blooming freely...

'Don Juan' Rose

Knockouts

'Louis Philippe' Rose

'Iceberg, Cl.'  on the gazebo.

Against the sky...

Gloriosa Lilies 

Tibouchina

One last bloom around the gazebo, a lovely, fragrant gardenia.

My largest Japonica Camellia is just beginning to bloom.  I believe this is 'Desire'.

Out front a Sasanqua Camellia, 'Cotton Candy'.

Hibiscus blooms always look like 'summer' to me...

Pentas are blooming everywhere, and still attracting an array of butterflies.

'Yangtze' daylily, confused by our weather.

'Black and Blue' Sage.

My last bloom, the tiniest...Purple Queen.

Happy Bloggers Bloom Day!  To enjoy blooms from around the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.