Sun Lovers

Hell-o!  So, our weather forecasters are predicting rain for my neck of the woods over the next few days.  I hope they've got it right this time!  I'm watering so much and feeling like I'm just keeping plants alive, but they're not as stunning as they would be with a normal rain pattern.  The hardy, sun lovers, like daylilies, agapanthus, coneflowers, and firebush aren't batting an eye at this weather, but some others are not at their best. These photos were taken during this week in my full sun front gardens.  Desert Roses love both the heat and the sun.  It's hard to capture the intensity of the red in their  blooms..

I've had both these Desert Roses for several years and have repotted them a few times, but these pots will be their permanent home.

The canes are normally very erect, but this one is bowed down from the weight of its blooms.

Lovely white Crinum Lily blooms only last a few weeks and are often destroyed by lubbers.  We've been vigilantly watching over them this year.

Firebush  is unfazed by our high temps.  I have some that are Florida-native shrubs and some non-native.  Hummingbirds and butterflies love both kinds.

Another hummingbird favorite, Pagoda Flower.  If you have one, for sure you'll have many more because she's a spreader.  They bloom throughout the summer when most plants have given up, so I don't mind pulling their offspring.

Thryallis, yellow daylilies  and Agapanthus...must haves for a summer garden.

Hands down, my favorite border is by the front porch.  Tithonia, coneflowers, salvias and volunteer zinnias to name a few...

One more great summer bloomer, Natchez, Crepe Mrytle.  This one shades the entry to my vegetable garden - smells delightful, light refreshing scent.

Gingers in the shade gardens will be blooming soon.  Until then...happy gardening.

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.

A beautiful morning, in my Central Florida garden.

Oh, what a beautiful morning!  The gardens were still damp from the rain, which we so gratefully received yesterday evening.  Until about ten this morning, it was somewhat cooler than usual, a lovely time to take a few photos.

    

A young clematis at the corner of the porch...this plant likes sun, while the roots want to be kept cool.  I always mulch them heavily, but I also gave her a rock , for the roots to run under.

The crape myrtles were still bowed down from the rain.

 Patterned leaves on a 'hidden' ginger.  

Another pretty pattern, 'Silver Diamonds' Ginger.  I've been enjoying her in a pot, until I decide where she's going.

A 'fancy' elephant ear, in the foreground.  'Colocasia esculenta', variety, 'Mojito'.  Now, I've got that out of my system.

  

We'll just call this one, an elephant ear, with pretty red stems.

Wandering Jew Plant...pieces broke off of a hanging basket plant, now it is wandering.

Disney ginger, just showing color.

Ghost Plant, in an old bird bath.  I think everyone's had one of these, at one time or another,  ( Graptopetalum Paraguayense).

A bit of one, roaming with ferns.

This is a plant that I haven't been able to ID.  I've grown this plant for over twenty-five years, bought it from a Seminole Feed Store.  They had no label on it, but the clerk said it was a wild hibiscus.  The plant has fuzzy leaves and will grow up to two feet, reseeds everywhere.  It's easy to pull up, so it's not a problem.   I love it because it blooms from now until first frost, and there's not much, except roses (and they look crappy during summer), blooming then.

Several shades of red, all beautiful.  At one time, a neighbor lady had some light pink ones...she gave me seeds, but the pinks only showed up for a few years, and hers disappeared also.  If you know what I'm growing, let me know, please.

Shade gardens with caladiums, hostas, coleus...

hostas

              ~ Hope you have a great day. ~