Central Florida Garden~A Typical Day

We've had a mix of sun and clouds this morning, clouds finally won out.  I was outside early, trying to get a list of things done that I've been working on the last few weeks, but this thing called life, keeps drawing me away.  Thankfully, fall weather is just around the corner, and the gardens will need less of me.  I had just finished thinning the mustard and turnip greens when the sky opened, no more work for today...

I got a nice bowl of greens that I'll mix in with the collards that I thinned yesterday.  I wanted to get some pics of the vegetable garden, but the rain looks like it's set in for a while.

Earlier today, I walked the front yard and found this Autumn Sunset rose full of blooms, in different stages...

She's under planted with Angelonia.

Louis Philippe, on the fence, is a good rose for Florida.  He does get some black spot, but not enough to affect his performance as a beautiful bloomer.

On the other end of this fence, another OGR that was given to me as a small cutting, just two years ago.

Knockout rose.

A Gene Boerner tree rose, by the front porch.

Some more Knockout roses, with Belinda's Dream rose in the background.

The last rose today is an unnamed drift rose.

I recently bought two new Hibiscus shrubs,  $3.88 at Walmart!  I'm trying to incorporate more shrubs into my gardens, for their easy care.  I love a good perennial, and I have a nice variety of Salvias, that I wouldn't give up.  I'm eliminating some other less worthy perennials though, because dead heading has become a dreaded chore during Florida's summer months.

One I've had for several years.

Two other flowering shrubs. the yellow Thryallis and the blue Cleodendrum 'Ugandense'.

My Sasanqua Camellias are just beginning to bloom.  I have two large ones that I pruned into trees, years ago.  I also have about a dozen others, shrub types, full of buds, ready to explode.  They grow beautifully in Florida, some of mine are in full sun...not to be confused with the Japonica Camellia, which needs a shady area.  One of the trees...

It's flower...

Flower from the other Camellia tree.

Down by the vegetable garden, the Mexican Bush Sage and Knockout roses are still in full bloom.

Some Mexican Petunias in the mix.

Blue Ginger not only has a beautiful bloom, but it lasts for weeks.

Lastly, this bee was running around in circles (like me, at times) on my Clematis.

That's all from my garden today... have a wonderful week.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day~September 2015~Central Florida

September is here, but heat and humidity still prevail in Central Florida.  Yesterday morning there was a slight difference in our temperature, but it only lasted until mid-morning.  Whether or not I feel the change in seasons, I can see it in my plants.  Leaves are changing, some plants have grown weary  of standing erect, and nothing is growing quite as vigorous as it was.  I've noticed the shifting sun, intent on leaving my back gardens, just beginning to graze my once, fully shaded, front porch in the mornings.

I'll begin 'bloom day' with this rose, Belinda's Dream.  If you grow this rose, you already know how carefree she is.  I have other roses that have suffered with black spot all season, including some of my Knockout roses, but this one has had beautiful foliage all year.

Belinda's Dream

Belinda's Dream

 Gene Boerner rose by my front porch.

Not sure of the name.

One more, also unnamed.

Our Saucer Magnolias always have a few blooms, but they are not as vibrant this time of year.

I have a couple Desert Roses blooming.

The ground orchids are also still blooming, their flowers seem to last forever.

Speaking of long lasting flowers, I have to mention Hydrangeas.  They change from their awesome, blue spring color, to beautiful mauves and purples, in fall.

Thryallis

Gerbera Daisy

A volunteer, Cardinal Climber, on the front fence.

On to the back gardens, Blue Ginger.

Gloriosa Lilies, still blooming in a few spots.

Hostas are also still blooming, but I can see a decline in some of their foliage.

Mexican Bush Sage...

With Pink Knockout roses in the background.

Happy Bloggers Bloom Day!

Late Summer Garden, In Central Florida

Life has been a little busy, as of late.  It's been over two weeks since I posted anything, but I haven't been doing much gardening.  September, so far, feels exactly like August, hot and humid.  We had two wind storms over the last few days, which blew a lot of small branches out of our oaks.  Some of the taller coleus were uprooted, and other plants in the shade gardens got broken down, by the fallen branches.  Thankfully, nothing that couldn't be fixed, just a lot of clean up.  A few roses are blooming...

 Belinda's Dream

Angel Face

Gold Glow

A double, pink Knockout

On the way back to the vegetable garden, the Mexican Bush Sage is just beginning to show off.  This has to be one of my favorite fall bloomers, it  also blooms in spring, but not so abundantly.  

My Desert Rose, which I find does best when I ignore it, is blooming now.

The 'wild' hibiscus and shrub hibiscus have been constant bloomers all summer.

Clerodendrum 'Ugandense', never quits blooming either.

Still, my favorite bloom of all is my Blue Ginger flower.

Just beginning to erupt...

Other purple blooms...

Tibouchina

Clematis

In the shade gardens,the shorter coleus were able to withstand the winds,and are still going strong.  Curcumas are still happily blooming.

The Christia abcordata, "Swallowtail Plant", was undamaged also.

The last thing I have to share is the 'start' of my fall veggie garden,  a flat of tomatoes that I planted several weeks ago.  They should be ready for the garden by late September.  I don't usually start tomatoes from seed, but the plants are getting so expensive.

Thank you for visiting my garden.  I hope you and your gardens are doing well.