Garden Bloggers Bloom Day ~ June 2016 ~ Central Florida

June is prime time for blooms, as long as you're growing hardy perennials.  Central Florida's heat index has reached triple digits several days and even our afternoon showers are not having much of a cooling affect.  

This morning a lovely fog lay upon the gardens and with it came a quietness that you always wish could last a little longer.  It encloses one as a cocoon, obscuring an entire neighborhood.  Agapanthus, daylilies and roses all looked refreshed after last evening's rain... 

It didn't take long for Florida's sun to burn off the fog, and soon to feel as though I were in a sauna.  Thankfully, daylilies love the sun.

My daylilies are older varieties, all repeat bloomers.  They will outlast the blue Agapanthus, but not the yellow Thryallis shrub, nor the red Knockout rose.

Thryallis bloom.

The afternoon rains have caused rampant growth in my sun gardens, loving it.

When the blue Agapanthus are gone, I'll still have the beautiful blue of this Clerodendrum ugandense, or blue butterfly bush.  It's an easy care shrub, like the Thryallis.

 This shrub will bloom all summer until frost.

Daylilies that are blooming now, 'Kwanso'...

'Lemon'

'Pandora's Box'

 Two  reds...

 Crepe Mrytle blooms were hanging low this morning, weighted down from last night's shower.  This is a 'Natchez',  mildew resistant. easy care.

Not only is the bloom of these trees beautiful, but their fall foliage is a handsome red-orange.  The bark of this tree is also a winning attribute...peeling to reveal a rich, cinnamon brown.

Another wonderful shrub for Florida, Hamelia patens or firebush, is a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds.  In the background, Clerodendrum paniculatum, Pagoda Flower...one of my favorites!

I'll close with a shade plant bloom, Tricyrtis, Toad Lily...

Blooms from around the world are being shared over at May Dreams Gardens.  Happy Gardening!

Shade And Sun Gardens

This is my first post on my new blog, Garden On Fourth Street.  I was able to import most of my first garden blog, Gardening Outside The Lines, so all is not lost.  If you're reading this, you've found me...yay!  My last few posts have been focused on my full sun gardens in front of the house, because Spring is all about blooms.  Today we're also going to visit my shade gardens under the oaks, around back. Caladiums have returned faithfully, as they do each year.  Along with them, toad lilies, cordylines, hostas, gingers of all kinds, and hydrangeas.

You simply can't beat caladiums for color in the shade, and I love to mix a bunch together for large barrels.

Toad Lilies just beginning to bloom in this border...

Across the yard, this shade garden is planted with a variety of gingers, colocasias, and cordylines.  The large plant to the right, Costus spicatus, Indianhead Ginger.

Indianhead Gingers flowers, with a variegated Ginger Lily in foreground.

One of my favorite Colocasias, 'Mojito'.

First of many Curcuma Ginger blooms...

A lacecap hydrangea that I've had a long time.

And a new one, unnamed, that I found on the clearance rack this year.

Now, back to full sun blooms!  Just as the 'Lemon' daylilies begin to slow down, the orange 'Kwanso' and 'Ditch'  daylilies  join in the parade.  Oranges are my favorite!  Agapanthus and Gaura lindheimeri are still going strong. 

 Gerbera Daisy, in front of  hydrangeas which are beginning to fade to mauve.

Zinnias are still standing, in spite of winds and driving rains a couple days ago...

First Mexican Tithonia bloom.

Hoping your gardens are filled with blooms!  Until next time...

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.