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.

Beyond The Garden

Our property backs up to a canal that leads to a small lake.  When we first moved here, of course we did a lot of fishing.  Now, not so much...mostly we'll ride out on the lake in the evening just to enjoy the sights.  You can go along on this trip, if you'd like...

A clump of Arrowhead by the boat ramp.

One of three Wood Duck boxes my husband put up....as of now, they all have occupants.

This is the canal leading out to the lake, and no, the water is not blue.  It's only the reflection of a beautiful Florida sky in dark water.

About half way down the canal, the Great Blue Herons are nesting in the tall pines.  At least three nests were being built.  I think some of the birds we observed were juveniles.

Out into the lake...

A pair of  Mallards enjoying the day.  The males are in their eclipse plumage right now, not their most vibrant selves.  From what I have read, this occurs after breeding.

Just a hint of shiny green when he turned.

This male seems to be protective...sweet.

A pair of Mottled Ducks, looks similar to the female Mallard.

Muscovy

Another pair of Mallards resting on the bank.

This pair of Mottled Ducks was hanging around the boat ramp when we returned, looking for a hand out.

Up our boat ramp, and to the bird feeders they go...

Just one more bird, the Osprey that are nesting on our neighbor's antenna have built a huge nest now.  I so hope they are successful, as we sometimes see the crows aggravating them.

Thank you all for visiting!  Next time, back in the garden.

Garden Party

We've been having some gorgeous spring weather in Central Florida for the past few days, although today has been quite windy.  I spent most of the day outside, doing a little weeding in the veggie garden, tying up tomatoes, planting a few things...just light gardening.  We began the day with coffee on the front porch, and ended with dinner on the back deck.  I just can't stay inside this time of year, the garden's awakening is so magical, I don't want to miss any of it.  I'll share what's going on in my front garden today, which is mostly full sun.

To view larger, click on any photo...

'Gene Boerner' rose.

'Dr, Huey' rose, which is a root stock rose.

A sweet little rose, 'La Marne'.

Red Knockout, Tree Rose

Double Pink Knockout

'Don Juan' Climbers

Desert Rose

A new addition to my Desert Rose collection (can 3 plants be a collection?).

First clematis to bloom...

Still unfurling...

I  take a lot of close ups of blooms, but I want you to get a sense of what the front of the property looks like in it's entirety.  Obviously, I'm standing on the front porch...the house is about 120' from the picket fence. 

Behind the white arbor...

Beds to the left...

 Beds to the right, where  my hydrangeas live, in my one bit of shade out front.  This side of the yard is somewhat bare because I removed several roses which were diseased.  In their place is a 'Mutabilis', and a 'Mrs. B R Cant'...both good, old roses.  They're tiny now, but it won't take them long to mature.

'Mutabilis' in my garden, in 2004.

The front gardens are almost looking like summer, but there's still so much yet to come... daylilies, agapanthus, hydrangeas, gaura, zinnias, and more.

Until next time...

 We'll  meet around back, under the canopy of the oaks, and see what's growing there.

Once again, I thank you for visiting.  And as always...happy gardening!