Mostly Summer, With A Dash Of Fall

There's a period of time, quite early in the morning, when I sense fall in the air.  All too soon, the temperatures ascend to the mid 80's and fall is forgotten.  Summer blooms are still numerous in my gardens, like this Pagoda Plant with a lovely visitor...

    

This Clematis had been cut down a few weeks ago and has returned to flower once more...

Thryallis shrubs have been blooming since spring and show no signs of letting up.

Butterfly Bushes, Clerodendrum 'Ugandense',  have been in bloom since April.

'Louis Philippe' is a favorite rose among Florida gardeners.  It's one of the few roses that will thrive in our sandy soils and accept our constant high humidity without being defoliated by black spot.

Tithonia, Zinnias, and Salvias are putting on their final show of the season...

Tibouchinas in the shade garden.

Out front in full sun...

Turk's Cap blooms from early summer until frost in my garden.  These shrubs get by on only rainfall, so they're not looking their best - as we've had little rain lately.

Now for what's looking a little like fall!  The leaves on this Oakleaf Hydrangea look quite fallish...

Blue Ginger

Tractor Seat is sending up some strong buds for fall...

And too soon...I say this because it's still too hot...camellias are bursting with blooms!  One of my favorite tree Sasanquas, 'Kanjiro'.  I took this photo in the morning fog today.  I would prefer that they waited for cooler temps., so the blooms would not fade so quickly.

'Setsugekka', also a Sasanqua Camellia.

Shade gardens still have a lot of color...

I'll be back soon with more Camellia photos...I know this post has been a little long.  I'll close with a picture of Lucy, one of my favorites.  She's an 'Easter Egger' - lays lovely green eggs.

'Egg'citing news!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted anything!  Lately, most of my time in the garden has been spent taming  the wild growth of summer.  Some roses have been removed and some Florida- friendly shrubs have taken their place.  I even downsized some of my gardens - removing a few layers and allowing more lawn to return.  Not to worry, there's still too much!  I'll get to that happy medium one day.  As for now, one of my favorite gingers is blooming...Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora).  

If you look closely, you'll see that only one of the many flowers has actually opened.  Blue Ginger blooms will last for weeks!

This stand of Heliconia was lost in my tropical border before I began the Fall clean up process a few weeks ago.   Hell-o Heliconia!

A few wild orchids are showing up in the shade gardens for one last show this season...

Night blooming jasmine never gives up!  I have several of these that get pruned nearly to the ground several times a year just to keep them in bounds.  Their lovely fragrance in the evening is worth the effort.

 Farfugium Tractor Seat plant has been a great addition to my shade garden.  Gorgeous in bloom, but great, unique foliage even when not in flower.

Clerodendrum Pagoda Flowers have bloomed all year.  They can be a little scary - meaning they will get away from you if you're not willing to pull up their many offspring.  I do love them though, mainly because Zebra Longwings enjoy them so much.

Now for my most exciting news...my 'girls' began laying eggs a few weeks ago!  They have a couple nesting boxes, but they all use the same one.  They're so silly to watch clambering over each other to get possession of the box.  Here's this mornings offerings...

We get all sizes and colors!  It's a thrill each time we go out to collect eggs.  The 'girls' free range each afternoon - it's become our favorite time of the day to sit together outside and watch their antics.

Until next time...happy gardening!

August Garden

Hell-o everyone!  I've been running in and out of the A/C today to get a few photos so I could share a post with you today.  I've been enjoying a number of post vacation, and 'new adventure' blogs from you guys.  My world has been pretty static this summer - awaiting cooler weather, like most everyone else.  I didn't spend much time out in our Florida sunshine, but I ventured out there just long enough to photograph my Purple Coneflowers... 

A Gulf Fritillary wandered by and landed on one of the least attractive flowers, but I didn't wait around for him to move to a prettier one.

The Pagoda Flowers and Firebushes are visited by hummingbirds throughout the day, but not when I am holding a camera...

The only other sun loving plant I photographed was one of the Beautyberry bushes.  They have been dripping with fruit this year, bowed over with the weight...

I retreated to the coolness (or less hot) back yard, under the oak canopy.  The shade gardens are as colorful as any flower garden, and best of all, they need little attention once planted.  I have caladiums everywhere and as they return each year they keep getting larger.  I've got pots of single varieties...

Pots of mixed...

Simple green and white caladiums...

Little guys that look as though they were splashed with paint...

A rainbow of colors...

Across the yard, in a tropical plant border, there's freckled faces...

Another favorite shade plant of mine is the Toad Lily, which like caladiums. return each year.

   I noticed today the Camellia shrubs are chock-full of buds.  That's one of the wonderful aspects of gardening...there's always something to look forward to.  I hope you're all having the BEST summer ever!

Some Like It Hot

My roses are pathetic this time of year, not so my gingers.  While gingers can't tolerate much sun, they handle our nearly daily 100 degree temperatures unfazed.  I've only grown most of my gingers for three years, but I'll continue to add varieties.  I find them easy to live with, needing little care, although some do need a good bit of elbow room.  'Dr. Moy' Ginger is a large plant that needs growing space, but her blooms are exquisite...she's just begun.

Another large ginger, 'Disney',  has been blooming for several weeks.  She still has new buds developing.

Curcumas, or hidden gingers, are a much smaller plant, rarely over two feet tall.  They make themselves right at home with caladiums, coleuses, ferns, and so on.

Out front in my full sun yard, there are a few daylilies on their second or third round of blooms,  The old fashioned yellow and oranges always repeat bloom.

The wild hibiscus love the heat...they bloom from July until frost.

I have lavender ground orchids that bloom in spring, but these yellows wait for summer.  They're planted in an area that gets only morning sun.

Desert Rose, it's name implies it can take heat, and it will.

Two more lovers of our summer heat, a  Thryallis bush, and the blue butterfly bush, Clerodendrum 'ugandense'.  Perfect shrubs for a full sun garden.

Coneflowers are also unaffected by their spot in the sun.

Tithonia is a magnet for butterflies, and stands up to the heat.

Hamelia patens, Firebush, also draws in many butterflies and hummingbirds.

That's what's blooming here in my 'Garden On Fourth Street'.  I hope summer is treating you and  your gardens well.  Thanks for visiting!