As winter turns to spring in South Florida, I often wonder if fairies have been in my garden waving their wands to create magical flowers in my garden. Floral fireworks explode from green buds in magenta and orange, followed by apricot flowers painted with sage green tips; burgundy foliage reveals charteuse edges. Mother Nature and magic are the only things that explain this beauty.
The fairy standing sentry over the rock belonged to my mother and has resided in my garden since she left this world. The flowers are; in orange, Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera); in the front of the arrangement, Soap Aloe (Aloe saponaria) with Solar Sunrise Coleus and Asparagus Fern foliage; the pink flowers are from our native Sunshine Mimosa backed by Alabama Coleus and a bit of Copper Fennel. The rock is another family piece and was covered in my blog yesterday, here is a link if you would like to read about it Heirloom Rocks . 
This flower is the one that always brings fairies and wands to my mind. It is a Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa stringillosa) a low groundcover perennial with ferny foliage and tiny pink mophead flowers with yellow (I think) pollen granules at their ends. Sunshine Mimosa slumbers in the garden until spring rains wake it up to send up stems of pink magic.
Wishing you Happy Spring Gardening and magical flowers this Monday.
The Shrub Queen 
There must be fairies in the air today. The Sunshine Mimosa is interesting, I don’t think I ever saw one.
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I think Becca started me thinking about fairies – the Mimosa flowers just look like Tinkerbelle was responsible. The Mimosa will grow on the Gulf Coast in Texas, not sure how far north you are.
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I’ll have to look around. I’m just north of Houston and in a slightly different zone. A few degrees really does make a difference.
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Beautiful beautiful ! Need a trip to Florida to feel alive. Been way too cold here but getting better now.
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Better come on down, it is getting hot.
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Definitely floral fairies at work here too! I like the elegant one of yours presiding over the blooms which are as exotic looking as ever – and that pink mimosa looks especially lovely
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Exotic again? and whoever heard of a groundcover Mimosa? Maybe my fairies are exotic.
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Love that mimosa – it is wonderful! The fairy sculpture is pretty cool, too. 🙂
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Mimosa is a funky little plant, recommended to replace lawn. I would rather have lawn and leave this in the perennial garden. Thanks..
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The fairy statue looks very Art Deco, and I love that she is a family piece! Very nice collection of plants!
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Thank you, she is very Deco.
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I adore fairies and this one is especially special because it belonged to your mom….she has a fabulous array of tropical flowers to adorn her.
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Thank you, fairies explain a lot in the garden!
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Oh, this is so lovely! Yes, magical. Such a beautiful setting too. The Coleus leaves set off the aloe so nicely and your mimosa is sweet!
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Thank you, a magical Monday from Florida to Germany.
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I mistook the mimosa flower for Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’ at first. With your assistance, the fairy assembled a very pretty spring vignette. The rock is a nice piece. Do you regret leaving the other rocks behind? I was asked to clean and polish up my mother-in-law’s garden after she passed away in preparation for putting her house on the market. Before the sale was even finalized, the purchaser (without permission) went ahead and demolished the backyard. After that experience, I’ll think 2x before leaving anything behind (should I ever convince my husband to move again).
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Kris, while I have mixed feelings about the Mimosa. My parents’ backyard was such an expression of their love and love of their garden I have no regrets about what was left behind. I took some rocks and they are still in my garden.I still have their cat and would like to airlift her ashes into that space when she goes (the cat is 17).
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All these flowers are strange to me! I only know the coleus and soap aloe, but would not have recognized the blooms.
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Always lovely to sample the (to me) unobtainable in your vases. That little mimosa and the pretty little soap aloe are my favourites. I hope your mother can see the enchanted little woodland you’ve created around her fairy!
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How nice to think of your mother’s fairy watching over you. The Mexican honeysuckle is a wonderful, rich orange, and an amazing shape too. It does look magical with your soap aloe and mimosa flowers.
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Thank you
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As always I come to your blog to see exotic and unusual flowers. I have never seen the pink mimosa before, how pretty. I love your fairy, how lovely that it belonged to your mother and now watches over your garden.
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Hi Liz, I am only crazy about the Mimosa when it is blooming- but, I like the fairy year round.
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