There is usually a black and white spotted mammal grazing in my back garden, just not one of the bovine sort. Here is Charles the Greyhound in another of his favorite haunts, the beach.
Charles on the beach
Shortly after I took this picture there was a run in with a Daschund. Absolutely the Daschunds mother’s fault (no leash) so we stay in the garden these days. I do not enjoy having my shoulder pulled out of its socket.
Spring is getting into full swing here. Even my husband said “that is a springy vase”. The wildflowers are starting to flower. Most flowers in the vase are native wildflowers:
The red spikes are Salvia coccinea (Tropical Red Salvia), the red and yellow daisies are Gallardia pulchella (Blanketflower); white flowers, the weed Bidens alba (!@#$$%); the blue flowers Porterweed – apparently using Porterweed In A Vase on Monday keeps it from becoming a cursed plant. Gotta love that. There are also some deep red Pentas (Egyptian Star Flowers) on either end. Not native!
I had a meaningful blogging experience this week. A blog friend appeared nearby and we met to tour a garden. Becca, from floweralley.org emerged from her garden to visit the hinterlands of South Florida. We toured the Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach and contemplated the relatively weird plant material of South Florida. The Flower is a much better photographer. Here is the link.https://floweralley.org/2018/05/06/we-are-real/ in case your were wondering. We are real.
The Shrub Queen 
Charles is rather fine! I like the thought of a mammal grazing your garden (well only if he doesn’t graze anything you don’t want him too. Your native flowers look perfect in your fun vase.
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Thank you, Charles is fine and grazes on weeds only!
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A star then!
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Your spring flowers look like late summer flowers to me, such lovely rich colours. I love how you colour co -ordinate your black and white cow with Charles. I wish I could join you on your beach. What fun to have a jaunt with a fellow blogger, I always enjoy meeting up with my blogging friends.
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It is probably late summer England here now as it never gets to late summer Florida hot there. Someday I am going to see your garden on a summer magic carpet – or spring! I would hate to miss the Witch Hazels.
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I like the Blanketflowers. Their form is a good contrast to the other shapes in the fun vase. Lovely. Wonderful to have the meet-up–glad you got to do that.
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Your flowers match what is blooming here, but I think Porter Weed blooms later.
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I am not so sure about the Porterweed!
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I totally get the (%*#&%) after the Bidens Alba. They’re everywhere! But, the butterflies love them so I try to appreciate them…
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Me, too.
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A vase of native wildflowers–what a treat! Yours is the THIRD IAVOM post I’ve seen today featuring an animal vase. I’m going to have to bring out my kangaroo next week. So nice to meet Charles!
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Charles and I are looking forward to the kangaroo.
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I love seeing your native wildflowers and what a treat in that bovine vase!
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Thank you, Donna.
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Tropical red salvia is native? Blanket flower has a big range (I think), but we lack it here.
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The Salvia is native and thrives during the rainy season as does the Gallardia.
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Yes, we bloggers are real – haha! Glad you two got to meet up.
I love the bovine vase (as well as the handsome Charles), and you have filled it with a bright, ‘springy’ mix. The pentas are a nice, rich red.
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Yes, real girls with large,spotted dogs. You called the Pentas perfectly. Rich and red.
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What a happy vase! Love it! I also like the sound of weeds not becoming cursed plants if used in a vase… ground elder next Monday! 😉 Also nice to see you and Flower really are out there are not Fake and exist in REAL life! LOL! Glad you could meet up!
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Thank you, I may appear in Germany some day!!
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Let me know if you come our way! 😉
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[…] Florida, the Shrub Queen arranged native wildflowers in a cow vase and introduced us to a sweet real-life […]
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Love that cow vase!
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