Winter in South Florida (or as I call it, Not Summer) is winding down. As I was planting my last crop of vegetable seeds, I noticed the lettuces fading and bolting. I grew Red Romaine lettuce this winter and was surprised to see how pretty the flowers are. While picking them, I could tell by the scent that the Romaine had turned bitter, no need to taste it. Even the rabbits have quit eating it and turned to munching on my Bromeliads and eating the old green beans.
Another surprise in the garden was the emergence of 5 flowers on a Guzmania Bromeliad I left in a container for a little too long. I did not know Guzmanias would even put out multiple flowers, so I cut one since it went so well with the Romaine.
In keeping with the salad theme, I added some Copper Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) to the arrangement. The vase is a junk store silverplate heirloom from my mother, gaining patina (rust) with every use.
Here is the Papaya update: More surprises, six fruit so far. I think there will be more.
The Shrub Queen 
I guess the lettuce is not good when the rabbits won’t eat it.
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Seriously, not good! Though, they are not eating Bok choy, Arugula or Radishes. I am aggravated about the shredded Bromeliads.
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Rabbits have eaten my Bromeliads too. The one I have left in the ground is stiff and has “needles” and they still ate it. I put a net around it.
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Very odd, you would think eating bromeliads would hurt.
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I don’t get it.
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We are just not rabbits! I always understood why they would eat pansies, etc, but sharp stuff?
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I love your sophisticated salad theme and gorgeous guzmania. Ooh your Papaya is keeping you on your toes with excitement.
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Thank you, Liz. I thought is seemed a bit Victorian? The colors, I don’t know. The Papaya is causing me to fear squirrels.
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I love the way the stylish Guzmania bloom is echoed in the lettuce and the table that the vase is sitting on – it just adds somethng more, doesn’t it? And well done to your papaya which seems to be doing you proud!!
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Thank you, waiting for the papaya granola yogurt breakfast.
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🙂
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A pretty, if not tasty, arrangement. Such a great use for bolting lettuce. Very exciting news about your papaya!
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Thanks, I would not hazard a bite of that arrangement. Maybe some green papaya salad if I can find a recipe.
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I didn’t realise the rabbits were so picky! I grow Red Romain too. Love the mix of the amazing Guamanian bloom and the humble salad foliage, it looks great.
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Thank you, Christina. The rabbits won’t eat radishes or arugula, so far. I just planted the Arugula. And they left the heirloom Bok Choy alone all winter. Go figure.
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Delicious arrangement…the papaya shows promise, and just look at those leaves….
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Thanks, the rabbits would not eat it! I think the Papaya is one of the more exotic plants in my garden.
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I love the Guzmania/lettuce/fennel combination. I use cilantro as a floral filler in arrangements when it bolts but as we remain unusually cool and wet for this time of year, I don’t expect the cilantro will be making an appearance in a vase any time soon. The papaya’s progress is impressive. I wish I could figure out where to put one – it would make my husband very happy.
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Thanks, I have been enjoying Cilantro this year and it has not bolted yet. That is a great idea.
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Such a rich red on that bloom. I think there will be a yummy papaya salad in your future!
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It is, I was surprised, the second generation of the Bromeliad was prettier than the first. Fingers crossed for Papayas! Hopefully, the rabbits won’t climb.
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Did you show copper fennel earlier? Did you tell me that it holds the color well through summer? I remember it from somewhere. I was not sold on it, but it looks ‘interesting’ as cut foliage.
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Probably, this one has been in a pot for years and is practically a bonsai. It does hold its color and the butterfly larva eat it to nubs every year.
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You are so clever and creative!
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Thank you, Cynthia.
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Clever use of your bitter romaine. It sounds as though your rabbits have discriminating taste but it is a shame about your bromeliads. I used to see rabbits around all the time but none lately. A neighbor took a video of a bobcat in her back yard the other afternoon so maybe that is why no rabbits.
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