Living in South Florida requires ‘liking it hot’. The weather certainly is and in my case the colors in my garden. I like it hot. I will say a little moderation in the temperature would be meaningful. I have seen our current weather described as ‘Hell’s Front Porch’.
This morning my husband sent me this, I don’t think it was actually quite that hot. However, I decided to retreat to the air conditioning and leave the garden, letting the weeds take over a little more. We are up to 11.5 inches of rain for August and are expecting a few more inches from a nearby tropical system. The weeds are deliriously happy and reveling in the plentiful precipitation.
A closer view of the vase. The orange tubular flowers are appropriately named for the season, Firebush (Hamelia patens var patens) There is a botany war about the proper name of this plant. I decided that is its proper name.
The red spikes are from Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea), enjoying a banner year with all the rain, red flower at the base of the arrangement is Miniata Bromeliad (Aechmea miniata); white spikes are from Sweet Almond (Aloysia virgata) another great butterfly plant. There is a lot of foliage in this vase. The grey foliage is from the Barometer Bush (Luecophyllum); big green leaves at the base are from Sweet Begonia (Begonia odorata ‘Alba’); burgundy foliage is from a Copperleaf (Acalphya wilkesiana); two kinds of fern – Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata) and Asparagus Fern – both are volunteers. In the back some foliage from a Blanchetiana Bromeliad (Aechmea blanchetiana ‘Lemon’)
The Firebush with a friend. The Zebra Longwing butterflies have been enjoying its nectar this summer, I have seen five butterflies hovering around the flowers more than once. These are planted beside my front door, so I see them several times a day and enjoy the flowers and the Zebras.
Every Monday Cathy at ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com hosts In a Vase on Monday, to see more gardens and vases visit her blog.
Happy Gardening.
The Shrub Queen 
Wow, feels like 150? Now that’s hot. We are under a heat advisory again today. Finally got some rain yesterday.
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Yay – rain for you. It is dark clouds and thunder right now and my dogs are nervous. I should go look at the weather we are in hurricane hysteria mode here.
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Here is one gal who does not like it hot, I totally wilt!
I like the textures of the various leaves and the bright Firebush blooms with red Salvia. This kind of heat I like! 😉
Stay cool this week, Amelia!
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Thanks, it is really just too hot now. Trying to stay inside, got bit by dang fire ants too. Arggh.
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Ooh, too bad. What do you put on their stings? I flashed on Noxema – remember that?
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I used to love Noxema! haven’t had any in years. I put baking soda on the bites and take Benadryl. They are still itching.
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The Firebush seems aptly named. Works great with the foliage. Hope y’all get relief soon from the heat.
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Beautiful butterfly too!
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Thank you, a favorite of mine.
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Good grief, Amy – ‘feels like 150’ does not bear thinking about! 😦 Your foliage today brilliant sets off the red of the firebush, such a good contrast. And the stripey butterfly is gorgeous – there would be no problems identifying that one when you saw it!
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I think someone was joking, it only felt like 105! Thank you I love a good foliage accent with the flowers and have the craziest colors of foliage so I have a lot of fun with foliage.
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Well, once you hit 100, I’m not sure how much it matters how many degrees you’ve gone over – it does indeed feel like hell’s kitchen. Our summer humidity levels have been ramping up with each passing year but we still don’t have anything on Florida in that department; however, the statement that ours is a “dry heat” is suspect if not utterly bogus now. Every time I see your firebush, I kick myself for failing to add one to my garden, especially as it attracts beautiful butterflies.
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Dry heat makes me laugh. Hot is hot, you need a Firebush…
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Crumbs! I do hope it has cooled down a bit by now. I always love to see your exotic vases. Striking butterfly – they must look wonderful flitting about in the garden.
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Slightly cooler and hurricane brewing, crumbs!
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It has been hot here too, 32 c which I think is about 86 f. So not as hot as you, but hot enough. I quite like it for a short time but I don’t enjoy spending 2 hours watering. I love your hot colours. I do wish I could grow your fabulous Firebush. And that butterfly is amazing.
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I was surprised to see it was warmer there than here at one point in July. We’re getting so much rain I have only watered pots.
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Yours are always the oddest. The flowers in Florida are so different from what grows everywhere else.
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Indeed, Zone 10!
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