It’s Saturday again and summer is still in full force in South Florida. Hot and humid. Heat index over 100 Fahrenheit this afternoon. I am joining The Propagator for his weekly meme, follow the link for more fun.
As summer is seemingly haunting me, I decided to feature ghostly summer whites. First up, the flowers on Cattleya Orchids that were buds in last week’s post.
A little fragrance for my short trips into the garden. This is a Sweet Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata) – I have been pruning it slowly, so many bees buzzing around the flowers they get angry and I have to stop.
Another fragrant flower, the Tropical Gardenia (Tabernaemontana diviricata). These are not a fragrant as Gardenia jasminoides, releasing a subtle fragrance at night.
This is (to me) a bit of an obscure plant. A Tree Spinach (Cnidoscolus chayamansa) considered a superfood – supposed to cure varicose veins! Also toxic unless cooked 20 minutes and creates intestinal distress if cooked in aluminum pans…I have not eaten any. I planted it because it is a butterfly nectar flower, supposedly supplying protein to butterflies. A friend gave this to me about six months ago as a cutting and it is 3 feet tall now.
Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) is a stalwart in my garden. Oddly, it occurs in several other colors. The white version…
Salvia coccinea again, the pink and white version.
Hoping for some cooler temperatures next week. No more haunting from summer, only fall fun in the garden…
The Shrub Queen 
You have a heat index of 100 and we have a frost warning tonight… what a contrast. I’d gladly share some of that cool air with you!
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I would love some cool air. I just looked and we are 1300 miles apart, is the frost early?
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Equinox was about the time for the first frost when I was younger, but in recent decades the frost dates have moved as much as two weeks on either side of the season.
If we get one tonight, it will be light and then we may get a couple more weeks before a hard one comes.
I spent 4 hours in the garden today, harvesting what I could and made 5 arrangements with plenty more left out there. It is sad to say goodbye to all those flowers!
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So the date is not so weird and your house of full of flowers! That works.
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Yup!
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Thanks for your lovely post. I just love your focus on the white flowers in your garden. It bring to mind my neighbor from forty years ago, Adele. This sweet lady was my inspiration and mentor in gardening. Adele would tell me that I need to plant white flowers here and there because white helps illuminate the garden’s dark corners, and shines a spotlight and draws the eye to the other colors in the garden.
I’m pretty sure I would melt if I lived in South Florida. The nip of autumn is riding on the breezes here in Wisconsin.
Now, I’m off to visit your Facebook page…
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Thank you, I start to melt down in September as it seems too late for such heat. It will cool down in a couple of weeks. I love stories like yours about Adele, and she was right. White is the best for shady places
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I am not familiar with sweet almond bush, so read up on it a bit. Just as I suspected by it’s flowers, it IS related to mints! Same order, Lamiales. Very pretty, but not my zone happy.
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I am in Zone 10A – probably its Northern limit. It is pretty and the bees and butterflies love it.
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I just looked at your blog – I love the flower mandala! it would not let me post a comment. I am intrigued with the nutmeg/ cumin. Did not know Nigella could be eaten.
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Whites are my favourite only matched by scented flowers so your 6 are gorgeous!
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There are some gorgeous scented white flowers!
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You can’t beat white flowers. I love the orchid and the fabulous Tropical Gardenia.
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Thank you, Liz. I enjoy them more than I used to..
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I wonder who discovered how to eat Tree Spinach and how many tries it took.
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The Mayans, I think – native to that part of Mexico. I know it is edible, I just don’t want to deal with it. The cooking water is toxic I think. Can’t believe Beta! Batten down again. Really tired of these storms??
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The storms are just crazy this year.
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I know – 40 days til November, hoping it will slow down….
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Too soon, everything will be white here! Have you noticed any butterflies on the spinach tree?
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yes, Zebra Longwings though fewer than I expected.
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Ah! So much white! (and a little bit of pink . . . and yellow)
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I like the sweet almond. It’s interestingly regular in its structure. Does it smell like almonds?
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Thanks, that is just a piece that looks regular. It is a rangy shrub. It has a sweet scent maybe reminscent of almonds and coconut.
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