I am joining The Propagator today for his meme. Six on Saturday. Posting six items of interest from your garden, any six things. This week I am all about things I am finding in the foliage. To see more posts, go to http://www.thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com
You may wonder what is that and why is it wearing old pantyhose? This is a Hard Cane Dendrobium Orchid, a gift from a neighbor. The stem is about the size of a leek, a big leek at that. These are native to the South Pacific and grow in trees. There are over 2,000 varieties – I have no clue what type this might be. It could be a Dendrobium – Phaleonopsis that produces flower sprays about 10 feet long.
And it requires sun. I found this out after installing it in the wrong tree – the Strangler Fig in full shade. Oops, the Orchid spent one night in the Fig. The next morning I moved it to the Gumbo Limbo in my much sunnier front garden.
On to the Gumbo Limbo. I added some orchid bark mix and peat moss in the control top of the pantyhose and placed the roots in the mix. This will give the roots some nutrition while they grow into the trunk of the tree. Here is the Orchid in its new home.
It is mounted into the crotch of the Gumbo Limbo tree about six feet above the ground. It has a bud and I am hoping to see some flowers, though it seems these are summer bloomers for the most part. Fingers crossed.
Eventually the Orchid should put roots into the tree trunk and the pantyhose will go away. But, they do almost match the color of the trunk. I found a couple of other items of interest in the foliage this week.
This is a Stick Bug in the Beautyberry. Eating the foliage on the Beautyberry. I left him or her there to continue dining.
This is a Treefrog – this guy did not want to leave the Firebush I was pruning and finally jumped off on my bare foot. Feeling very reptilian to the touch. There are numerous types of Treefrogs that live in South Florida and I can’t tell them apart.
Happy Saturday from South Florida and Happy Gardening.
The Shrub Queen 
I think that Tree Frogs are too sleepy during the day to move. I’ve had that happen before. Keep us posted on the orchid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that is interesting, thank you. I cut the branch and put him back in the shrub, thinking he would jump off..I think you’re right. Sleepy frogs…the orchid will be interesting to watch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
great photos again and love the plants and wildlife you have where you live.
LikeLike
Thank you..I still think Florida is a bit weird..here 8 years now.
LikeLike
Cute frog! Our peepers are calling again in woods, this is their second spring, but without the breeding.
I would love to be able to plant orchids in my trees. I must be a latent snowbird. 😉 Spending the winter months gardening in the tropics sounds wonderful to me. Alas, that won’t be happening this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The frog is cute, though it may be an invasive one. I can’t tell the frogs…I think I would like to be a Snowbird at this point – still 90 degrees at 4:30 pm. ugh. Did you get a hard frost?
LikeLike
Four nights of light frost earlier in the week, so some things are still limping along. It was too cold for too long for most of the annuals. The trees are really coloring up the last few days, about a week ahead of the average.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds quite pleasant – 90 again here.
LikeLike
That is SO cool! What a wonderful tutorial you have created. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I was just lurking under the tree looking for orchids.
LikeLike
It’s a different world to me – I’m in Ireland – and so very interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Paddy, I am from Atlanta – about 600 miles north and a world away gardening wise. I just found out I am 8 % Irish! Amelia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, at least you are 92% OK! LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
WASP American Mutt! mostly Scottish
LikeLiked by 1 person
Orchids wearing tights , berry eating sticks and cute looking tree frogs. What a fascinating part of the world you live in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The people are weird, too.
LikeLike
Pantyhose are remarkably useful in the garden. It is sort of weird, but is probably better than other garments. I questioned their use for supporting heavy melons on trellised vines, but then figured that they were less embarrassing than the options.
LikeLike