Saturday, once again. Today I am looking at six things I am happy to see returning to the garden. ‘Happy Returns’ is also the name of a very nice repeat blooming yellow daylily…I wish I had a few of those. On to the six…
Blanketflower (Gallardia pulchella) – a prolific, reseeding wildflower I enjoy in its many variations. I caught a bee on this one. I leave these to grow wherever they land.
Another batch of Envy Zinnias are in flower. My husband even likes these…he doesn’t notice much in the garden.
Another wildflower that I leave to wander the garden. I enjoy these blue Spiderwort flowers every spring. I am sure it is a Transcandentia, just don’t know which one.
Another native back in bloom, Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa). This is the groundcover that ties my wildflower garden together, or I hope it will.
Pink Cactus Zinnias are also back in the garden…
Another one of my favorite Florida natives is back in bloom – Firebush (Hamelia patens) – a butterfly and bee magnet. The Zebra longwing butterflies are back as well, nectaring on these flowers and the Zinnias.
There, my Six for this Saturday. To see more posts, visit Jon at http://www.thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
You have been the zinnia queen. I am trying harder to get them to grow and started some in pots. My husband is the same, but I guess if we both liked to garden there would be a difference of opinion.
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I am enjoying the zinnias..here, they have to be grown in pots. LOL, yeah, the difference of opinion thing can be a bummer..hubs is a retired architect and we never discuss lighting!
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A beautiful selection. I particularly enjoyed seeing the plants that are native to your part of Florida. Would love to see an overview of the wildlife garden.
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Thanks, the wildlife garden looks pretty fried right now and I have been hanging rotten bananas in the perennials for the butterflies….will take pics when it looks better..
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Hello ! Stunning Firebush and Sunshine Mimosa flowers! Could the tradescantia be a T. virginiana? wild and blue.
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Hi Fred, thanks, it just dawned on me what that is a Florida Dayflower (Commelina erecta) It is a different genus. I think I am too far south for the T.virginica.
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Trying to decide on my favourite from this week – they are all gorgeous!
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Thank you..loving your Camellias!
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What an odd ground cover. I had to look up Mimosa strigillosa. What genus is the ‘real’ mimosa? Like ‘cedar’, the term ‘mimosa’ applies to so many different species.
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It is odd. Mimosa trees are Albizia julibrisson or something like that, invasive in the south but very pretty
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Yes, silk tree used to be popular here, and really should still be popular. It is not invasive here.
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Another great six, Amy. I was going to suggest Commelina but I see in the comments you already got that. It self sows in my garden, too, but I’ve learned not to allow it space, which it quickly overruns!
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Thanks, Eliza. A rare well behaved plant in my garden..
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The Mimosa is quite something. Would love to try growing them… perhaps when I get my greenhouse one day! Your zinnias just keep on going. 😃 And I seem to remember the Firebush has a long flowering season too, doesn’t it?
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They are a interesting little plant, I hope they get going a little more densely…you would need a greenhouse. The zinnias are from a new set of seeds I planted in February, the other ones had lived their life and got replaced. Firebush does last a long time, probably til November.
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Such a lovely six. The Spiderwort and the Zinnias caught my eye.
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Thanks, Rosie Amber,
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