I associate the first week of September with cooler weather and the start of fall. This is usually not the case in South Florida. This morning was different. I enjoyed a small flash of fall while walking Fiona the greyhound. A cold front had penetrated the heat dome somehow. The humidity dropped to 50%, a breeze came up off the ocean and it was a clear sunny morning. In celebration of this minor miracle I went in search of an autumnal plant palette.
The fruit is from Cordia boissierei, the White Geiger tree. These seem to flower whenever the mood strikes and have nice clusters of white flowers and fruits. The sulphur butterflies adore the flowers which is an added bonus. The orange Firebush (Hamelia patens) is a garden stalwart and another favorite of the butterflies.
The faux fall foliage is actually from a very colorful tropical shrub. The Piecrust Croton (Codiaeum variegatum). This one does remind me of pie crust and this is the older growth, usually darker in color.
The white daisies, Bidens alba are still out in force plotting to take over the garden, so I cut another bunch. The yellow foliage is also from the Piecrust Croton, this is the new growth. The vase is a historical artifact from the Crate and Barrel, a vintage 70s candle holder that lost its mate somewhere along the way.
That is all from South Florida. I will enjoy the humidity reprieve as long as possible.
Thanks to Cathy from http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting. Follow the link to see more vases.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
As I tested myself in flower identification, there was only one I did not recognize, the White Geiger. Glad to hear you had some nice weather. We may get some rain today.
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Hope it rains! Do you see the White Geigers there? I noticed Buchanans sells them when I was looking at plants with my nephew.
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I’m really not familiar with them. It is a bit warmer in central Houston. I am in a northern suburb. So, you visited Houston? Not quite as tropical as Florida.
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Hi Amy
We loved you arrangement thank s morning. We are happy to hear you are down to 50% humidity. I guess that is the start fall in Florida.
Jon, Gail and Steph
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Hi guys, thank you. The lower humidity is just a teaser I am sure.
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Oh those croton leaves jumped out at me when I first saw your post, Amelia – it is something I once bought as a houseplant. In fact, thinking about it, I bought it for work, and it quickly disappeared… 🙄 They really draw the eye into the arrangement, and I love how the colours change across the display – so well balanced
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Thanks, Cathy. The crotons always got moldy for me as a houseplant.
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A lovely combination, Amelia! I immediately focused on the Cordia fruit, which are very attractive, especially backed up by your beautiful croton foliage. As my own climate seems to be growing steadily more humid (currently standing at 80% this morning), maybe it’s time for me to try growing croton again. California’s “dry heat” now seems to be an anomaly rather than the rule.
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Thanks, Kris. I would give them a try. Very easy and rewarding.
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Stunning! Love the green fruit and multi-colored foliage. We now have the 90 degree heat and humidity. Crazy as it should be 20 degrees cooler.
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Thank you, more weird weather.
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Beautiful flow and drape, A! Very funky fruit that works really well as an anchor, too. So glad you got a reprieve from the heat and humidity… 50% rH is a minor miracle!
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Thanks, Eliza. It is miraculous and an oddly cool Labor Day.
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What wonderful asymmetricality (hmmmm…my computer does not accept that as a real word…), especially with the Christmas ball effect of the White Geiger tree fruit in the centre! I’m happy for your respite from humidity – we’re caught in the northeast heat dome at the moment, with a 100 degree humidex much of the week. Sticky sticky sticky!!
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Autumn in Florida seems odd, almost like winter in Florida. I know nothing of the climate there, so it is difficult for me to imagine those two seasons there.
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It is odd!
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The croton leaves are absolutely perfect as autumn foliage, even if they are tropical! And the fruit could almost pass as acorns. 😉 I can almost feel that cool sea breeze looking at this refreshing arrangement. Hope you get a few days of it still to come. 😃
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Thanks, Cathy. Enjoying it as long as it lasts.
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I hope fall actually sticks around this year…I’m sure you enjoyed the day as much as gathering your material for the arrangement. It is really nice.
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Thanks, Karen. I am feeling fall fading…it was nice.
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The arc of the leaves moving across and anchored with the Cordia boissierei fruits is spot on. Happy Autumn Amy.
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