I am joining the SOS gang again this week featuring six items of interest from my garden. Most of this week our weather has been dominated by gale warnings. The skies are overcast, the wind has been gusting to 45 mph with downpours of rain sometimes blowing sideways. Floridians crave sunny blue skies and they were few and far between this week. My holiday gardening adventures have been indoors or on the porch this week. To see more SOS posts visit Jim at http://gardeningruminations.co.uk
The front door received a holiday makeover with a bromeliad cutting wreath. I was gratified to read that hoop wreaths are currently in style as I didn’t want to spend too much time in the wind hunting bromeliad cuttings (the hoop part is covered with winding gold and green ribbon) Red bromeliads are Fireball Neoregelia and the bigger green and red one is Super Fireball Neoregelia. Gold accents are fronds from Cabbage Palm trimmed to size.
Front porch pots were replanted. I am trying some more northern favorites mixed with tropicals for the winter. The grey plants are an old favorite ‘Bath’s Pink’ Dianthus. I have never seen one around here, but will be thrilled if it flowers. The bromeliads are mixed Neoregelias, garage sale finds, no one remembers the names but they always thrive, so I am happy to have them. The fern is an Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), again way too far south, so I am hoping for some nice coloration with bronze new growth.
Porch propagation. Another batch of Turkeytangle Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) to replace my former St. Augustine lawn.
I found a tiny Noble Fir tree, slightly crooked, so the angel overseeing things is dancing on top. The scent from the tree alone is worth the effort to me.
Decorating Fiona didn’t go so well. She doesn’t want to be a reindog.
Oral sustenance is required to get through the holidays and the dreary, haunting calls of the gale. Rum cake baking became necessary.
I am wishing everyone a happy holiday season. I think the garden will be a better place next week!
The Shrub Queen 
I really love your wreath. I hope it doesn’t blow away. The news have been full of Florida weather. The storm passed here last night and suddenly the blue sky appeared. Time for a walk.
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Thank you. It’s getting a bit battered. I will probably take it down for the night. Tonight is supposed to be the worst part of the storm. We have 15-17 foot waves at the beach. It’s closed for swimming.
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Wow. How far is your house from the beach?
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3 miles uphill. We live at 30 feet above sea level.
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This is the first time I’ve seen a Bromeliad wreath and I have to say it’s quite successful! Well done ! Otherwise, I think that your reindeer Fiona looks pretty good… She must rest, because soon she will have to drive Santa’s sleigh…! 😂🛷🎅🫎
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Thanks, Fred. Fiona is a washout racing greyhound – she refused to race. I think sleigh pulling is probably out of the question with her.
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Absolutely adore the wreath!
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Thank you.
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That’s a very pretty wreath. Oh, sweet Fiona is so pretty. Happy Holidays!
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Thank you, Happy Holidays to you!
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Those little cakes look lovely and the wreath is so pretty.
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Thank you. Still baking today!
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Ooh, yummy rum cakes! And the door wreath is lovely. I just recycle the same one each year!
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Hey Rosie! Happy Holidays. Rum cakes are a tradition at my house. Thanks.
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Love your bromeliad door wreath, very festive Floridian-style. Fiona is adorable, such imploring eyes! Those rum cakes look delicious and hope your weather settles down.
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Thank you, She does not like clothing of any kind. This weather is like a hurricane without the hurricane, nasty!
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I’m in for the rum cake! And what a lovely wreath. But I’m with Fiona on the antlers.
Happy Christmas to you. And best wishes for 2024.
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Thanks, Cynthia. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Good luck with the new book.
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Fiona is a beautiful dog – those eyes! She definitely doesn’t need decorating! 😉 Glad you found a tree. And I love your wreath – a wonderful idea.👍
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Thanks, Cathy. I call her the Princess Dog cuz she is!
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Fiona does look a bit like a deer – but the does don’t get antlers. She is probably saying I’m a GIRL!
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LOL, I don’t know what she is saying. She is strictly a collar wearing girl. She does look like a key deer if you have seen those.
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Fiona is SO rad!, although she does seem to be annoyed by the decoration. You know, if great Danes pulled Santa Clause’s sleigh, Santa Clause would see eight Dane rears instead of eight reindeers.
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Hahaha, I will share that with Fiona.
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