It’s Saturday morning yet again. My morning tour found the more tropical members of my garden mob basking in humidity and unlike me, embracing it. The weather app on my phone had the audacity to state it was going to be six degrees colder today and 90 F. This is not colder.
Mother’s Day is tomorrow in the US. In South Florida, this is the bitter end of snowbird season and generally the advent of humidity. Coincidental? I think not. Join the international Six on Saturday garden tour at Jim’s blog, Garden Ruminations by following the link.
Dendrobium orchids installed in my Cuban avocado tree are putting out new growth after suffering with spider mites when the humidity was lower.
Flowers on the succulent shrub, Devil’s Backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides). A native of Florida and indestructible in the right place, this one lives in partial shade and unirrigated sugar sand. It was a surprise to me that people keep these as houseplants.
Angel’s Trumpet (Brugsmania). I planted this about six months ago, not certain it would grow in my garden, but here it is! The plant has tripled in size and I am hoping for flowers. I did see the mealy bugs and they were dispatched to the great beyond after I took the picture.
Blue Daze Evolvulus. I have been wondering forever what inspires these to bloom. Possibly trimming, fertilizer and the onset of humidity? This is a sulky evergreen groundcover here.
I decided to tree form this massive coleus as it had overrun its under plantings. Has anyone else tried this?
Maybe the trunk needs to be a bit longer? I am thinking of letting the trunk gain some size and then pinching the new growth on top to make it fuller. And I have a lot of cuttings. I could start a tree form coleus farm.
That is all from my garden this Saturday. Thunderstorms are forecast and I am hoping for some rain. We are still not in the rainy season even though there is plenty of moisture in the air!
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
Your dendrobium looks very happy there on the avocado tree. Your angel’s trumpet is taking off, I imagine it will love the upcoming humidity. Happy weekend!
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I feel your pain. The other morning it was so hot and humid, we could not see out of our windows and we have Mexican smoke added in. Forget breathing. My Angel Trumpet froze to the ground and has come back like a rocket. Last year after freezing it did not get flowers, so I’ll see what happens this year. I like you coleus idea.
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I think my comment must be in spam
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It is and I couldn’t get it out! I don’t think WordPress likes you copying pictures or something. How interesting that Evolvulus is a wildflower. It is amazingly tough and I guess it blooms there all summer?
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IT looks the same. I will check it out properly as I think they are in flower at the moment.
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Our plants love the humidity but I’m really not ready for it. You are right, 6 degrees colder doesn’t sound right, 6 degrees less hot is more like it. 😊
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Same here. I understand why the snowbirds leave.
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Ugh, humidity is a bear… you have my sympathies. Coleus in standard form sounds intriguing, as does a tree farm of standards! Maybe line the driveway with them? 🙂
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Someone suggested staying inside until November. Which is about right. I am not sure I have ever seen a Coleus standard. This one has a really thick stem – I am usually no good at training plants, so it is an experiment.
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We’ve had a warm day too, but not nearly as hot as you.
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I would probably be cold there,
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Angel’s trumpet did not get frosted this last winter. I am pleased that we did not need to bring them in from the landscapes. However, they are just sitting and waiting now. One must be repotted into something larger, but if it does not start growing soon, I may bring it in until it does. Six double white angel’s trumpet were added to one of the landscapes. I want them to grow big enough for their roots to survive if their tops freeze next winter.
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I am hoping for flowers!
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It should bloom automatically if it grows. I get the impression that it can not avoid doing so.
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Blue Daze Evolvulus is a favorite today but tree-shaped coleus is a really good idea. Isn’t the stem too fragile and breakable ? Will you add a stake?
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Tree forms are relatively common in Florida. They train Shrimp and Chenille plants into trees. I guess it is the frost free environs. This coleus has a trunk that is almost an inch thick at the base – so it is self supporting. I just pinched the top all the way around, so we shall soon see what happens.
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I love a blue flower and I am very happy yours is doing its thing for us. A tree coleus? Sounds interesting!
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Thanks, wonders of gardening. The tree coleus concept will reveal all.
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That is so hot – your garden seems to love it though. The succulent has a spooky name! There seems to be a Euphorbia for almost every climate. Good luck with the tree-form coleus forming! 😉
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It is spooky! Euphorbias are amazingly everywhere.
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