The seasonal change seems to be eluding my garden this week. A high temperature of 87 F / 30 C is decidedly not autumnal – and it stopped raining. We had so much rain earlier in October I completely forgot to water the orchids. Only one (I’m lying) was wilted. I nearly charbroiled some that were new to their terracotta Uh, pizza ovens. Those were quickly moved back into the shade, drenched and fingers crossed everyone recovers.
The good news is the humidity is down, so I have done quite a bit of pruning and weed pulling and there are plenty of flowers to cut.
The Lady Di (in red) and Choconiana (in orange) Heliconias (H. psittacorum) are in full bloom. The tiny Lobster Claws are from Aechmea blanchetiana flowers. White spikes are from the Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa). Trimmed palm fronds provide the greenery.
The flower hanging over the side is from Aechmea rubens bromeliad. I think this flowered in June. They have the consistency of straw flowers and keep their color forever on the plant. Once cut, they turn brown fairly quickly. The crystal pitcher was a wedding gift. I think it has only been used as a vase.
That is all from my garden this Monday. Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly meme. To view more vases visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden
The Shrub Queen 
Your colourful, happy arrangements often remind me of exotic birds and this one is no exception. Just beautiful 🙂
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Hi Annette, great to hear from you. One of the common names for the flowers is Parrotflowers.. hugs to the dogs!
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there you go 😀 and thanks for the hugs
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I wish my Heliconias psittacorum would bloom like that. They grow somewhat nicely, with nice foliage, but have not taken the time to bloom.
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I think they love heat and water. These have spread on the side of a wall that holds water and heat.
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I can give them water, but not heat or humidity.
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Ooh, this is a decidedly autumnal but tropical vase with such lovely warm colours. And you invariably do such effective things with foliage. It’s curious that the Aechmea flowers stay pristine on the plant, but go brown when they are cut…
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Thanks, Cathy. Bromeliad flowers really prefer to stay on the plant.
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Nice flow to this one, A. I love that Heliconia especially. 🙂
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Thanks, Eliza I usually think of you when I cut Heliconia!
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🙂
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I hope your orchids recover fully. After our first – and early rainstorm – last week, our temperatures also zoomed back up and immediately started to dry everything up. the irrigation system is set to go back on tomorrow 😦
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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Thanks, Kris. I went irrigation free about five years ago. No regrets.
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Those are some nice autumn colors for Florida. I get to see leaves change up here.
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The Aechmea flower is very striking and I do like the way you use trimmed palm leaves too. Hope your orchids all recovered and you get some showers again soon.
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It rained like mad 4 inches in one night. The orchids are being rehydrated!
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The heat shows in those tropical colors! Hope the orchids recover well enough. Isn’t it funny how you can check the garden every day and then all of a sudden there’s some tragedy which was days in the making that just jumps out at you? The Juba bush is interesting. I spent way too much time looking it up and then suddenly found myself back on your blog for a three year old vase post where you talk a little more on it. Cool wildflower.
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I am pleased to report the orchids are much better and have learned they can be rehydrated by soaking in water for weeks, so I am giving that a try. I love the Juba!
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Oh yes, I opened up your post and smiled. The warm colors remind me of both summertime and the bright autumn leaves of autumn around here. The glass vase is perfect, and I really love the trimmed fan shapes of the Palm fronds. Gorgeous!
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Thanks, Beth
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The tropical colors of a Florida fall.
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