I am joining SOS this week with my latest crop of unusual. Even in South Florida, April showers bring May flowers. Generally, they are not the same flowers everyone else grows, but I am happy. My cutting flowers are not quite ready for viewing, but their friends are. Visit our host, Jim at GardenRuminations to see more May happiness.
I do love these miniature pineapples. I have a few around the garden. The fruits are reportedly good for juicing. However, I cannot resist cutting them for flower arrangements or drying them for the holidays. And painting them gold!
Intense rain showers inspired the Rain Lilies!
Flaming Torch Bromeliads (Bilbergia pyramidalis) are appearing early this year.
The Purple Heliotrope is still hanging in there with the chartreuse Golden Dewdrop (Duranta erecta)
Mystic Blue Salvia is shining.
Turkeytangle Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) “lawn” is flourishing and providing food for butterflies. Note holes in leaves. Happy caterpillars.
That is my six for this Saturday. Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
I was very excited to see your photo of frogfruit. I am working on frogfruit as a groundcover in my backyard. It’s not as full as yours, but it will come, I hope. How large is your space with this plant, and how long have you had it? Any helpful tips would be welcome. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been working on a Frogfruit lawn blog post. I probably have 1oo square feet. It looks great but it takes some work..stay tuned.
LikeLike
I love the Heliotrope and Duranta mix; the color and texture go so well together. Otherwise, I’m still waiting for the first flower on my Victoria pineapple, but I haven’t given up hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Fred. I am wondering how long the Heliotrope will last. Pineapples take about 3 years here. I will look up Victoria.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Turkeytangle frogfruit still sounds funny. The mini pineapples are funny also. I grow many things from Southern California that I probably should not grow, but have not yet found pineapples. I should grow one from the top of a pineapple.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is all funny! I grow all the pineapples from tops, takes about 3 years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That pineapple is so cute. I put my rain lilies that are in pots, out in the rain, so it will be interesting to see if they will bloom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are! I think your rain lilies will flower..it rained Monday here and took 5 days to flower. Temps in the 80s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We seemed to get plenty of rain. I need to learn to gauge it as 1 inch seems like a lot up here, and I am used to 7 or more to be an issue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everything is local..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apart from the heliotrope these are all plants unfamiliar to gardeners in the UK and all gorgeous. I love your cute little pineapple. And how good anyone resist something called Turkeytangle
Frogfruit? Are you sure you didn’t make that one up?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I rarely see something that grows in the UK that would be perennial here. Though I love the winter annuals. Calendulas continue to elude me, though I think it is possible. I read the explanation for the common name..it seems wild turkeys get tangled in the Phyla looking for frogs..welcome to Florida. I did not make that up. There is a lot of weird moonshine here..and edibles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Turkeys get tangled in it looking for frogs? Really? I’d like to see that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome to Florida! will share pics.
LikeLike
That’s just too funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the salvia! Your flowers all look really happy. The pineapple doesn’t know its fate yet! 😝
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL, I have never juiced one. The salvia are having a great spring. I actually overwatered them!?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your posts about your unique plants are so fun. I’d never heard of a miniature Pineapple before–that’s really nifty! I haven’t grown most of these plants, but I have used Mystic Blue Salvia and Purple Heliotrope in summer pots. The latter looks fabulous paired with Golden Dewdrop!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Beth. I am a big fan of containers. The pineapples are fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My local Wal Mart had miniature pineapple plants at its garden centre last week!! I almost bought one, just for the novelty, and may indeed go back today to see if there’s any left. It’s supposed to warm up a bit starting tomorrow so it may even last the summer, in a pot here… I really really love the rain lilies!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t know WalMart was in Canada! I have enjoyed the pineapples, a friend gave them to me several years ago so they just keep going. And need sun!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I went back, they had a few left, I foolishly bought one (way more $$ than I’ve ever spent for what will likely be an annual…)… clay pot or plastic/ceramic pot I wonder? Does it mind going dry between watering?
LikeLiked by 1 person
clay pot, mine get 6 hrs sun and very free draining soil liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks. When you see the pineapples going to seed cut them off you might get pups.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love heliotrope, the scent is wonderful cherry pie. I can never keep it going though. I must try harder. It looks great with the pale green. Nice to see the phylla lawn, sounds like a marvellous idea! Have a great week.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Gill. I am a bit mystified by the heliotrope. I can;t smell it and it is sold as a perennial here..the big however, everybody says they hate heat?! I should probably take some cuttings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I adore the miniature pineapple! and also love the Purple Heliotrope which is perfectly paired with the Golden Dewdrop for a gorgeous colour combination.
LikeLike
Those mini pineapples are adorable! And I’ really like I’m enjoying the red foliage as well — the potted one I had was not nearly as pretty. And rain lilies!!! Man, do I miss those from California.
LikeLike