This is a hot color special in honor of the summer solstice. I must have some Three Bears issues about day length. I don’t like them too long like they are now – but I especially dislike them too short, like they are at the winter solstice. The question is what is just right? I need to find Goldilocks..
It had not crossed my mind until today that the Lobsterclaw Heliconia are usually in sync with the solstice, the flowers always start appearing after mid June. I think they like the day length.
It is blistering hot here as predicted by the purveyors of the El Nino weather phenomenon. High temperatures in the low 90s (33 C) feels like 101 (38C). We have been getting extensive evening thunderstorms so the plants are thriving. I have been moving orchids around in the trees, they are loving the heat and humidity and rooting into the bark quickly. It’s interesting to watch. I installed 2 types of orchids in a mango tree this week – it doesn’t get more tropical than that!
The red, yellow and green flower is a Lobsterclaw Heliconia (Heliconia rostrata). Red hots flower is from the Aechmea miniata bromeliad. Multicolored foliage is Piecrust Croton (Codieum variegatum) Trimmed palm frond is a Cabbage Palm (Palmetto sabal)
That is all from my garden this Monday. Reclining in air conditioned comfort seems like the best plan..though I did manage to plant another batch of zinnia seeds!
Visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden and follow the links to see more vase creations.
The Shrub Queen 
Lovely arrangement – I LOVE that Heliconia (as you well know)! Sorry about your abominable weather, stay cool!
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We are on the same page with Heliconias. The smaller ones really haven’t bounced back yet. 3 months til October!
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Lobster claw heliconia must be very sensitive to cool weather. I have never seen one, even in the Los Angeles region.
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I think so. I am on the very northern edge of hardiness. They were killed to the ground but have made a great recovery.
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Well, yes, if they were killed to the ground there, they would do worse even in Los Angeles, and obviously worse here. The Heliconia psittacorum that I brought from Los Angeles does very well there, but gets shabby with shelter here.
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I think your colors match the temperature. Every day we are told we are getting dangerous storms, and none appear. One was predicted for today, and now I’d be surprised to see a sprinkle. This is somehow the garden capital of the US, and there’s no rain.
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Yes, this morning my phone notified me of an afternoon monsoon. It sounds pretty rumbly outside, but sometimes they don’t get here. The garden capital?
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is officially designated as “America’s Garden Capital.” The region boasts more than 30 public gardens, arboreta, and historic landscapes within a 30-mile radius of the city center, giving it the highest concentration of public gardens in North America.
The Garden Club of America (GCA): If you are thinking of the national organization, the GCA was established in April 1913 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. Twelve clubs from the eastern and central United States formed it, and it is now headquartered in New York City. Yup. Right here. They must have gotten more rain back then.
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I’m always envious of your Lobsterclaw flowers. I can’t imagine any flashier than those! I’m sorry to hear about the heat but it sounds as though we can expect some of our own soon too 😦
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Thanks, Kris.
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Oh that is a perfect vase for your hot solstice – well chosen! Our temperatures are actually fairly similar at the moment with 35+C forecast, but I won’t be installing orchids on mangoes any time soon! It was fascinating to read about how easily your orchids are rooting
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Sizzling! 😁 Love the Heliconia. Our temperatures may even exceed yours this week, already having hit 33°C. I wish we had some of your rain though! Your orchid activities sound so exotic and it must be fascinating to watch them attach themselves.
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Thank you, Cathy. I am surprised to see the temperatures in Europe! Stay cool.
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Love this! Like a gathering of some exotic birds 😃
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Thanks, Annette. It doesn’t get much more exotic.
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I’ve always loved Lobsterclaw Heliconias but know they can be very picky on where they live. One thing about the long days is that you can go into the garden later when it is not so hot. Well at least not as hot.
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I do, too. These surprised me coming back from the cold. I think you have be inside by 9 am!
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