Category Archives: Tropical gardening

In a Vase on Monday – Last Serving of Summer

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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.

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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.

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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

In a Vase on Monday – Summer’s Finale

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It seemed every morning last week my phone informed me to expect afternoon monsoons?! And it was right. The copious rainfall produced a fine crop of summer flowers, most likely the last of the season. This is a handful of summer in my garden.

When I lived further north I was never happy to see the summer end. Now I relish the first fall cold front. It arrived over the weekend bringing lower humidity and temperatures. My husband gleefully exclaimed “it’s 68 degrees.” The garden season is beginning in South Florida.

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This vase is a casual mason jar Plonk. I was surprised to find Tropical Gardenias (Tabernaemontana diviricata) in October – but here they are with Benary’s Giant Zinnias. Beach Sunflowers (Helianthus debilis) in yellow also enjoyed the rain.

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The purple Beautyberries (Calliocarpa americana) are still hanging on. A native Passion Vine (Passiflora suberosa) was hanging on as well and was added to the vase. Blue flowers are Porter weed (Stachytarpeta) These are supposed to be evil invasives and I am just not getting why. This Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) are flowering in corals. I cut a few white Bidens alba and Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa) and celebrated the end of summer.

I hope everyone is enjoying fall. To check out other fall vases, visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden.

In a Vase on Monday – Tempest in a Teapot

It seems like there is a lot going on in my Blue Willow teapot this Monday.The Parrotflowers are flying, the Juba Bush is swaying and the Zinnias are celebrating their escape from the leaf cutting bees. A lone palm frond holds it all together.

The height of hurricane season has passed, yay! It’s not time to celebrate quite yet as we still have the wind down until the end of November. October is usually more active in the Gulf of Mexico (yep, not changing the name on my blog) I usually start my sigh of relief in mid October and start cleaning the screen porch and setting up the outdoor furniture for winter. We had permanent accordion shutters put on our windows last week so we can be storm ready in a short period of time. That will probably prevent storms for a while!

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The cream colored flowers are from the Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa). This is a lightly fragrant native wildflower that has a mind of its own and shows up uninvited. I have no idea how to propagate it, but somehow ended up with a spectacular plant beside my porch. It’s named after a Caribbean dance – the Juba as the plant sways gracefully in the wind. The Parrotflower (Heliconia psittacorum) flower when it rains and I have difficulty resisting cutting them, so here they are. The trimmed palm frond is from a Sabal Palm (Palmetto Sabal)

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The stalwart Giant Benary Zinnias. We have leaf cutting bees here and they seem to love the zinnias, the bees are even eating the flowers. This is new to me, the flower eating. I’m going to keep watching to see what happens.

That is all from my garden this Monday. Visit Cathy at RamblinintheGarden to join in the fun or view more vases.

In a Vase on Monday – Wave Good Bye, Imelda

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Tropical Storm Imelda formed off the east coast of Florida on Sunday, about 175 miles away from my garden. We may get a brush of tropical storm winds on Monday, so we will see how that goes. My vase this Monday is wishing Imelda a speedy exit from my vicinity.

The flowers were cut from near the house as we have been having downpours from the outer bands of the storm off and on. It made me realize how much Rob the Greyhound dislikes rain…Nope, not going out in that. Well, I went out in it and cut flowers!

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The Benary Giant Zinnias are fading away as something eats the foliage..oddly, these are the longest stems of the year. White flowers are from Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa) a native wildflower. I think this emphasizes a windy look with the blue wave. Yellow foliage is from Java White Copperleaf. The blue wave is a piece of art glass from Maui, Hawaii.

Happy Monday from my garden. Catch up with Cathy at RamblingintheGarden to see more vases.

Six on Saturday – Future Fruit

Saturday morning finds me in the garden taking pictures to share with the SOS gang that meets at Jim’s Blog Garden Ruminations on a weekly basis. Follow the link to tour other gardens.

I have been planting fruit trees this week. It is hard not to want to grow tropical fruit if you live in South Florida. My collection continues to grow.

Citrus fruit, especially oranges, has taken a beating from the Asian citrus psyllid. This insect carries the citrus greening disease. This disease basically makes the fruit inedible and then causes the tree to die, affecting the phloem.

I attended a lecture that included a new variety of mandarin orange, Sugar Belle and a protective device to keep the insects off the tree until it was six feet tall. This variety of citrus is resistant to the psyllid. Here is the tree just planted. I have not installed the cover yet.

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I was directed to plant the tree directly in the sand, then water and fertilize the heck out of it. It took a while to get the tree hydrated, but it looks pretty good now so I am going to install the cover.

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This is a Nemesis Papaya, the name sounds a bit scary. I think it is resistant to nematodes and that is the reason for the name. Papayas bear fruit quickly and the trees don’t last but a few years. I have had several and the fruit is worth it. It already has buds and it takes about four months to get fruit. I am hoping it will self pollinate. This is a hermaphrodite variety, most Papayas are male or female and it can be a trial to get the right two from seed.

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Papaya buds. Fingers crossed.

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A very nice surprise. The yellow dragonfruit actually set fruit! I have had this for years and many flowers but this is the first fruit. Fingers crossed again.

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The Rangpur lime was plagued by lizards trying to suck the juice out of the fruit during our hot and very dry month of August. I had about 50 limes and am down to 10. Still hoping for pies in December.

This is a Red Jaboticaba, a nice little shrub from Brazil. These produce a grape like fruit on the trunk. I am not sure how long I have had this, but am still waiting for the fruit! These also are available in tree form and are quite a sight. Clusters of grapes attached to the trunk in swirling patterns. Brazilians make wine from this fruit.

That’s all from my garden this morning. Be advised I am shopping for late season mango trees..Kent or Keitt, any opinions?

In a Vase on Monday – Coral Rocking the Equinox

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The official time for the Fall Equinox is 1:19 PM today. I am waiting for the axial shift to cool our temperatures. I can already tell the sun is lower in the sky and the shadows on the north side of our house are deepening. The sun angles in South Florida are so different from winter to summer it still throws me off. On a due north exposure, the garden goes from full sun in summer to full shade in winter. Selecting plants is a conundrum. I have gone to pots in these areas.

The garden is celebrating the equinox with coral flowers sprinkled through the beds. I also have coral rocks used as accents as I like local stone incorporated into gardens. Coral rocks are limestone boulders with deposits of shells and other sea life visible on the surface.

The flowers:

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Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) is showing up in shades of Coral this week. White daisies are Bidens alba.

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Yellow flowers are Thyrallis (Galpinia glauca). The inspiration plant, hanging over the side, is Coral Vine (Antigogon leptopus). The vase was made by the Ute people in the Southwestern US.

And here are the rocks.

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I enjoy my rock collection in the garden. I have some heirloom rocks from my Father the Geologist and other interesting stones rocking the garden with the coral.

Follow this link to visit Cathy’s blog RamblingintheGarden to see what she and other gardeners are rocking in their vases.

Rock on, gardeners. (I couldn’t resist)

In a Vase on Monday – Hallelujah for Zinnias

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I am thankful for Zinnias every summer. This time my greyhound statue is singing their praises along with me. The Zinnias flowered throughout August, the hottest and driest summer month I can recall. The flowers were only half size and have now gone back to full size with the addition of a little fertilizer, some nice rain showers and cooling temperatures.

The flowers are in my favorite container to use beside the kitchen sink, a tequila shot glass from my niece’s wedding. A few Asian Sword Ferns were added. The brass trivet is a family heirloom from somewhere in New England, I should polish it someday. The Greyhound is a recent addition my husband was unable to resist. I saved the seeds from last years ‘Benary Giant’ mix and shall plant more soon for some winter cut flowers.

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That is all from my garden this Monday. To see more vases, visit Cathy and RamblingintheGarden and follow the links.

In a Vase on Monday – Peace, Love & Salvia

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It’s no secret I love Salvia. I was delighted to see a bevy of blossoms after a few intense rain showers last week. I cut a large handful of mostly red, with a little off red and white. The Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) is not really true to seed and color ranges from neon orange to coral, pink and pure red. This off red is a new color, surprising me by flourishing in nearly full shade.

I think I created a Freudian flower arrangement. Does it look like it is shooting a peace sign or is it just me? I fear for my country and am hoping for peace.

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A close up of the Tropical Red Salvia (Salva coccinea). The background plants are Lemon Blanchetiana Bromeliad foliage and Asian Sword Ferns. A sprig of Bridal Bouquet Frangipani (Plumeria pudica) was added for fragrance.

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A twining stem of Coral Vine graces the edge of the vase. This vine (Antigonon leptopus) refuses to grow on the fence it was planted beside and prefers to climb the very thorny lime tree. I pick a piece out now and then and usually manage to get stabbed.

Peace be with you all.

Visit Cathy’s blog RamblingintheGarden and follow the links to see more vases.

Six on Saturday – Return to 6

I haven’t been sixing lately as August was a frying, hot and dry month and the garden was looking dismal. Things are looking up in September. For whatever reason, our late afternoon showers have returned, temperatures are moderating and the plants are much happier. I even went plant shopping!

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One of my purchases, a Chinese Perfume Tree (Aglaia odorata). These are the flowers. I love the scent. The nursery did an excellent job of marketing, having the shrubs here and there so you wondered ‘what is that lovely fragrance’? It’s lemony and reminds me of Southern Magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora)

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Here is the Chinese Perfume Tree. I planted it in a big terracotta pot as it seems they like some moisture. I am very hopeful this works and the shrub thrives. The soil in the garden is probably too well drained to sustain this plant.

New growth in the succulent containers. The Haworthias, now green, were brown through August. Grey plants are Graptosedums.

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Rejuvenated Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) This reseeds freely in the garden to the point of needing to be thinned.

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‘Little Harv’ Aechmea Bromeliad in full bloom.

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A little fall color and masses of purple berries on the Beautyberry (Calliocarpa americana)

That’s all from my garden this week. Visit Jim’s blog GardenRuminations to see more SOS posts.

Happy Fall Y’all!!

In a Vase on Monday – Autumn Cheer

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September is finally here. It rained, the weather cooled (ever so slightly) and the flowers opened their buds and cheered. I collected a few of the celebrants, then added some fruits and foliage and am now enjoying the fall colors.

While many lament the end of summer, we celebrate in South Florida. Cooler weather is on the way!

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I have had zinnias through the summer. Interestingly, they produced half sized flowers through the August heat. I have a big container still going and hope the flowers get bigger with fall’s arrival. The white daisies are Bidens alba, an indestructible native wildflower. The burgundy foliage is from Aechmea ‘Burgundy’ Bromeliads.

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The purple beautyberries (Calliocarpa americana) have been spectacular this year. Even my husband noticed, which is a bit shocking. I collected another cup of berries to freeze and bake treats later. Red flowers are Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea). Green foliage is Asian Sword Ferns (Nephrolepis brownii) and Macwilliamsii Neoregelia Bromeliad.

I am looking forward to spending more time outside. We are working on a new seating area in my front garden for butterfly reconnaissance. Plotting plantings! Bought chairs and flamingo fabric for pillows. My husband wants to build a platform deck. Autumn Cheers!

Visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden to see vases from around the world.