Six on Saturday – Spring Happenings

I am joining Jim and the SOS gang this morning from my South Florida garden. Our weather continues to seesaw between spring and summer. I am wearing a sweatshirt one day and shorts the next. The good news is some rain has finally fallen after a long absence underscoring that we are still in our dry season. I am very grateful for the rain. To see more Six on Saturday posts, follow this link to Jim’s blog http://gardenruminations.co.uk

First up: Some of the tropical plants are showing their colors. These are the first flowers on ‘Lady Di’ Heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum). These are one of my many favorites.

The ‘Little Harv’ Bromeliads are flowering again.

A pineapple top I set aside and forgot about has rooted and is growing a pineapple.

The Nam Doc Mai Thai Mangoes have set fruit. Fingers crossed I get to eat a lot of these before the squirrels do.

On the less tropical side, the Golf Beauty Craspedia is in full bloom. Golf Beauty is a very appropriate name.

I planted a couple of ‘Black and Bloom’ Salvia last week. The black is a bit startling, but I love the contrast with the emerald green foliage.

That is all for this Saturday from my garden.

Happy Gardening !!!

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In a Vase on Monday – Rustic Endeavors

I have been baking a lot lately and getting in touch with my rustic side. My husband had to cut down on dietary fat dramatically and is a dessert lover, so lower fat cupcakes have been an ongoing project. The latest, Gala Apple Pecan with Light Caramel Frosting. I am not a neat baker nor a cake decorator. The cupcakes never turn out quite the same size and the frosting is always a bit globby, so the house joke is that we have rustic desserts.

The apple cupcake. Moist, delicious and downright rustic. I find vegan butter makes a good caramel frosting.

The vase is rustic in the selection of the mason jar with a raffia bow and the old fashioned contents.

A closer view:

The flowers, in yellow, Brown Eyed Girl Sunflowers; shades of pink, Giant Dianthus; blue spikes, a few Black and Bloom Salvia on the left side and Mystic Blue Salvia on the right; white spikes, White Flame Salvia; yellow balls, Golf Beauty Craspedia; a few sprigs of Asian Sword Fern complete the vase.

I’ll be in the garden endeavoring to enjoy a cupcake.

Thank you to Cathy at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting this weekly garden meme. To see more vases , follow the link.

Happy Gardening!!