The temperatures are steadily climbing into the 90F and our backyard in paradise is also beginning to look "hot" with hues of red, yellow and orange!
We will kick off with an unknown plant. It has very attractive flowers, but no scent. It is also a nuisance in that it pops up all over the place, which alas is so often the case here with our tropical weather. The leaves are furry and heart shaped. If anyone can identify it, I would be pleased to know what it is.
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| Mystery plant |
Below left is Spicy Jatropha (Jatropha integerrima). Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, trees and shrubs. Blooms continuously and very drought tolerant. Very attractive as a small accent tree.
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| Spicy Jatropha |
Next is Cape Honeysuckle (Tacoma capensis), a scrambling shrub native to Africa. This shrub appears to have runners that can help it "travel" elsewhere in the garden. It's a messy, spindly plant, but the hummingbirds love it - so it stays.
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| Close Up Cape Honeysuckle |
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| Cape Honeysuckle |
Dianthus or Pinks, are grown as annuals here in Florida. They go dormant during the hottest part of summer and I have had them re-emerge like "perennials" in the spring.
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| Dianthus |
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| Kalanchoe |
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana). A succulent; likes arid conditions and is a wonderful plant to put in front of pinwheel jasmines, or roses. Great groundcover and spreads rapidly.
Bell Pepper, absolutely delicious in a home-made salsa.
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| Bell Pepper |
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| Native Firebush |
Native Firebush (Hamelia patens). Attracts our state butterfly, the Zebra Longwing. Has orange/red flowers and hairy leaves. Tubular flowers give way to red/black, glossy berries that are popular with songbirds and in particular cardinals.
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| Native Firebush |
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| Nasturtium |
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| Squash Flowers |
I have various types of Nasturiums cascading over hanging baskets.
The Squash plants are coming along nicely. I put toothpicks around them (sharp end up) to prevent cutworms and other critters nibbling on these edible flowers.
Zinnias are one of my favorites in the garden, they are self seeding and, with regular deadheading, low maintenance.
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| Zinnias |
Not exactly in the garden, but in a large cage on the patio is our little love bird Peaches. She is playing Peek-a-boo with me while I took this picture.
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| Pretty Peaches |
Not in my garden but on the dining room table. Roses for mothers day. I know elsewhere in the world, it is earlier in the year.
Happy belated mothers day for all moms in the USA, and everywhere in the world!
The temperatures are steadily climbing into the 90F and our backyard in paradise is also beginning to look "hot" with hues of red, yellow and orange!
