Red in my garden is a welcome accent against all the shades of green foliage. From flying creatures, flowers and foliage, red is a color that catches the eye. Anyone know the name of this colorful flying insect enjoying the Sweet Almond?
Stopping to smell the Louis Philippe roses I realize even their scent is connected to the color red. Their smell reminds me of cherry flavored candy. Is it just because I'm seeing cherry-red that I imagine this?
The Bottle Brush tree is blooming away now that it has reached a height of ten feet. I have been happily watching its red blooms attract hummingbirds and bees.
Accent foliage of magenta red hues really pops against the shades of green in the shady tropical corner. Blood Leaf Irisine has made it through even our colder winters. This year, with the mild winter temperatures, it has remained a small bush and with its spring growth I can see it becoming an even larger presence.
First time in a long time the Ti plants have shown height as well as their lovely colors. The background of white Caladiums is early in appearing too. Love this spring!
My favorite cardinal family is still nesting in the azalea bushes and visiting the feeders throughout the day. I love the flitting flashes of red they bring to the garden.
Great pics of your garden. It definitely was wonderful to have such a mild winter. My neighbor and I were admiring his pink ti plants...usually they're cut back to the ground at this time of the year. Love that red insect in your first pic. He's very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to appreciate the Ti plants in a very long time. I planted several behind other plants and until now they were always "coming back" and too short to see.
DeleteWhat lovely reds there in your gardens. I hope to see my caladiums popping up soon.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ~ FlowerLady
I hope your caladiums have popped! My white ones came up early and just now the reds and pinks are unfurling. I was getting a little worried about them. My front bed is mostly caladiums and I depend on them in the summer to fill things out.
DeleteAll those red really make a nice statement in your beautiful garden! Envy your Louis Philippe roses, and humming birds. I still could not find that rose,and no sign of humming birds in my garden :( A mild winter really gave our gardens a jumping start in the Spring, didn't it?
ReplyDeleteI only wish I had more sunny areas so I could have more roses. LP is so carefree. Definitely my kind of rose. I bet you have hummers with all that color you have in your garden, you probably just don't get to see them at the right time.
DeleteWhat an interesting critter on that first photo! I think you've convinced me to get a bottlebrush! Enjoy your lovely garden!
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought that bug was so pretty. But, I can't find an ID for him. Do get a bottlebrush! They are drought tolerant and even can take some wet soil during the rainy season. Love the blooms and critters they bring into the garden.
DeleteThat flying insect looks like it might have one heck of a stinger on it. You have some beautiful spring color. What a great bottle brush tree. I put the rooted purple firespike in the garden over the weekend...fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteActually, that insect as ID'd below is not a wasp at all but a moth. Native to Florida I read. This Florida native has never seen one before:) I sure hope that firespike does well in your garden.
DeleteLovin' all those reds, NanaK! What a gorgeous moth in that top photo! Of course, I had to google it, as I've never seen it before. It is the Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth (poetic name, huh?), scientific name Cosmosoma myrodora.
ReplyDeleteWe have had an incredible winter, haven't we?
Thanks for the ID on my insect. He has a very interesting story regarding his mating ritual. I read that this moth is a native to Florida but I sure haven't ever seen one before. I love getting more nature into my backyard!
DeleteI think our imaginations help us process fragrances, or do I just imagine that 'Julia Child' roses smell like freshly baked bread?
ReplyDeleteWhen my JC starts blooming again I'm going to have to check that out and see if I smell baked bread too :) Power of suggestion and all.
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