Spring Blush

The day started out as one of the coldest this winter but by mid-day it was gorgeous outside.  This azalea time of year is one of my favorites.

Azaleas under moss-laden oaks are almost a cliche but I love them.  When bursting in colorful bloom they are stunning.  When not in bloom they provide layers of evergreen foliage for spring irises, caladiums and bromeliads to play against.

Pink is my favorite color and there are all shades of it surrounding me in the front garden from the light pink of 'George L. Taber' to the fuchsia shades of 'Formosa.'

These flowering shrubs are reliable bloomers at a time of year when things often look bleak.  This year's mild winter weather however has allowed many of the companion plants to remain green giving the overall garden a more complete look.

It may be a one-type-of-flower show right now, but there is such an abundance of azalea flowers that the pollinators are enjoying quite a feast.

This large carpenter bee is one of many that have been buzzing around the bushes. I just love watching them start flying and flitting as soon as the sun begins to warm the day.

The azaleas may have a short run of blooms, typically lasting about a month, but this show has just begun.  There are plenty of additional buds yet to pop.

Buzzing, Flitting and Fluttering

Buzzing....

Spotted Horsemint has gotten way out of hand over by the veggie bed.  It really brings in the bees and other buzzing insects though.

Flitting...

A busy female ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummer I've ever seen.   Always just one at a time.  Could she be the same one?  Last year I saw her from March until October.  This year it sure looks like the same bird.  She has been flitting through the garden several times a day since February this year.  I would love for her to bring along some friends. The red firespike is her favorite flower.  I'm glad I have spread it around in several places.

Fluttering...

Crimson pentas are one of the best butterfly attractors planted in my garden.  I can always count on finding butterflies where they are blooming.

Now that summer is at its end and the temperature is at its highest, more of the buzzing, flitting and fluttering creatures are visiting the garden.  I enjoy seeing this flurry of  activity as much as I enjoy seeing the flowers.

Bluebird of Happiness

Bluebirds are associated with happiness and contentment in life.  I'm certainly happy to have this charming couple visiting my garden this spring.  I hope they make their home here. 

They have been visiting every day, making quite a show of catching bugs.  As I go about pulling weeds and other garden duties this cheerful pair seem to enjoy my company as much I enjoy theirs.

There is much to be happy about in the garden these early days of spring.  Along the sunny side of the back fence the new 'Julia Child' rose is blooming  in floribunda bunches.  I have been looking for this rose ever since I saw it at Bok Tower gardens.  It gets good reviews from Bok Tower and from other central Florida gardeners.


My happiness with the floribunda  rose, 'Scentamental' is probably going to be short-lived.  I know he's wrong for me, but I don't care.  I love him.

Seedlings in the sunny patch that is now a rose garden have been springing up and starting to bloom.  Blanket flowers, guara, hollyhocks, and alyssum have all re-seeded from last year's plants.  Yay!  Belinda's Dream provides lots of happiness in this spot.

Tall red pentas and more blanket flowers are coming back in front of the bamboo on the sunny west side.  A few sunflowers were added.  Butterflies and bees have gradually been coming around to visit them. 

There is more guara happiness along the path leading to the pot of bright orange geraniums.  Those geraniums were a Mother's Day gift from my daughter-in-love.  I'm very happy to see them blooming and rejuvenated with the spring weather.

What could be happier than little green sweat bees buzzing around sunflowers? 

And, finally!  Blooms on the bottle brush tree this year! 

"...happy is that people, whose God is the LORD."

Psalm 145:15

A Monday Morning Meander

After a Thanksgiving holiday weekend full of family and food, this Monday morning brings a feeling of contentment.  A quiet peace flows through the shady gardens in the front yard and a meandering walk through them satisfies the heart.

There are plenty of blooms but they are not the exuberant blossoms of spring and summer with their hot colors.  These flowers are soft pinks and purples giving rest to the eyes.

The hallmark of any shade garden is the variety of textures, shapes and hues of green.  There is no sense of hurry here.

An unknown nidularium bloom reflects the pinky purple of the baby Queen Emma crinum which was recently gifted to this garden by a gardening friend.

In the springtime the light pink blooms of these azaleas will blend perfectly in the new front entry-way bed.  Until then, their green leaves make a perfect backdrop for my favorite cranberry pentas. 

A lazy bumble bee reflects the mood of the morning as he drifts from flower to flower.

The white bench at the top of the driveway provides a perfect spot for enjoying another cup of morning coffee.  It is situated between pots of  rabbit foot fern and  angel wing begonia.  While sitting here and observing the front planting beds it is easy to dream of changes and additions for the future. 

The pathway between mature formosa azaleas could use a focal point to draw the eye to the the base of the oaks at the other end.  Perhaps a colorful bromeliad grouping or a variegated cast-iron plant would be the perfect thing.  No hurry, plenty of time to let this idea develop.

Thanks for meandering with me through My Garden Path this Monday morning. 

October Favorites

It's the 25th of the month and time to join Simply Susan in showing garden favorites. 

Three swamp sunflower plants were planted in front of the bamboo hedge last fall.  After their bloom was finished they died back and were forgotten until Spring.  Suddenly there were lots of swamp sunflowers.  Too many for the space.  They were growing up through the bamboo and were taking over the whole bed.  They had to be moved.  Now they are growing in the boggy area of the garden along with pinecone gingers and umbrella sedge.  There is plenty of room for them to proliferate and bloom their cheery yellow flowers.

Bees and wasps have been quite numerous around the garden this month.  They each have their place in the life of the garden and so accomodation is made for them up to a point.  They are fascinating creatures to observe nectaring on the flowers, but their nests are kept away from the house and play area for the grandkids.  This little guy is enjoying the White Out rose, which has been a favorite of mine most all year. 

One of my new favorite blossoms is this purple salvia.  The bloom is very large compared to other salvias in the garden and the purple color attracts the hummingbird. 

White and purple Philippine Violets re-seed so abundantly that some people find them a nuisance.  I, however, love their flowers which bloom only in fall and find them worth the trouble of keeping in check.  Actually, this year, I didn't have too many seedlings come up and so am quite happy to have these blooming away in the October garden. 

The purple variety grow shorter and bushier than the white ones.  The two planted together complement one another quite beautifully.  

This month there are still plenty of favorites in the garden, but there is a definite change.  Many of the summer's best bloomers have faded and plants which were waiting in the wings have come into the spotlight.  Something I have noticed in creating this post is that My Garden Path is lacking in fall foliage plants.  Mmmm....

What are your favorites......this month?

Let's Hear It For Garden Volunteers!

Less than a month ago, I was walking around the butterfly garden when I noticed a volunteer seedling. Since I keep a bird feeder in this area I thought it must be from a stray sunflower seed.

Within two weeks this seedling had shot up to 5 feet tall and was already covered in buds.

Four days later.....

I've never had a sunflower with more than one big flower at the top.  This was a special treat to find multiple blooms and branches.  Usually the birdseed sunflowers are much smaller. 

Bee - u - ti - ful !