In the Shadows

There is a shadowy corner here at My Garden Path that only receives dappled sunlight.  This area is one of my favorite places to hang out during the summer as it is at least 10 degrees cooler than any other spot in the garden.  These plantings, placed about three years ago, are tropical and lush by the beginning of summer and persist right up until the first freezing temperatures are experienced, usually just after Christmas. 

Fall 2009

This past winter was especially cruel. 

January 2010

Most years the foliage begins to revive by April. This year the tropical look has been about a month behind schedule in appearing but now it is back. Yay!

May 2010

A few new things were added to this area in hopes of having some green persist in winter.  The new Cast Iron plants should be fine through the winter but I'm not so sure about the new Cat palms.  They were planted just after the 11 day freeze and did make it through the subsequent freezes we experienced, so I am hopeful. 

I just noticed while taking these pictures that the Costus Barbatus, Alocasias Polly and Aurora, and the Xanadu  have just begun unfurling their first leaves and are about 8 inches tall.  What a wonderful discovery!  I had given up on them. 

I have always loved the curcuma ginger leaves with that burgundy mid-rib.  This year, getting flowers makes them all the more special.

I have to admit I cried in January.  This coming winter my attitude will be different.  I will use the time to work on hardscape, maybe put down some stone as a foundation for my table and chairs.  I will clean and  prepare pots, pay attention to my compost piles and amend the soil in the planting areas, maybe enlarge some flower beds.  I will not lose hope of Spring's return. 

I am truly learning and growing in my Florida garden.

Through it all, no matter the weather, the frog birdbath stands unfazed.

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."  Genesis 8:22

Reworking the Sunny Corner

This corner in the backyard adjoins the bed along the chainlink fence.  It is an area that receives mid-day to afternoon sun.  There was a golden dewdrop, duranta repens planted in the back corner with a multi-color lantana, lantana camara, across the front.  The golden dewdrop was killed to the ground in January just as it was last winter.  It was decided that another butterfly and hummingbird attractor that could make it through cold weather was needed instead of the golden dewdrop which was relocated to a less prominent spot. 

 

A three feet tall red bottlebrush tree callistemon citrinus was planted where the dewdrop had been.  This specimen will be full of bristly red blooms very soon.  Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all love them.  Since this small tree will be green during winter as well as summer, it will provide some privacy screen to the chainlink fence area.  When it achieves its full height it will be around 12 feet tall.

 

Beautiful blooms are imminent.

Blue-eyed grass is a native plant that grows in damp open fields.  This corner should be a perfect spot for it.  Placed as a border grass in front of the bottlebrush its sweet little blue flowers add interest to its lush greenness.

The lantana was also killed to the ground but it was left to come back between the border of blue-eyed grass and the bottlebrush.  Should it not make it back to the land of living plants it will be replaced most likely with a mixture of red and white pentas. 

The sunny corner package.

Total Devastation

Before.

The current state of the area.  So sad.

The gingers and bananas along the back fence are unrecognizable. 

The past two weeks have brought a prolonged freeze to the garden.  So many plants are nothing but brown crispiness or black mush.  It will be a while yet before the damage is understood completely.  Patience.  This new blog will be an opportunity to chronicle the re-growth and re-learning process along My Garden Path.