Welcome to my zone 9 garden. My roots are deeply planted in the sandy soil of sub-tropical central Florida, where the summers are long and hot, but the rest of the year is paradise!

Friday, June 04, 2010

PINK-a-licious

To a self-confessed "girly-girl," pink really is a delicious color. And, the combination of pink and green is my all time favorite. When I see the two colors together, my heart goes pitter-patter and my soul sighs with satisfaction. While my living room is awash in pink floral and green foliage fabric, my garden is not. That revelation even surprises me, but the truth is that there are so many beautiful colors of flowers that I just "must have" (you understand that notion, don't you?) all of them in my garden. Nevertheless, during a recent stroll through my garden I was able to capture some of the "magic of pink" at work.

Moss Rose is a summer favorite, and this HOT pink color is a real standout! Everyday this drought-tolerant plant is covered with new blossoms...a great container plant for summer!

And, then there's the soft pink color of impatiens lounging in the shade. Lucky for them they get to live beneath the canopy of the Live oaks and out of the hot summer sun...we all know what happens to them in direct sunlight. ;-)

You might think this is a coleus leaf, but guess again. It's actually a begonia, and a very colorful one at that. I've never seen this plant bloom, and with foliage like this who cares about a bloom.

Ahhh, a dainty Lacecap hydrangea brings a smile to my face. You can tell by the pink color that my soil is on the alkaline side. How so? This plant with two personalities blooms blue in acid soil and pink in neutral to alkaline. But the mysterious part is that you can change the color to blue by adding lime or aluminum sulfate...I do believe azalea fertilizer will do the trick, too. I'll never understand how that works, but I find it utterly amazing.

The caladiums are popping up everywhere. Their large colorful leaves add a whole new dimension to the summer shade garden, and I truly believe that one can never plant too many caladiums. This soft pink variety (name unknown) is tucked between a spider plant...that by the way did not freeze...and some Peacock ginger.


This super-large leaf is a variety (name unknown) that is very unusual.

This caladium (name unknown) is basking in some dappled sunlight.

Oh, even a pink flower pot can be found in the garden. I have no idea where this ornately decorated pot came from...probably a purchase I couldn't resist.


Can you guess what this plant is? Generally, it's well known for it's beautiful tropical flowers. Do you recognize it? Give up? Okay...it's a hibiscus. A very pretty variegated variety whose leaves outperform its small and less than spectacular flower.

I'm sorry I have forgotten the name of this lovely succulent that sports a pink stem and pink edging on its creamy green and white leaves. It's really pretty!

I can't forget about the roses. If given a choice, I would prefer a gift of pink roses over red anyday. This is Belinda's Dream and it reminds me of all the beautiful china tea cups decorated with soft pink roses. To be so pretty and have a wonderful scent is the sign of one great flower.

A stem of pink and white gladiolas in the summer garden is a real treat. When half the flowers are open I cut the stem and place it in a vase so I can enjoy it indoors. They last a long time and remind me of orchid flowers. Looks like the Love bug couple clinging to the petal loves this flower, too.

Here is a Double pink Knock-out rose looking real pretty tucked between the Mexican petunia 'Purple showers' and white yarrow. A great color and texture combo.

And, last but not least, I found this delicate-looking cluster of pink angel wing begonia blossoms. So sweet!

I've really worked up a thirst walking around the garden in search of "pinkalicious" flowers, so I think I'll  sit for a spell and have a cold glass of pink lemonade. Then I'm going to head on over to How Sweet the Sound (where pink is not just a color, but an attitude) for Pink Saturdays to see the pink posts by other bloggers who also love pink!


47 comments:

Ami said...

Susan: Your post always let me ooh-aah rhough the whole time I read it! So many delicious pink in your garden! Although I am not big fan of pink when coming to the cloth, I do love pink color in the garden!

The last two unknown caladium pictures are really beautiful, that I have not seen them anywhere. I just started planting caladium this year, and I already see myself will crazy about collecting all different kinds over the years :)

Is your variegated hisbiscus the snow queen? I saw one last weekend when taking a walk in the neighbourhood, it is a real beauty!

Your pink and white gladiolas is just gorgeous. I thought gladiolas can not be grown in Florida, at least in my zone 10 area. Yours obviously looks very happy. Will they come back next year?

Have a great weekend!

~~Ami

Dogmom Diva said...

Hi Susan, what a beautiful post, such gorgeous flowers, I live in the desert so I don't have the variety you do!
Welcome to Pink Saturday! Stop by my blog and say hi!

Barb

Simply Debbie said...

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY SUSAN,
OH MY! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POST. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE PHOTOGRAPH. I JUST LOVE FLOWERS AND GREEN PLANTS ESPECIALLY FERNS AND SUCH.
YOUR FLOWERS ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL. DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF WIND...IN OKLAHOMA THE WIND JUST BLOWS TERRIBLY AND WHEN IT IS HOT, IT JUST ABOUT COOKS EVERYTHING.
HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND
HUGS AND BLESSINGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE

P. said...

Gorgeous plants and flowers.
Alfazema

Rebecca Nelson said...

Girly...you sure do know your flowers. I digress...I'm just awful at it. I know a daisy, rose, tulip and pansy...that's about it. BUT...

I LOVE THEM ALL!

Happy Saturday!

xoRebecca

Theresa Plas said...

Hey Susan - Southeast FLA here! Your garden is beautiful! I just got a couple of pink begonias yesterday and featured one on my blog.

Nancy said...

Oh, I miss Winter Park each time I visit such loveliness. I believe the pink flamingo glass caught my eye just as much as the flowers. Happy Pink Saturday!

Jorgelina said...

Beautiful post.
Happy Pink Saturday!!

Julie said...

Welcome to Pink Saturday! What a beautiful garden! Love all of the amazing pink flowers.

CailinMarie said...

Happy Pink Saturday!
Wow! This was such a lovely post! I really enjoyed all your descriptions, names, and photos.
CailinMarie
http://cailinyates.blogspot.com

Sue McPeak said...

I so enjoyed the stroll through your beautiful Pink garden. You are really up on all the names and must talk sweetly to them for they sure are thriving. Welcome to Pink Saturday...it's so nice to have you and your garden blog. I'm having a Pink Flower Show, too...If YaHave Time.....Sue

The Old Parsonage said...

Hi Susan

Just stopping by for some Pink Saturday fun. And boy did I find it here!!! Your flowers are amazing my sweet friend. My favorite is the gladiolas - I had them at our wedding.

Happy Pinks!
Leann

Sherry from Alabama said...

Beautiful flowers and photos! I love pink and green together too. Of course I also love pink/aqua, pink/brown, pink/red, as a matter of fact I think pink goes with just about anything. Welcome to Pink Saturday!

Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

Jil~Say It With Roses said...

HPS Susan...
I could come and live in your garden.....
I planted a ton of Caladiums last year and not one single one has come up.....I am so disappointed and very bewildered by this....to say nothing of the cost!

I love hisbicus, but we now live in Michigan and so they will not grow here...
Wonderful blog and I am going to follow!
Hope you will come visit me, too!
Jil

Char said...

Oh so many beautiful blooms to love and admire in here today. Of course, I had to stop at the hydrangea, it's over the top gorgeous. We can't grow caladiums in the desert, but I have always loved those. So many varities and colors to love. Happy Pink Saturday, Char

CC said...

Susan,
Your garden is just beyond gorgeous. Each picture seems to be prettier and prettier. It's just gorgeous..I can't think of any other was to describe it..
Happy Pinks..have a lovely weekend..

Deborah aka Miss Bee said...

Your garden is heavenly!

Happy Pink Saturday!
Deborah in NC
Miss Bee's Haven

Brenda ~ The Heminger Farmhouse said...

You have a lovely garden...loving all the pretty pinks!

Happy Pink Saturday to you!
Warmest, Brenda

The Artful Diva said...

These flowers are beautiful - so unusual! Welcome to PS!!

Shugee @ Blue Heron Cottage said...

Susan, these are so lovely. I also love the plume thing in your side bar that is striking!
I agree with you about the color of green & pink together. What a combination!

Beautiful, beautiful post. I've learned a lot also.
Happy Pink Saturday.
Kim

That shabby Pink Girl said...

Oh, I could stay in your garden forever, i just happened to have my speakers on and the sound while looking at your flowers was so pleasant. Beautiful Blog. We are hoping for sunshine, so my flowers will bloom.

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday!

marian elizabeth

Anonymous said...

Hello and a very happy Pink Saturday to you!!

It's a very hot summerday in The Netherlands and I'm enjoying all pink posts in the garden! Love Es XX

Jacalyn @ rmebathproducts.com said...

What gorgeous flowers! I would love some pink lemonade too!

Happy PS,
Jacalyn

vickie said...

Welcome to Pink Saturday. Oh my, your flowers are beautiful, the gladiolas are stunning, also the orchids on your side bar.
Vickie

Erika said...

Beautiful post and beautiful pinks :D
Happy Pink Saturday!
smiles,
Erika

peggy gatto said...

Well, I just love seeing your garden!!!
I am a garden lover and painter!!!
I enjoyed my visit!!

Nan said...

Welcome to PS. I love all your wonderful plants in pinks. I am in zone 3 here in Alaska but I have something you do not, come visit me and scroll down looking for blues. Nice to meet you Susan.
Take Care
Nan

Lynn-Teacupstitches said...

Hi Susan!
Your garden flowers are truly heavenly!
You have more than a green thumb but entire green hand!!
Thanks for sharing your lush pretties!

Hugs and Smiles,
Lynn

nannykim/spindlecottage said...

Well you did find a lot in pink out there! I have hydrangeas too, and what is weird is some are blue and some are pink and some are purple and they are in the same yard. I know the soil affects it, as you have said---I am enjoying mine! I would like to se the living room in pink and green!

B i r g i t t a said...

You have a lot of lovely pink flowers in your garden :) I also like the pink pot :)

http://foto.rudenius.se/post/2010/06/04/Pink-Saturday-e28093-Barbie-bus.aspx

JEANNE said...

Hi Susan, Your pinkness shows that your are a true Pinkie. Your garden is lovely. I loved the tour.

Happy PS.
Hugs, Jeanne

Anonymous said...

All your pink plants are perfect for your 1st Pink Post! Welcome to PS! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely garden, Marcia

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

All your flowers are just glorious! Pink roses are my absolute favorite rose.

Olivia said...

Oh sweetie these are absolutely gorgeous! I loveee the pink rose! Please stop by and say hi!
hugs,
Olivia

Annesphamily said...

Welcome to Pink Saturday! You have the prettiest pink flower with some matching pots too! Come join me soon. I close my pink petal plates tonight because my pink drawing is at 9 P.M. MDT!

Unknown said...

I love your pink flowers. Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Saturday!

Teena said...

What lovely pink images from your garden! I especially like the pink foliage, well done! Happy Pink Saturday <3

Donna said...

Happy Pink Saturday!

I love all of your PINK!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Donna

caren said...

Susan ~ Such beautiful flowers. Your garden must be fantastic! Welcome to Pink Saturday!

NanaK said...

Love all your pinks! Pink is my favorite color too. You even have a pink flower pot! How cool is that?

Maggie said...

Welcome to Pink Saturday! It's great to have you among us Pinkies.

Thank you for the stroll through your stunning garden- I love it!

Happy PS! (Sorry for the belated visit!)

Maggie @
"Do these shoes match this purse?"

Beverly said...

Welcome to your first Pink Saturday, Susan. I am so glad you decided to participate.

What a wonderful stroll around your yard. That you for sharing all of your beautiful plants. My mother used to plant caladiums when I was a childe, and I still love them.

Susan said...

Ami...Caladiums are really great. They add so much color to the shade garden. The var. hibiscus is not the snow queen. It's a new variety that came out a couple of years ago, and I don't know the name of it...sorry. I bought it at H.D. I don't know about zone 10, but gladiolas grow great here in 9b. The bulbs stay in the ground and the plant & flowers return each year. Growers used to grow the bulbs in fields in Pinellas county...that was before the entire county was developed.

Dogmom Diva...I'm sure gardening in the desert is very different from our humid climate, but is beautiful in its own right.

Hi Debbie...We don't have much wind in the summer month, except when a thunderstorm blows in. Nothing like you have in Oklahoma. It is hot though, and certain plants/flowers that grow in the northeast will not survive our summers, but we're lucky enough to be able to grow many tropical beauties.

Svenja, Alfazema, Rebecca, Jorgelina, Julie, Cailin Marie, CC, Deborah, Brenda, Pat, Jacalyn, Erika, Peggy, Birgitta, Jeanne...Thanks for stopping by, and for your kind comments.

Theresa...I'm always happy to find another Fla. gardener. I will definitely be adding you to my Florida blogroll and checking in regularly.

Nancy...Winter Park is a very beautiful city. I used to live very close to there. That flamingo glass is a summer favorite.


Sue...I do talk with my plants regularly. My neighbors probably think I've gone loco. I will definitely drop by to check out your pink flowers.

Leann...Gladiolas for a wedding is a perfect idea. There's so many beautiful varieties to choose from.

Sherry...I do agree with you that pink goes nicely with many colors including orange. I have a pink/orange shirt and i love it!

Jill...Thanks for your kind comments. Sorry to hear about your caladiums. I do believe they will not survive a frozen ground. We are able to leave ours in the ground, so we are very fortunate.

Char...Thanks! Caladiums are a great plant. Sorry to hear you can't grow them in the desert.

Kim...Thanks for your kind comments. That pink flume plant is called Pink Flamingo and grows well in shade. Thanks for visiting.

Marian Elizabeth...You are very kind. I'm glad you liked the "nature" sounds.

Esther...It sounds like summer has arrived in the Netherlands, too. We will be very hot and humid through the end of September before we start to get some relief.

Vickie...Glad you enjoyed my flowers. Orchids are a favorite!

Nan...I love Alaska. Have visited their several times and would love to spend the summer there. I will definitely drop by and check out your blues.

Lynn...Thanks for that very nice compliment about a "green hand." :-)

Nancy...That's interesting about your hydrangeas. you're lucky they bloom in a variety of colors.

Marcia & Sweet Bee...Thanks for dropping by to visit and for your nice comments.

Olivia and Anne...I will be dropping by to see all the pink in your posts. Thanks for the invite.

Gracie,Teena, Donna & Caren...Glad you like my "pink" flowers. I look forward to visiting your blogs and getting my "pink fix."

Hi Kay...Glad to hear that you like pink, too. You must have lots of "pink magic" in your garden as well. I'm not sure where I got that pink pot from. I must have it for awhile now.

Maggie & Beverly...Thanks for the warm welcome. I am looking forward to visiting all the "Pink Saturday" blog posts.

Valrie said...

Susan,

My favorites are the lacecap and peacock! I did a pink post earlier this spring on flowers and one on flowering trees! Yours is beautiful! Have a pinkalicious Saturday and come over soon to see what's pinkalicious at my blogspot!

Valrie
http://poemsmyway-valrie.blogspot.com

shaybert said...

I just had to visit you from Beverly's Pink Saturday. Y'see, I'm another Susan! Loving your garden. My family all rally against me and steer away from garden centers, or groan most loudly when I head for the garden section. They call them "Weeds!" I supposed it's because they know my black thumb will eventually turn the plantings to pathetic dried up stalks to be pulled. But you know what? I always have hope, Hope Springs Eternal, and every Spring I continue with that hope, puttering and planting anew. Thanks for letting me visit!
Shay
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them." ~A.A. Milne

Kimberly said...

Those glads top the list, in my opinion! Although the caladiums show off the color combo in a really great way, too.
Nice topic for a post...pink and green are soft and welcoming.

Julie H said...

Do you know what those gladiolas are called? I was so dissapointed my pink and white mix of bulbs are all white. Those are the BOMB I'd love to get some.

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