A Day of Gratitude

Fresh From the Garden

This is the first year we're growing vegetables at our new home. I was saying a prayer as I planted seedlings and seeds because the soil in this area is virtually builder's sand. Plenty of soil amendments - - compost, garden soil, blood and bone meal...plus anything and everything else I could find to improve the soil - - were generously added. 

Almost immediately the caterpillars showed up to feast on my tomato plants. I did a lot of plucking and squeezing in an effort to get rid of them. Once the temperatures cooled down a bit I noticed the cats disappeared. Pickle worms pierced the cukes, and powdery mildew finished off the leaves. I find cukes very hard to grow. I gave up on them since I'm not a big cucumber eater anyway, and replaced them with bush green beans . . .  a favorite of mine.

It's taken the tomatoes a while to ripen . . . with Sungold being the first . . . but now they're all slowly turning color. And, the lemons, too are ripening. A cocktail citrus tree was planted, so hopefully next year this time we'll be enjoying some homegrown citrus.

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On a different note, I made this horrifying discovery in my garden yesterday.

I almost had a heart attack when I saw him perched in the tree, especially since Nutty... the squirrel we raised . . . was darting all around this tree and at one time was about a foot away from it. Fortunately, the snake was in the process of digesting an earlier catch as you can see by his bloated mid-section. 

Apparently, I disturbed him when I moved some large pots on the side of the house. I didn't see him at the time but am thankful I did eventually discover him and doubly thankful that the "Wild Animal Evictors" came by and evicted this non-venomous Coat Whip (one of Florida's largest native snakes) from my garden. I don't mind black racers but I'm not willing to tolerate a BIG snake in my garden.

For all snake lovers out there . . . don't worry he wasn't destroyed just relocated to an orange grove quite a distance down the road.

My Favorites...this month!

There's one plant in particular that thrives in autumn --- the rose.

The milder temperatures produce a bounty of large, sweet-smelling blossoms. So, this month I'm keeping it simple, and featuring only the roses in my garden as my favorites.

A mix of modern shrub and antique varieties

What simple but extraordinary beauty!

Sombreuil

 

Belinda's Dream

With a grateful heart I give thanks for all my blessings, and I wish each of you a wonderful day spent with family and friends.

If you'd like to join me in posting your favorites for the month, please do...they don't have to be in collage form...but do leave a comment, so I can drop by and see your favorites.

November Musings

November is one of the most perfect months in Florida. As Summer’s unfaltering heat and oppressive humidity have finally faded away, it is replaced with balmy Chamber of Commerce weather. The kind of blissful days that draw even the most homebound person outdoors to soak up every minute of perfect weather.


I grab my bucket of garden tools and plan to start in the side yard pulling weeds and clipping back plants as I work my way around the house.

The bromeliads are in desperate need of thinning as they are encroaching on the brick walkway. The peacock ginger is slowly fading away until next spring and I can finally see my small collection of ceramic mushrooms again.

I discover this nasty little weed called Heartleaf Drymary is popping up in various parts of the yard where the grass is sparse from too much shade. If I ignore it, it’ll take over the yard in a heartbeat.

I spread some mulch and then decide to take a break. A large glass of ice cold water and an apple seem the perfect snack to enjoy while I sit on the deck and overlook my backyard.

I’m not seated long…more weeds to pull…potted plants need relocating…one idea after another pops into my head and I MUST do it now!

I grab some apple slices and stroll to the other side of the yard. The hibiscus seem to relish this time of year with an abundance of blooms.

This morning glory has decided to use this hibiscus plant as a trellis. They actually make quite a nice pair.

A pretty pink begonia dangles in the wind.

And a couple of Brown Turkey figs are ripe for picking. The day draws to an end, and...with a BIG smile on my face...I make plans for another "perfect" day in the garden tomorrow.

A Colorful Autumn

It's rare for our deciduous trees in Florida to turn brilliant colors of scarlet and gold in autumn because our weather is balmy in October and November. But this year we experienced early and consistent cool temperatures, and in return we got "real" fall trees. Even the sycamore and cypress trees usually turn more brown than golden, but not this year. They were golden and vibrant. Some of the most vibrant leaves were on the crepe myrtles. This maple tree below was draped in a cloak of deep burgundy.
And, this cypress tree looks very "holidayish" as it literally glows in the afternoon sunlight.

I was so astounded by the amount of color that I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road as I drove around town. I'll take early cool temps every year if it brings a colorful fall down our way.

Blooms in the Fall Garden

The colors of autumn in my late November garden.
Orchids in rich golden colors with splashes of red or brown.

Colors in orange and red tones.

Milkweed

Hibiscus

Fashion Azaleas

Bromeliads & Tillandsias

And, a volunteer tomato plant

More on the Light

This Lady palm is my favorite. The sunlight really lights up these fronds, and the blocks of dark green where the leaves criss-cross makes for a very interesting photo.

The dark burgundy backside of this Calathea leaf turns to shades of rose when drenched in sunlight.

The large leaves of the Lotus begonia look fabulous all lit up.

The neighbor's Ti plants look extraordinary.

Large-sized leaves, such as this Calathea, look great illuminated by the sun.

All Aglow

As the late afternoon sun shines on my garden at an angle, certain plants just light up with a gorgeous glow. These three plants are all in close proximity to each other, and they seem to come alive as they are drenched in soft autumn sunlght.

This bromeliad is part of a larger patch. Iwish I had a better picture that shows the entire bunch. During the day they are a deep burgundy color but once the sun shines on them they just burst into a vibrant glow of color. I love looking at them and find myself taking frequent glances, as they are located outside my back porch and I can see them from the kitchen and patio.

This poinsettia is more subtle than the bromeliads but very beautiful in its own way. As you can see the flower is not the only part of this plant that is red.

It's a Jungle Out There!

Newcomers to Florida always say how hard it is to grow anything here. But the truth is, we're blessed with warm (and a generous portion of hot) weather year round and sufficient showers - all you have to do is plant it, and it will grow (even in sand)! Throughout the summer months my suburban yard transforms itself into a jungle.
A hodge podge of tropical delights - caladiums, crotons, bromeliads and pothos vines all blending together.

If you like neat and orderly, then you won't like gardening in Florida as plants easily multiply filling in every bit of space in the flowerbed. And, forget about plants that need trimming. You could spend your whole summer clipping away.

Instead, it's easier to sit back and enjoy while the plants have their way with your garden.