Its great hearing from you two, Pam and Tara. Thank you.

Hopefully we'll be hearing more from you and others in the future in our Florida Forum.

It hasn't been very interesting here lately and admittedly am loosing interest. Maybe thats a good thing. I am busy and it won't effect my gardens! I will still be growing!

As I keep saying, pictures keep these threads interesting and your pictures are great, David. Everyone else loves seeing yours, but HEY! We want to see other gardens besides our own. I like to see the shots of individual plants as well.

I can't tell you how many 'long shots' I've tried for, but there just aren't that many open spaces in my garden especially right now, with the winter clean-up not yet half done. I aim the camera and there's a tree, dead palm frond or a shrub smack dab in the line of fire.

Here's my big bed of Heliconia 'Lady Di' out front by the driveway. The heli's had strayed out into the driveway, going right under the concrete edging. So I've now transplanted all those strays, put in another sprinkler emitter and you can once again see the edge of the driveway! Even have a couple of Heliconias in bloom already! The transplants look a little sad so I did water them after taking the pictures. Mulch on that bed tomorrow!

All pictures are good pictures Elaine. Its fun visiting each others gardens and their inhabitants.

Thats a nice big bed of Heliconias indeed. You have extra's to pot up for a Master Gardener sale!

Ok, I'm in! Goodness knows we don't want to lose interest!
"Life" has kept me from getting a lot of my gardening 'chores' (weeds) done, and it is a bit embarrassing, but here goes...
A few shots of my small space...First up, a young bed in the front yard...Actually I started a couple of years ago, but it's going to go through some changes this year...

This Gaillardia survived the winter much better than I had expected.



I've added a few annual Celosia...



Got a few more annuals here that are waiting for me to add...



And I've put some of my tomato plants in...4 varieties in this bed...



These areas aren't as neat and 'presentable' as I'd hoped when "showing" off... But gardening is always a work in progress, huh!?!?!

Good to see you back Tara. My garden consists of tomatoes & kale. Anyone need kale? Come & get it. I never thought I'd have so much from the pack of seeds I tossed out there last Sep. Just so dreary out I've no interest in taking pics. All have a gray tint.

Oooo, Kale!!! I found a great recipe for a Kale tart the other day. Sounded really yummy! A little bit does go a long way!
Jean, the last several days have been very dreary! It's hard to go out and do any gardening when it's been as wet as it has been. Kind of like playing in mud...Not a good thing! It seems that we've had a wetter winter and early spring than most years past. "They" are calling for some sun this afternoon. My fingers are crossed, but I'm not holding my breath!

You can oven bake kale for 'kale chips'.... google it. and so healthy!

Your flower/veggie beds look lovely, Tara. Don't worry about things being neat, really! We fellow gardeners love to see others' work in progress.

A friend says there are two types of gardeners, landscapers and collectors. Landscapers just want everything to be tidy and 'presentable' all the time. Collectors want one of every plant, and don't care how it looks . . . guess which one I am?? I think most avid gardeners are more collectors than landscapers. So many interesting plants . . .

David, I'm not donating any Heliconias just yet. Still transplanting the extras all around my garden. They do so well under my oaks and out-compete the weeds!

I will Hetti, and I'm sure the same could be done with my remaining Red Cabbages. I shall give it a go me thinks!
********************
Tara;...what to say? You're gardening Islands and plantings seem so eerily similar to mine! Texas Sage, Gaillardia, Celosia, and well the whole look! Thank ou for sharing the early Spring pic's and love what you're up to. Elaine also I can identify with, as my back yard is somewhat of a jungle and a favorite space for me. Qwilter has the same looks going on in areas of her gardens and its fun to see our gardening similarities. It will be fun to see how this years gardens tidy up and grow together. I am not being sappy. Its just a fact!

The weather "mediums" locally were indeed so wrong about what was supposed to be a beautiful Easter day. They clearly did not read their Tarot cards right! Today is dreary around here too, and I agree with Jean that its hard to be inspired in gloomy weather. Oh well. We will all be talking about hot it is soon!

Ain't we a piece of work we humans inclusively!

Anyways, If you can find it in this picture to the left side with a stake;...the Lychee Tree is growing well in my very Elaine like back yard.

I'll take a better picture soon, but this one was on hand.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get an "after picture" of my post from 3/31. We took advantage of the cool weather and tackled the flower bed on the right. Over run with Oak Sapplings/runners. They can be such a pain and tough to get out. I use a pair of clippers and pull up as far as I can then dig down and snip them off.
Wish there was an easier way, but Roundup is fairly useless on them and I would be afraid of getting on plants that they have come up under/between/on top of !

I'm constantly trying to get things to look more organized....and never really successful !

I have forgotten the term, "organized". It is something I'm only good at for about 6 weeks out of the year. (like when I mow the grass and weed )

Ok...here's some new pics.
1st from 3/31


Now....but taken from the other end. Still needs some work but wayyyy better.



Only thing you could see of this bed last week was the bird house. Great, room for MORE plants.



Still working on this area, removed alot of Red Pinecone ginger that had gotten wayyy out of control.




Guess I should have moved the shovel....very mini pond...

Wow, you sure did a lot of work there, it looks like a park! Let me know if we can work a trade, you obviously need some more plants to fill up all that enticing space . . .

What a beautiful area to work with! Great job, mj!

dyzzypyxxy said:Wow, you sure did a lot of work there, it looks like a park! Let me know if we can work a trade, you obviously need some more plants to fill up all that enticing space . . .

well trade you know me...I'm up for anything...BUT what I didn't take a picture of is the pile of potted plants that need to go in the ground...

Tara, Thanks so much ! When we first moved here in 1999, you couldn't even see into that area. Very overgrown and full of weeds.

unwanted pinecone ginger...................how can that be???? that seems to be 1 plant i'm very good at killing - although i hear that is impossible!!!
3 people gave me plants last year & I fear all 3 died. no sign of life

I have some, Jean. And i'm going to be digging it out if you'd like some! More than happy to share!

terrafirma said:I have some, Jean. And i'm going to be digging it out if you'd like some! More than happy to share!

Me too ! LOL....

That is one very peaceful, private, and beautiful Large space MJ. You have done an amazing transformation in a short time! Thank you for sharing. I'll bet some of those bushes are Azaleas under all those beautiful trees.