Same here! Just beautiful!

Ditto what Lindsey said! Wonderful Kathy!

Thanks so much. Wish you all could see it in person....TODAY!
I have lived here for 9 growing seasons. There were gardens here but they had been neglected for 6 years and full of bushes and invasive weedy stuff she liked (and I have to weed forever). The berm next to the road had virginia creeper all over it and when I removed it there were large yew bushes underneath that I didn't know were there!!! There were roses stuck in odd places in the lawn. I added "the park" to consolidate all the large flowering trees and a bunch of roses. Then I bought 90% of what you see. I wanted color not bushes. This is my third garden so I came with lots of knowledge (no thugs added). I have 2 peaks-siberian, peony, rose peak and mid July, daylily peak. I have an open garden both peaks. I am way behind this year and the flowers are weeks early. Of course I hurt my back yesterday before the big day!!! But I love the space and what I've created (I think of it as a giant colored sculpture) and it's so fun to see people's mouths drop!!

I wish I could be there to do a walk-a-bout, Kathy. Maybe someday. It is 90 degrees and the humidity is at 100 percent. It has rained off and on throughout the day and I find myself a prisoner of my own air conditioner. It is a good day to imagine myself in a primal swamp surrounded by ferns and cycads with the occasional dinosaur walking past. Perhaps I'm suffering some sort of heat stroke.

I haven't posted on this thread before so let me just say that I have an acre on a lake in the NW Tampa suburbs. I've lived here for 12 years and have planted lots of stuff. I am interested in tropical fruits, palms, flowering trees and other things that are a bit on the rare side. Enough said. Here is a view of the fountain in the middle of the back yard.

Jim

This is goldren cestrum, a large shrub that produces yellow flowers 11 months of the year. Folks that make arrangements with cut flowers just love this plant.

Jim

A closer look.

Jim

Duranta, golden dewdrop.

Jim

The lucky nut tree is blooming.

Jim

This is abelia 'Ed Goucher'. A nice plant that you just don't see much of anymore. I was lucky to find this one in the corner of a mom and pop nursery.

Jim

A look at the flowers.

Jim

I love this red-stemmed ginger that a friend gave me a few years ago.

Jim

Here is a rare plant called 'Curly-Q' copper plant. I had it covered with Christmas lights and blankets last winter and it did just fine.

Jim

Blooming blanchetiana bromeliads. I lost 3 out of 4 clumps to the cold last winter and I wasn't alone. They are really hard to find this year and very expensive.

Jim

Rose of Sharon

Jim

The bloom.

Jim

Purple fountain grass coming back from the cold.

Jim

The thornless bougainvillia that i bought in a 3 inch pot from Logee's last year is doing well. I kept it in a pot last year and planted it this spring. This is a tree form, not so much a vine.

Jim

I'll leave you all with this day lily. Thanks for listening.

Jim

What a wonderful tropical tour, Jim, of your beautiful property and plants.
I especially am taken with the Ginger.
Janice

I am very happy to see you here, Jim!! I love the tour!! The gorgeous yard and fountain by the lake, such a nice view!

You also have the Rose of Sharon growing in your area, this is a plant you see here in NJ in many gardens. I like them a lot!
And yes, the Ginger is especially beautiful.