JIm,
I would love to, but I am afraid I need to decline your kind offer. I simply don't have the room inside. It sure is pretty.

If I may add please? The Mandevillas also belong to the family Apocynaceae, hence the familiar look, Lindsey.

Pretty Rose garden too! Your place looks gorgeous!

WOW, Jim. Florida and mainly your place looks awfully good about now. Please keep us okay this winter and keep posting okay?? Those papayas make my mouth water. And the agave brings back my years in AZ. Yearn, yearn!

Great show, Jim!
Sorry, but I can't help you out. Due to our strange weather this year, my gardens are mostly green and brown.

Here is what is going on here at the moment. A very early snow.

Huh! We are cold and dreary but no snow.

It's cold here too, but no snow yet!

We went to a craft fair in a local park and walked anound in shirt sleeves. Gorgeous day. Another cold front comes in tomorrow afternoon so the orchids are still tucked.

Here is a ground cover like plant in the purple garden but I can't find the tag.

Jim

This is golden cestrum. It is a large bush (mine is 12 feet tall and 6 feet across) that has no problems except that it grow fast and large.

Jim

Love those yellow flowers!

I went out into the lanai late this afternoon and there was a belted kingfisher flying around inside the screen. He finally flew into the screen hard enough to stun himself and I pounced on him and tossed him out the door. He flew off pretty well so I guess he is OK. I looked for a hole in the screen but didn't see anything. I have no idea how he got in there. Those little guys have quite a large, strong looking beak.

Jim

oh my!!

Did you take pics? I usually take a pic of a stunned bird before they take off. Here's a stunned Yellow-bellied sapsucker.

I love Belted Kingfishers, especially their ratchet sound.

Wow! Jim, glad he is on his way!

I didn't even think of taking pics as I was concentrating on setting him free before he either broke his neck or ripped my screen to bits. I did get a good look at him when I had him in my hands. There are lots of white flecks in the otherwise dark tail feathers. The most interesting thing was the massive beak. It remended me of a heron. I enjoy watching them soar over the lake, then suddenly dive after a fish.

Jim

They use those beaks the same way as herons. Herons are Ardea; BKingfishers are Alcedinidae. Food sources determine beak shape.

They use those beaks the same way as herons, spear and swallow. Herons are Ardea; BKingfishers are Alcedinidae. Food sources influence beak shape.

Well, it is beginning to look a lot like last winter, part 2. Another cold front went through yesterday and they are calling for lows in the low to mid 30s for tonight and tomorrow night in Tampa. Sometimes I am a little warmer and sometimes a little colder, depending on just where the cold air comes from. Anyway, I am busy erecting the backyard tent city with Christmas tree lights and blankets. I am determined to protect the mango tree and my new palms. Here we go again.

Jim

it certainly can't be easy for you. At least in our Northern climate there is a sense of finality in the Fall and tender plants have to come inside.
I can appreciate the famous Pillnitz - Camellia growing in the Schlosspark near Dresden.
http://travel.webshots.com/pho...

http://kammlott.net/Germany200...
The Glasshouse is on wheels/tracks and encloses the whole tree in the Fall. I have been told one can walk around the canopy in Winter inside the contraption. It is quite special.

I want one!! Vandas on top....
Jim so sorry you have this problem yearly now. I bet you wouldn't mind skipping a year or two!!

Wow! Even on tracks, that must be quite an undertaking!

Jim, I'm sorry you have to go through that again.