Pam, my micro sprinkler system is on a timer and it waters the whole back yard very efficiently. Once the weather gets hotter, it just goes on for 5 or 10 minutes every day. So when the box is set up with the water feed in it, I can just forget it, an ideal situation for me, considering my travels and other activities.

Beautiful Peppers! Great pics Elaine!

Oh my goodness! I totally missed this thread. I've been busy, busy. But I still enjoy reading what you all are up to so now I'll be watching this thread.

Waving at you all!

I have an alien cauliflower! Looks a bit like one of David's brilliant art works . . . yes, there really is a purple cauliflower.



Porterweeds keep on blooming even though the leaves and flower scapes have turned rather dark from the cold. I think it makes them look sort of elegant. Huge umbel of flowers on Begonia odorata Alba, smells like baby powder in the mornings.

That cauliflower is an astonishing color!

Beautiful cauliflower! I agree with you about the Porterweed.

I am in the midst of removing wallpaper. UGH! Time consuming and not fun. I would much rather look at the magnolias outside than to have them staring at me from the wallpaper.

How will we create her Elaine, and who would she be hybridized with......... Begonias and Hydrangeas seem to go with the look............................how the heck could we blend in a name those?
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Love the pic's! At least we're still growing down here. It of course would be a grand thing if this Winter remains as kind to us as it has. Yikes! What our Northern gardening friends are handling in the Northeast! How do they do it?

We just cross-posted Ann. Its great hearing from you again here Florida Gal!

I'm here David, tired but here and I have a million things to do but all work & no play makes Ann a dull girl.

Purple caulidrangia? Oohh, that's not even good, it must be getting late . . . g'night.

Porterweed question...up here in the cold "north" mine has dropped all leaves & is just brown sticks. Does it come back on the old growth or do I cut it back????? My purple one is in a protected area & still has greenery.

And now, off to Jazzercise class...........................

Jean,
I have the Coral Porterweed. It's about 3 1/2 feet tall and just about as round now and still green but I've had it frost back before. I just made sure the roots and crown were well protected and cut it back AFTER all danger of frost. It should come back for you.

Thanks MJ. With the crazy weather so far this Winter, all my plants are confused. Noticed yesterday my 2 Rose of Sharon are starting to bud.
A non-gardening friend has a MG friend from IN visiting this week. They came over yesterday & I think she is 2 steps closer to retiring & moving to FL!!!! Gave her lots of seeds for here & to take home & try (in pots). And I had to make sure she knew that tulips & daffodils were to be left up north!!!!

It doesn't take much when people see what is blooming here this time of year.

So right, Hetty. Also doesn't take much to break the "I miss tulips and daffodils" moan when the northern transplants realize that our spring bulbs here are Amaryllis!

On the 'Ask a Question' forum a couple of days ago there was a lady asking if lilacs would grow in Orlando FL.

My reply was to kindly say, rather than fight the climate that she moved here for, she must embrace it and grow all the lovely things that won't grow where the lilacs do.

Besides, I go back and visit my kids in Salt Lake City in May and get to see and smell the lilacs anyway! They only bloom for a couple of weeks, unlike most of our wonderful shrubs that bloom for months and months.

Good Morning!

My Tropical Hydrangea is actually blooming in its first year. It was only a cutting in early Spring and now its about 4 feet high and blooming! I didn't expect that...

So pretty! This will become a big bush.

Oh yay David!

What a beautiful flower.