Ibis. This is a great site full of great people. You will enjoy it here.

A couple of colors of Spathoglottis plicata (a type of terrestrial orchid) are blooming their hearts out.


A Brug that I started from a cutting this spring, 'New Orleans Lady' is putting on a big show now. Poor thing got blown over so that's why some of the flowers are bruised, and also the step ladder is now holding the plant up until I can tie it to the palm behind. Amazing fragrance after dark on this one, less soapy than others and closer to jasmine.


This Coleus 'Florida Beauty' changes color according to the temperature - in the hot weather it is just green and dark burgundy (you can see those leaves lower down) but now that it's cooling, it puts on the yellow and light green. Begonia 'Don Miller' used to have white spots on a dark green background, but right now the leaves are almost entirely pearly, shiny white with just green veins.


Miniature cannas just bloom and bloom as long as it's warm.

Those are beautiful Elaine, I didn't have a chance to take pictures today but this is the time that my plumerias will lose their leaves and sleep. Thank goodness for no ID Dendrobiums, pink hibiscus and daisies that I have great blooms.

Nice show Elaine!! You always have such gorgeous plants in bloom at your place.
That lovely orchid on the left looks a lot like Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis 'Citrus Cooler') One I have/had (not sure if it's still alive out in the bushes in the yard) but I love the colors in those blooms! We currently have only one photo in the database of that beautiful Begonia 'Don Miller' It reminds me a lot of one I had years ago called 'Frosty' ... love the shiny, pearly leaves!

I mowed the lawn and pulled weeds today (3 large black trash bags full!) and managed to get a couple of pictures of this ground orchid before the rains began. Spathoglottis (Sorbet series) 'Berry Banana' has been blooming off and on since June.

I'm really starting to like the spaths. Good to know they do well here.

Gigi, I'd think you would do well with Spathoglottis the same way you grow your Dendrobiums, alongside the plumeria. I haven't had any luck growing Spaths in ground here, but I do have a lot of oak tree roots to contend with. So all my Spaths stay in pots. They'd help fill in the flower gaps, especially great at this time of year.

Under a deciduous shrub like your plummies, they'd get some nice shade in summer, and lots of sun in winter which should be just right for them. That's what mine get anyway.

Watch for them on sale at Lowe's - they get different colors all through the spring, and boy! do they ever fly off the shelves fast.

Sometimes, you just want to take a loofah to a lizard.



My Gopher Tortoise friend looks grumpy today. Maybe it's the weather?



My Abutilon is still blooming. It doesn't really stop except for maybe the two weeks of winter we get.



My Privet Cassia (Senna ligustrina) has mostly gone to seed but still has some flowers.

Melanie, love the photos!

Gopher Tortoises always appear to be grumpy faced but they are such awesome critters! Love, Love, Love that beautiful Abutilon flower! That's a plant I've always thought I'd like to try but was told that Abutilon doesn't do well in Florida ... still might have to give it a go one of these days after we are moved and settled in our retirement home. Pretty Cassia bloom ... at the house we owned for 40 years, a neighbor gave me a cutting of her Senna tree that grew into this beauty: Christmas Senna (Senna bicapsularis) It was a favorite of mine because it bloomed in December here, when little else was in flower.

I think the same thing every time I see a little Anole Lizard molting.

Ann, I know some Abutilon are native to Florida. I think I bought mine at one of the USF sales; I've had that plant for years. It's in the shade and the hummingbirds and Zebra Longwings really seem to like it.

We've had both a Bearded Dragon and an Old World Veiled Chameleon as pets and I couldn't stand seeing them with dead skin so I'd spray them good and gently rub it off. Our chameleon was a bit feral - my brother found him crossing the street in our neighborhood - but as long as I moved at a snail's pace, he would usually let me touch him.

I don't remember who told me that Abutilon would not do well here in Florida ... I am definitely going to think seriously about trying one next year. I've been drooling at some of those listed at Plant Delights: http://www.plantdelights.com/A... and Top Tropicals: http://toptropicals.com/catalo...

Oh wow, I had no idea those would grow here! How much water do they need Melanie? I mean, as in, are they drought tolerant? Do they get red leaves before losing them? I need some fall color around here.

Am I the only one growing one of these in Florida? Let's see, mine is in pretty deep shade; I don't know how it would do with more sunlight. It gets watered twice per week by the sprinklers except when the county cuts us back to once per week. And when it rains it gets watered. I haven't given it supplemental water since I planted it. I don't think I've ever seen the leaves change color on mine. Yup, I just confirmed with Dad that it does not change color or lose its leaves. Dad has to trim it back once the threat of frost is past. In fact, leave some room for them because they get bigger than you might think. Okay, we all know I suck at garden planning and frankly, it's my fault I planted other things too close to it. But they do get pretty big. And it's never frosted back or died back to the ground which is why Dad always has to trim it. Oh, and I never protect it with blankets or anything, although it is right by my neighbor's fence so that may help. I'll have to take a picture of the whole thing tomorrow so you can see what it looks like. I like that it blooms constantly. I'm one of those people that demand a lot from my plants. None of this "bloom once and I'll see you next year" stuff! Okay, I have a few like that, but not many!

I grew some Abutilon from seed a few years ago, (not sure why . . somebody gave me seeds ) and I had red, pink and pale yellow flowers. Only the yellow one grew pretty well, but none of them made it once I put them in the ground. Just couldn't get going with all the tree roots in my pitiful soil.

But they sure are beautiful, and I've seen them for sale at a couple of local nurseries, including that nice red/yellow striped one you have.

As you said, Melanie they do need some shade. I think I had mine in morning sun only.

Elaine, mine does get some morning sun but after that it's shaded by the canopy of the trees. It's been pretty happy ever since I planted it. No problems that I've ever seen.

Oooooooo, this might just fulfill a big need of mine then. I have a problem area where I've been trying to figure out what the heck to plant in that area. It's along our back fence line -- field fence -- we want to put something to provide privacy so it needs to be evergreen. But it's pretty darn shady back there under the oaks. See where I'm going with this? I really can't get water up there but it never gets super dry up there. I could plant in fall/winter when there is less stress & things can get established before the death of summer hits. I can haul water up there twice a week through the winter to help it get established.
I had not been able to find anything fitting the requirements except to transplant some of the Carolina Cherry Laurels that have volunteered around the property but hesitated to do so for the very reason that they are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO prolific with their seeds. I didn't want to be battling it trying to take over for the rest of my life.
I've found things that will take the shade but they all seem to require very moist situations. I've found things that need more sun than what is available there.
It was looking like the Carolina Cherry Laurel was my only choice.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm........
Melanie, please do take that full photo. The only thing I'm wondering now is if it really will remain evergreen up here. We get a lot colder than you do Melanie.
I'm going to be looking into this further in the meantime.

Okay, I promised a picture of my Abutilon, so here it is. For reference, that fence is not quite as tall as me so I think it's five feet? As you can see, it's pretty shaded by the trees but some dappled sunlight is visible on the ground. There are a couple of other things growing in there with it, but most of that is all Abutilon.

Thank you Melanie! That helps a lot!

Florida folks! I went on a private tour with the FL Wildflower Foundation today to Orlando Wetlands Park. I made my own thread about it full of butterflies, birds, and other fun stuff. Check it out, and then check out the park! They're having their Wetlands Festival on Feb. 20th!

The thread "Melanie's Super Adventure at Orlando Wetlands Park!" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

http://www.cityoforlando.net/w...

It's great, too. Looks like you had a lot of fun and sure saw lots of neat stuff.

Beautiful Melissa!

Hope ATP members living in Sarasota/Manatee area are safe