Me too, Ursula. Even though they are very susceptible to spider mites, and I battle them every summer the brugs are such dependable, spectacular bloomers that I keep them going. Kathy, very pretty, we cross posted!
Now, this is our "back 40" an area behind our big shop that we've left pretty much au naturel. It has deep shade from the big oak, and we use it for parking our eclectic collection of boats and trailers and cars. The oddest collection of things pops up out there, and I took a stroll through with my camera today. Btw, the price DH paid for being allowed to build a 1000sq.ft. shop out back was he had to put in rainwater cisterns for the runoff from that nice big roof.
Is it an aspidistra? Or a baby palm? The red Passiflora coccinea are everywhere, even 40ft. up in the oak tree, blooming away.
Outside the back gate is another area I hardly look at, although I did give these guys a shot of fert to last them through the summer.
Caesalpinia pulcherimma, aka Pride of Barbados or dwarf Poinciana. The long stamens on the flowers usually sweep up gracefully but they took a little beating from the hard rain.
My only hibiscus, not counting the red-leaf Hib. acetocella that seeds itself everywhere. This one has a trunk the size of my leg, and is battling a volunteer palm, the sweet viburnum hedge, and various wild vines incl. scuppernong grapes, Virginia creeper and pigeon pea. Still, it faithfully blooms each summer, a few nice double flowers each day.
Last, a pretty Brazilian plume in white, waiting to find a permanent home. They don't like my high pH well water, and the leaves get very chlorotic in the dry season, unless I water them with the precious rain water.
