The Rain - Oh How We Love The Rain!

 The rain has been wonderful- just wonderful.  Everything is rejoicing in the rain!!

The Texas Sage are blooming all over town- it is a wonderful sight. 

The Cactus have been very showy this year- not sure if it is due to the rain or just a coincidence but I am happy either way.

 The 'Soft Caress' Mahonia are beginning to bloom. 

 I love the contrast of the deep green and the bright yellow.

One of my favorite combos lately is the brightness of the Damianita and the neon purple of the Homestead Verbena.  

 The Thryallis are blooming as well- a lot of yellow I am noticing in this post.....

 The Clerodendrum 'Blue Butterfly' are blooming as well- I think this is such an unusual flower.

And last but not least, the Large Cigar Plant- I love this little Cuphea. There are so many, but I have always loved this one best. it looks like candy corn to me.  

Hope everyone had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend.

Monday Monday

Happy Monday to all and hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

It was chilly here this morning but is absolutely beautiful right now.

I walked around and got a few shots of some little show-off's I thought I'd share.

The Kalanchoes continue to be my favorite- the first photo and the one above being two of them.  I like how this one has the little "fangs" on the underside of it's leaves- hence what I would imagine is why it got it's name.

 The 'Midnight' Salvia is bursting with color- such a radiant purple.  I like both, hard to choose between this and the traditional one with the purple and white.

 The Mandarin Oranges are just about ready to eat.  Can't wait!!!

 The Mexican Flame Vine has finally burst with color on our side of the fence- forever it seemed it was solid orange on the other side but now we are getting it's showy self- the one at the entrance is loaded with blooms- can't wait for that either!

 The Cigar Plant is blooming below the flame vine and I love how it picks up on the orange- it makes it showier.

 The Possumhaw are doing their thing.

 The Valencia Oranges are turning and will be ready soon!

 The Chrysanthemum pacificum are beginning to bloom.  I will admit, I was not so impressed with this plant at first, but it is growing on me- I like the silver on the backs of the leaves the most.

 The 'Black Scallop' Ajuga are blooming away and looking pretty as ever.

And last but not least, I just can't pass up a Maple leaf.  These little guys are a deep maroon and just scream fall to me.

Tuesday Tidbits

The Cereus have bloomed- this is one of about 50 more blooms to come- they are completely loaded with blooms.  I have never seen them so full of blooms.  This week I have been arriving early just so I can see them all.  Today one is open, looks like about 4 will be waiting for me in the morning.  The bees are already at work and happy.

This is such an interesting Kalanchoe to me- it looks like a Venus Fly Trap.  We have several Kalanchoes but this is the most interesting I think.

I am happy to report that the front bed is full of the ice plant and the Calandrinia that I planted in there in February is big and full and happy.  I can't wait for it to bloom again.  I am still happy with this arrangement- everything in this bed is happy and getting along beautifully.

The Large Cigar Plants are beginning to bloom- I have been waiting to see these in person and it was worth the wait. No wonder they call this variety Candy Corn!

The Yellow Trumpet Vine is thriving and full of blooms- I like the orange one as well but the yellow is stunning to me.

And last but not least is a shot of my latest arrangement - I must admit I am happy with the way it turned out.  I like how the colors all seem to bounce off each other.  I have the St. Elmo Firecracker Ferns at the front, the Yucca rigida behind, then the Salvia Black and Blue then the Thyrallis.  Behind the Thyrallis is the Bottle Brush which started coming into bloom yesterday.