Ok, I realize there are other plants out there...

Ok, I realize there are other plants out there other than these Cereus that I have posted a few times but I just saw THIS.  A fruit!  Who knew.  See, still learning so much.  I thought it was a going to be a purple flower and got all excited and went to show Michael who informed me it is a fruit.  Who knew.  Pretty cool though.  

I went out to the nursery for a bit just to visit, I have missed it so much.  Everything looks so happy and is in bloom.  The Pride of Barbados that I planted have just exploded along the fence line.  I can't believe it!  I planted these just at a month ago and when I did they were really not that much to look at - look at them now!   I snapped a few photos of some things but will take more when I am more up to it.  I can say however, that you can totally tell it rained, if only a little.  The plants have really responded.  It is crazy (in a good way) how much they really seem to transform with a little bit of rain.  

I am worried my little succulent pot that I planted is getting too big for it's britches.  I guess I will have to put it in a bigger pot.  I really like this style of pot though.  I got it from the guy next door that sells pots.  I am not so much into this style of pottery but I did like this one as it was plain and straight lines and thought it looked good with the succulents.  

This is a close up of the Desert Rose bloom which I think is so pretty.  This is a new one for me and I really like it.

  I am undecided on the mix here.  I think it just needs a little more time.  The Tecoma have exploded as they tend to do, the Furcrea still looks really good and the Ice Plant is growing like mad. I guess it is just not done doing what it is supposed to do.  The Pink and White Salvia (at the back) was cut back, I think when that fills back out (and it is on it's way) I will like it more.  I am happy with each plant individually, the Hamelia looks good, the Queen Victoria, I just don't know... I guess it just needs a little more time to fill out.  Like I said, when I look at them individually I am happy, it is just as a whole I guess it isn't my favorite, at least right now.   I am going to give it a little more time then I might mix it up.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

I think this is a really neat thing that May Dreams Gardens has done to ask everyone to post what is blooming in their gardens!  

To be fair I only am posting plants that are blooming in the planted beds today with the one exception of the Cereus.  It was just too pretty not to share.  

Here we go- here is what is blooming today:

In the front planter- I really like this plant- it is a Brazilian Pavonia and I like the burgundy center.  I think it makes a nice contrast to the pale pink.

 The Delospermum are growing like crazy in the front planter.  Such a neat contrast to the Queen Victoria Agave (which is not blooming so no photo).

The Hamelia are full of blooms.

The Tecoma are full of blooms as well- little late in the day to be taking photos on most of these but I got here late so had to deal with the sun on the plants that aren't shaded so sorry some of the photos aren't better.

Plumbago, how can you ever go wrong with Plumbago? 

The Mexican Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia.  So interesting I think with the red sprays.

The White Salvia are blooming like mad- did a close up so you can see the touches of pink.

The Palo Verde- got a little bee in the one bloom to the right.  He was unphased I was there nor was he phased by the wind which was making my photo session difficult.

The Thyrallis are blooming away.  I will admit this has never been my favorite plant but Shonna swears if I just give it time I will come to love it.  We shall see. 

Mystic Spires Salvia, oldie but goodie.  How can you not love these?  I have it in the side bed by the Caesalpinia - I think there are only purple and yellow flowers in this bed.  I also have the other Caesalpinia at the opposite end that is all yellow but it wasn't in full bloom today- when he is showing off I will post that- a really pretty one.

Cat Mint bloom- in my purple and yellow bed of course.  This is a neat little plant.

There you have it.  Everything I have that is in bloom and pretty enough to post. Hope you enjoy.  I wish I had gotten here a little earlier so the sun would not have been quite so bright for the shots.  Now I am off to continue looking at all the pretty posts!!!

Hummmmmmmm

Finally! I captured the hummingbirds.  There are 5 that are constantly buzzing around the nursery and I have yet to be able to get a good picture.  Until now.  I have had so much fun out there with them- they buzz right by me and make the most unusual little sound as if they are chirping while flying.  

There is one that loves to swoop down then go sit on a branch and just observe.  They have been so much fun to watch.  

They are confused I think by the Bay Laurels, as there are no blooms right now but they continue to go over there in hopes to find one.  The Black and Blue Salvia and the White Salvia leucantha seem to be the top two favorites.  Then it would be the Trumpet Vine and the Calandrinia.  A few find their way to the Hamelia but tend to stick right there in the group of four I have been calling it as I can stand right there in the middle of it all and they fly around me.  Hopefully I will have more photos to post soon!

Enjoy!

The Blooms are Coming!!!

 The Cereus Cactus are getting blooms on them.  I can't wait.  They are night bloomers but I get here early enough that I see them in the mornings.  I don't remember how long it takes from this point but I just noticed these and there are 5 between two of the cactus.  So exciting!

 Here's another one and you can see behind it is yet another!

Not sure what this is going to amount to on this little guy, maybe this is all it does?  I have been watching this develop for a while now wondering if it will bloom or if this is it's thing.  This is the Peruvian Old Man Cactus.

Here is a shot of one side of the front planter- it was just planted up so it is going to take a while to fill in but I like the way it looks.  Shonna did most of the design/placement, I must give credit where credit is due.  Here we have a  mix of things and I think they all compliment each other nicely. The Furcrea gives it nice height I think.  Other plants in there are the Hamelia (which the hummingbirds have been all over by the way), Variegated Sedge, Delospermum Ice Plant, Queen Victoria Agave, White Salvia leucantha, Crassula Silver Dollar, Tecoma stans, Calandrinia, and  Schizocentron.

Here is a shot of the outer bed- it is not finished but it's a start.  The Mystic Spires Salvia are going strong and the Chocolate Mimosa I think adds a nice tropical touch to the bed.  We put a few grasses in there and two different types of Caesalpinia- the yellow form of the Pride of Barbatos and the Bird of Paradise.  I like the yellow and the purples together so I threw in a Buddleia with purple blooms to round it all out.  I am not done, still have to mulch etc... but I like the way it is coming together.  I will do close ups of the blooms and post but it is just too sunny right now to capture them nicely.

Sunday Favorites

The Queen Victoria Agave is always a favorite.

The Abutilon seem to be happy doing their upside down flower thing they do so well.   These have always intrigued me.

The Hamelia are not only a favorite of mine, but of the hummingbirds as well.  There are two that hover around the Firebush, and no, I still have not captured a good picture of them.  But I have not given up.  

The Calandrinia spectabilis is, and will always be a favorite of mine.  Almost every one we have is in bloom.  I think the blooms are such a pretty color and such a nice contrast to the plant itself.  

And last but not least for the day is the Hypericum, the St. Johns wort.  These are always surprising me with their changing foliage and flowers.  I have to admit these are my favorite shrub. 

What a beautiful day.  Just a few shots of things that stood out to me today.

Happy Sunday!!