A Long Over Due Post

One of the things that I have learned about gardeners is that they are generous beyond words. That is definitely true of Garden Bloggers. And I've also learned that your baby is your baby forever, even if someone else is taking care of it, at least I feel that way. So I thought that the very generous gardeners that have sent me seeds and cuttings might like to see how their babies are doing:

First are Red Yucca seedlings from VanillaLotus at New Sprout. She sent them back in May and they shot right up, but they've looked like this for several months now. I had several containers that more or less look like this and I planted one in the ground to see if it would take off, but that was only a week ago. Not sure if this is just what yucca do (hee, hee) or if I'm doing something wrong. I really hope it takes off because I love yucca blooms.

Second are Angel Trumpet seeds from the Gardening Fool. They are going gang busters. I think there about 7 to 9 plants and I can't wait to see how they progress. Then came the mother load: Green Jeans from Central Florida Gardening extremely generously sent me a box of great plants, including some of her spiral ginger:

This was from the tuber:

These were cuttings.

She also sent hibiscus seeds (below)

. . . and air plants, which I really thought I got a picture of until I turned on the camera tonight.

Last but not least, Annette from our Our Garden Dirt for seeds from her fabulous four o'clocks. I'm following her specific instructions and not planting them until spring. (BTW Annette, where did ya' go?)

Many THANKS to all of you!!!

Side note: I brought all of the babies in tonight because it is getting COLD tonight. Not quite freezing, but too cold for the little ones. The cold weather has me mentally skipping Halloween and going right to Christmas. I'm trying to get in a festive mood, but I'm not quite feeling Halloween this year.

Attention Florida Voters: Read This Post!!

Prompted by Julie at A Succulent Life!, I searched the Internet for info on the almost incomprehensible amendments to Florida constitution. As I am planning on voting tomorrow, I wanted to be knowledgeable. (Yes! Early voting in Florida includes Saturdays! Wah-Hoo!! Not all locations, but the one I was planning to use has it.) There are some really important ones on there, and the wording is simply ridiculous. They need to be translated into English. This was a really good site, and I wanted to share it with my fellow Florida gardeners.

http://www.flamendments.org/

(BTW - Again, I'm steering away from flowers, but I think there is an amendment or two here us nature lovers can get behind. Amendment 4, anyone?)

(BTW, BTW - If you do live in Florida, try to vote early. The lines are already crazy long and are sure to be worse on the 4th. I tried today and the line wrapped half around the building. And these people were standing in the rain! Don't wait if you can help it.)

UPDATE: The Butterfly Garden

My daughter loves touching the pussy-willow soft blooms of the Mealycup sage.

I realized that it has been a while since I've posted updates of the gardens. I guess it all feels a bit repetitive to me, but as always, I'm so surprised about how much it changes when it feels like it is staying the same. I have posted links at the bottoms of these posts that tell the story of each of the gardens. I love seeing how much they have changed since March, but it is a bit sad to know that dreary ol' January is just around the corner. Until then, here is the butterfly garden, which is much nicer in person than comes off in the picture.

Here is the Butterfly Garden's Past.

UPDATE: The Shed Garden

See the shed garden's history here.

UPDATE: The Front Garden

This pic was taken almost a week ago. Since then the pentas and the oleander have started blooming.

The rest of the story is here.

UPDATE: The Corner Garden

The corner garden still has some work to do. I need something with height along the back of the fence. You see the beginnings of a trellis, which I may, or may not get finished before spring. Regardless, it looks much better than it did back in March:

To follow the entire evolution of this garden, go here.

I’ve just spent far too much time drooling over the plants at Plant Delights Nursery. The selection there is ridiculous. If anyone is looking for a Christmas present for me, I will happily accept gift certificates.

Little Bastard

Growing Grass

Ya' know, I love my husband. Last week he trimmed all of hedges, mowed, and did all of the chores I don't like doing. He also sowed winter rye grass, which stays nice and green all winter. Unfortunately, the spreader's aim isn't so good. Sigh. I'll be picking rye grass out of my garden beds all weekend.

I'm Trying to Keep This Blog About Gardening . . .

. . . And not about politics, but it will occasionally creep in. However, sometimes these issues combine. I need the bumper sticker.

Gardeners for Obama

Perdy Pictures

Finally! The season is almost over and I finally have a bloom on my passion flower vine. Just in time too because the caterpillars are on their way.

My butterfly ginger is putting on a nice second showing.

Thought I'd share the plant love.

Master Gardener's Plant Sale

It is already time again for the Master Gardener's Fall Plant Sale where local Master Gardeners get rid of their extras for fun and profit. The Nursery Nazi called me up again and headed down with me.

There seemed to be more selection this year, although N.N. lured me with the promise of lots of gingers, a promise that didn't really pan out. I did find some Angel Wing Begonias for the pool garden:

I've been wanting one of these and was happy to hear from one of the Master Gardeners that it propgates easily. It was fun shopping with the N. N. She could inspect my plants for bugs and diseases before I bought them! We also had a chance to hang out at her house and see some of her plants:

Wild Poincetta (which I think I like WAY better than the Christmas kind.)

Pink Mandevilla growing on her trellis.

Chickens! Chickens are funny.

N.N. didn't know what this plant was . . .

. . . or this one. Do you know?

Tagged and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I've been tagged by Sparky for the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I usually shy away from these things, but Sparky, ya' caught me in a mood. Here it goes.

My favorites:

1. Clothes Shop: While there are many places I like better, my budget usually dictates that I shop at Target. It's all about the math: Less money for clothes = more money for plants
2. Furniture Shop: My parents and In-Law's houses.
3. Sweet: If it isn't chocolate, its as waste of time and calories.
4. City: Is this favorite city? I spent a summer in St. Petersburg, Russia when I was in college, so I'm attached to that city. I like visiting just about any city, especially one with a good subway system. Wasn't crazy about L. A.
5. Drink: Rum and Coke is the ol' stand by, but I'll try just about anything.
6. Music: Hmmm, Beck and Jack White are incapable of writing a bad song. I also like Fiona Apple, Feist, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and NIN.
7. TV Series: Lost. Period. I might watch others, but I'm a bit obsessed with this one.
8. Films: Napoleon Dynamite, anything by Charlie Kaufman.
9. Workout: I have an expensive elliptical machine that I think about using all the time.
10. Pastries: Cupcakes.
11 Coffee: Starbucks. I used to be a die hard coffee person, but I'm becoming more of a green tea fan.

Now I gotta tag someone. Please know I will not be offended if you don't post about the tag. This is just a chance to call out some of my favorite blogs: A Succulent Life, Cannas and Bananas, Florida Backyard, Bloom, and the Greenhouse Gardener.

Wanna play with your blog? Check out this post from Vert. Or don't. I pretty much posting this so I don't loose it.

BLOG FOLLOWERS: If you follow me, I'll follow you, and we'll see where we end up.

New Layout

You might have noticed the new layout. I have to credit The Cutest Blog on the Block for the great instructions. Hope you like it. (I'll be adding the new header soon.)

Home Depot Sculptures

If you haven't already been to Garden History Girl's blog, you should really hit it up; it is a garden nerd's paradise. She finds the most fascinating things there, like this post on an artist making sculptures in the middle of Home Depot. How cool!

Tonight's Blooms

My 'Stargazer' lily bloomed this week. With the days shortening and me working longer hours, there hasn't been much sunlight to take pictures until lately.

This is the only one of the Nerine Guernsey lily that bloomed. Tomorrow I should have bloom, but nowhere near the size in the picture.