Various Pentas Lanceolata (繁星花) are very attractive to butterflies. They got severe frost bites during the unsual freeze weather we experienced in January. Now they all recovered quite well. Wish the butterflies can get the messages and come to visit them very soon.
Weeping (trailing) lantana lavender is nicely trailing down from the container. I also have the yellow color of this type in my garden, but it has not started blooming yet.
Geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum, 洋葵/天竺葵) are proven to be cold-hardy in my south florida garden. They went through the freeze weather just fine. Only the leaves got some dark purple marks, but it never stopped blooming. I love the spetacular display of the large flower clusters (across 4 to 5 inches) that rise above the leaves one after another. They really added lots of brightness to my garden. I think they are perfect border flowers.
This week there are two kinds of roses blooming: Rosa 'Perfume Delight' and Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora.
Rosa 'Perfume Delight'
Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora (3/16/2010)
Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora (same flower two days later on 3/18/2010)
They are not located in my "Rose Corner". Since these were the very first two rose bushes I planted in my garden, I did what everybook told me to do: planted in a full sun area. I soon realized that south florida "full sun" in the summer is just too much, even for "sun-loving" roses! In the summer, the flower would soon wilt right after opening the bud, and the edge of the flower would be scorched.
They are definitely more beautiful and hold much longer in this cool early spring (around 60 to 70 Fahrenheit) of Florida. Check the change of the same Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora flower in two days range above.
I hope my newly planted six rose bushes will find the "Rose Corner" a happier place to live in the summer since they do get several hours of afternoon shade.
That is all for today. Have a relaxing weekend!
I will use this as my second entry to the Blooming Friday. For other bloomings all over the world, please check out Katrarina's site at http://rosorochris.blogspot.com/.
You have lots of lovely colour in your garden already. I have lots of pentas as well ... they come through our heat and humidity really well.
ReplyDeleteLantana is a noxious weed over here ... it has naturalised in the bushland that surrounds my suburb and killed off many native plants ... so we don't grow it in our gardens. I do however appreciate the lovely colours of yours.
Lantana camara is my favorite in your wonderful and summerlike post. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh Ami, your roses are gorgeous! I especially like Queen Elizabeth. You are having great success with your roses.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures of your flowers. Have a nice weekend/Gela
ReplyDeleteYour roses are very beautiful, but I am most impressed with your pentas and lantana. Mine were decimated by the cold this year. I laugh because I was so excited to see new green leaves coming up on them way down deep in the beige sticks yesterday. And here yours are in full bloom!!! Your garden is definitely wide awake!
ReplyDeleteHi Ami,
ReplyDeleteYour garden is way ahead of mine and looking fully awake already! Very pretty pentas and roses. I'm convinced the roses and geraniums definitely like this cooler weather much better than our summer. Me, too.
Have a great weekend.
Meems
hello! Spring looks wonderful in Florida. The bicolored lantana is great - it's always caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteAmi,
ReplyDeleteYour Lantana is looking good.I have a Lantana [ dug up in the woods type ] that is covered in blooms now. The butterflys are starting to show up again and they always stop at this plant!
Ami, If I were a butterfly I would love visiting your garden!! lol! Lovely blooms!! ;>)
ReplyDeleteI hope the butterflies will fly right into your garden this moment, seeing you have so many lovely blooms just waiting for them. Queen Elizabeth is a beautiful rose which is also available here in Sweden.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blooming weekend!
Beautiful colours - I particularly like the Lantana because of the mix of colours on one flower head. Hope the butterfloes arrive soon!
ReplyDeleteBernie:
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to know that same plant is accepted (or not) differently in different parts of the world. We have Lantana everywhere here in Florida.
Lillebeth:
Yes, Lantana indeed added lots of summer look into the garden. Its peak blooming time is indeed in summer.
NanaK:
I don't know if I dare to say I am having success with roses yet, a little too early to tell. Will see how they react to our hot humd summer.
Gela: Thanks for stopping by! I also hopped over to your garden. Even I don't know the language, but the blooming is wonderful in your garden :)
Floridagirl and Meems:
I think being one zone south of you does make some difference. It won't take too long for your gardens awaken to the warm weather. Looking forward to seeing your spring/summer flowers soon!
Wendy:
Spring in florida is actually very short. It soon becomes the "summer". I am trying to enjoy this cooler weather as much as I can now.
Sanddune: I still don't see much butterflies visiting yet. Maybe they already left when I come from work? hmm...
Carol:
LOL. I would love to see you visiting my garden any time!
Katarina:
I hope so too. I also hope I can capture them with my camera when they do come. I am not good at taking the butterflies shots yet. It is wonderful to know that same flower is appreciated in different parts of the world. Queen Elizabeth is one of my favorite roses.
easygardener:
Yes, that is also one major part I love about the Lantana. Thanks for stopping by!
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ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Ami, thanks so much for visiting and leaving lovely comments. Second of all, you're growing some of my favourite annuals--well, pentas and lantana are annuals for us wintery types in Nova Scotia, naturally.Bees and butterflies love them, which is why I encourage people to grow them whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteWow, your roses are truly lovely. I love the shades of pink. I can't imagine how plants can survive frost and the winter.
ReplyDeleteHeisann!
ReplyDeleteSoon will the flowers bloom here too.
Still some snow left!
Hi Amy, what gorgeous blooms you have happening in your garden! I'm a butterfly lover too...and hope to have a few showy things with the nectar that they love, but not just yet. I love lantana, too. I've never planted pentas, but will try to remember it as a possibility. Spring is definitely here in northern VA, but not like Florida;-) You have a lovely blog;-) Jan
ReplyDeleteHi Ami. You have some of my favorite plants growing. Lantana and Geraniums are always in my garden.I love your deeper red and yellow Lantana. I have a few Pentas started now from seeds for this summer.Your roses are beautiful.Wonderful blooms and pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog.
Lona