End of March Garden

Can not believe it is the last day of March already!  I have not got much time to post recently, but everyday I can find something new blooming in my garden. 

Let me give you a quick tour in my March garden without much words...

This Catteleya bloomed almost the same time as last year.

Catteleya Orchid
Sophrolaeliocattleya Jewel Box 'Scheherazade' AM/AOS

When I bought this moth orchid, it was in a bad state, so I got it at a bargain price.  Now after some tender loving care, it rewarded me its beautiful flowers.  Love the unique pattern of the flower.

This white moth orchid also blooms the second time for me.

Some of my favorite container combinations...

Mona Lavendar

This Seemannia sylvatica 'Bolivian Sunset' has been non-stopping blooming since last November.  It will be interesting to see if it can tolerate Florida heat and humidity as well.

Seemannia sylvatica 'Bolivian Sunset'

I recently bought two blue containers, and this is one of them.  The plants I have chosen to put in are:  One Cordyline baurei 'Red Star' , verbena (white and pink stripe) and another unknown plant (orange flowers).

A close look...  I lost the tag of this small orange flower.  Anybody who recognizes the plant please share the name with me.

We got lots of much needed rain on past Tuesday and Wednesday.  Bromeliads always look extra fresh and beautiful after the rain.

I cut back this Cat Whiskers to almost half before the winter, now it is growing like wild again.  The red leave coleus is one of my favorite coleus plants.  I planted it last summer, and it still remians its beautiful color even it has grown much bigger.  I also have rooted several cuttings successfully. 



Just love the hot pink of this Hawaii Ti leaves!

First several caladiums emerged from the ground.  I move them into this new side garden border, next to the air conditioner unit.   This spot used to be an eye sore, now it  has some much needed colors added.

Three of my ground orchids have started blooming again.  Ground orchids have long blooming period in South Florida, and they have become one of my favorite collections.

More Dietes bicolor flowers have opened since they opened the first flower about three weeks ago.

This Dipladenia pink certainly knows the spring is coming.  It has been climbing up against the fence, and peeking over neighbour's gackyard. 

I am also submitting this post to participate Noel's "Hot, Loud and Proud" meme, and Katarina's Blooming Friday -- 'On the ground' meme.  For more beautiful flowers around the world, please also follow the link to visit their sites.

Have a nice weekend!

The Hot, the Loud and the Proud --- My First Cattleya Bloom!

When I told Noel at A Plantfantic in Hawaii that I MIGHT be able to come up something for his month-end meme "The Hot, the Loud and the Proud".  I was really not certain because I didn't know what I could present to fit this theme.

This is my very first cattleya ever.  When I bought this cattleya (Tag description: Sophrolaeliocattleya Jewel Box 'Scheherazade' AM/AOS) two months ago, it already had two flower buds.  I have been anxiously waiting for its blooming since then. When it finally started unfurling last week, I told myself, this is just a perfect bloom for Noel's theme!

I know, I know, all you Orchid Collectors out there right now might be laughing at my excitment toward this midium sized, single colored cattleya bloom, and I am sure you have seen too many far more maginicent flowers than this one. Hold on your laugh please! Did I say this is my VERY FIRST cattleya? So allow me to be proud of "my first" for a while here... :)

I had no idea what color of the bloom will be when I purchased it (you think I should know it by that long name on the tag?  Hmmm...), so speculating the color is part of my waiting anxiety.  I admit I was secretely hoping it will be one of those pink-purple-white bi-color blooms that Susan showed in her "Orchid Obsession" post.  But when this intense red, velvet textured bloom showed up in groups (four flowers emerged from each bud), I am not disappointed at all! 

So, here is "The Hot, the Loud and the Proud", my very first cattleya bloom after two-month of long waiting!