Autumn Colors -- My Favorites October 2010

One thing I have missed living in Florida is seeing the autumn colors on the trees and in the gardens.   My hometown in China has distinct season changes, and when I was kid, I loved to see autumn breeze blew those orange, brown, red and yellow leaves off  the trees, and then I would chase those leaves along the road. 

Yes, I do love living in Florida, especially I can garden here all year long.  But every year this time, I still find myself missing those autumn colors, and always try to find something around me that can remind me those time I spent in China when I was a kid.

Here are the autumn colors I found in my garden. 

Crotons' colorful leaves look like this all year long, but I found they seem more noticeable in Fall.

This bush has green leaves with yellow spots.  It seems quite popular in South Florida landscape. Both my previous and current houses had this in the garden before we moved in.  They seem to be just there all year long, and I even have not bothered to find its name until today!  My camera did find it is quite a good Autumn color for my collection, don't you think?   I know I will have the answer soon from my garden friends out there...

The leaves of Acalypha Wlkesiana (Copperleaf or Beafsteak) are the ones that closest to the autumn colors in my mind.  They do change the color from green to red/orange between the new leaves and more matured ones.

Bromeliads are showing their colorful foliages even mother plants are fading away.

Orange color is the most cheerful Autumn color in the garden. 

Bulbine Frutescens

Hibiscus

Aechmea blanchetiana 'Orangeade'

Indian Blanket Flowers (Gaillardia pulchella)

The following two plants are newly additions to the garden.  I found they also have nice Autumn colors.  I bought the first one without any label on it.  Is it Hawaiian Ti?

This one was simply marked as "Cordyline".  Anybody knows its variety name?

Firespike (Odontonema strictum) just pasted its peak time.   This is the first time I have ever planted Firespike.  Is this its seed pod?  It does look like Autumn "Fruit" to me...

This begonia has silver/purple color when the leaves mature, another beautiful Autumn color.

Various coleus in the garden has been making my garden so colorful for months, but today I found they actually make a good fall collection too!

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After publishing the post initially, I realized that it is that time of the month again!  Every 25th day of each month, Susan at Simply Susan! invites us to join her to publish our favorites of the month.  I think this post is perfect for that, Autumn colors are definitely my favorites of my October Garden!

You may also have noticed that it has been about one month since my last post, which was for September Favorites.   I have been quite busy for months now both at work and home.  Recently my parents also came to visit us from China. They will stay with us for six months, and kids can have more time to know their grandparents.  Parents are both in their 70s.  They have visited us three times since I came to US almost sixteen years ago, and this time I really feel how age can impact a person.  I treasure this opportunity that I can stay with them for a period of time, and finally can take care of them like they have nurtured me when I was young.  Even I still go back to China to visit them, I know the time I am having with them now is so precious.  So, I guess between trying to be a good wife, mother, and daughter, and holding a full time job, I won't have much time to blog.  I know I will still enjoy visiting my favorite blogs, and might comment when I can.  Hopefully,  I also can occasionally show some new flowers from my garden in my blog.

Happy Gardening, My Friends!

The Hot, The Loud and The Proud! -- Ornamental Pineapple, Copperleaf and Magnolia

Welcome to my "The Hot, The Loud and The Proud!" post, a meme hosted by Noel at "A Plant Fanatic In Hawaii" . 

With my recent out of ordinary busy working schedule, I thought I won't be able to make it.  Yesterday when I came home, it surprisingly still had daylight, which was not normal recently.  When I was wandering in my garden, I found after all I might have something to share.

Here is the HOT red ornamental pineapple!  It has been blooming for a couple of month now, recently the red color of the bloom as well as the leaves intensified even more, which made it looking really hot.  Don't you think?

Ornamental Pineapple

Here is the LOUD copperleaf (Acalypha Wlkesiana ).  It lost all the leaves in this past winter due to the strange long lasting cold weather in South Florida.  Now it is coming back better than ever with its magnificent tri-color, really making a loud statement, "I AM BACK"!

Acalypha Wlkesiana (Copperleaf or Beafsteak)

Here is the PROUD, the white magnolia!  Oops, this is actually not in my garden.  It belongs to my working place.  I have been watching these flower trees for a while since they set the first bud.  Since I recently spent so much time at work, does it make me deserve to use it for this post?!

Magnolia bud

Magnolia flower in half open

 Magnolia flower in half open (Top view)

Magnolia flower in full open

 Even this flower only lasts two to three days after starting unfurling, the scent is just heavenly!  When it fully opens,  it is about 7 to 8 inches across.  I found even its stamens are so fascinating with that unique shape and the color!

YAY, I made it!

For other "The Hot, The Loud and The Proud" around the world, please found the links at Noel's site at http://aplantfanatic.blogspot.com/.