Every year, from early Spring through the summer, I admire those beautiful pictures of Daylilies from other people's blog, wondering when I can own some of these beauties in my garden.
For some reasons, Daylilies are hard to find in South Florida. Occasionally, the big box stores have some for sale. I brought two home in two different times, and both died after the initial blooming. I did some researches, and found out that among thousands of Daylilies, there are three foliage types: Dormant, Semi-evergreen, and Evergreen. For people live deep South like me, Evergreen is the one that will survive our long-lasting hot weather. No wonder I failed twice since those two were all Domant types! Then why they even sold them in the store since Daylilies are not supposed to be a one-time thing in the garden?!
Anyway, since I did not find any local nurseries to buy Evergreen Daylilies, I looked over the Internet. I ordered 5 bareroot Evergreen double-fans from http://smokeysdaylilygardens.com/, and they arrived at the end of last October.
This week, two of them are already blooming! I am not sure if it is only because they are the early bloomers ( 'Lavender Silence' is labled as "Extra-early", and "Whooperee' is labled as "Early-mid" ), or also because of the mild winter we are having in South Florida. Nevertheless, I am excited to see these beauties are finally finding a home in my garden! If they all perform well after this summer, I think I will order more this fall. With a small garden, Daylilies are the ones I can find some space to squeeze in.
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| Whooperee Evergreen, early-mid, rebloomer, 6.5" flower, 24" scape height, fragrant, recurved |
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| Lavender Silence Evergreen, extra-early, 6.5" flower, 22" scape height, ruffled, fragrant, recurved |
This Rex Begonia is in a shady area, and recently started shooting up the flower scapes. I bought it last year. After one year, it has been growing nicely. I have separated it into four plants. I think after a couple of years, I can expand them to the whole border that surrounds the air conditioner area. Even when it is not blooming, I love the texture of this plant.
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| Begonia |
Another combo I like: White Angelonia angustifolia, colorful coleus, and blue Lobelia erinus Techno Heat. This Lobelia is supposed to withstand the hottest summer temperatures while blooming nonstop. I will see if it holds true to Florida heat as well.
My front entry is quite colorful this winter. I removed some copperleaf bushes in the front, and put two cast iron cranes statues there together with some bromeliads.
This philodendron 'moonlight' behind the cranes statues started as a 3-in house plant from the big box store. Oh boy, how much it has grown! Wonder how much bigger it will get if I put it in the ground.
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| philodendron 'moonlight' |
and I did not know it blooms as well!!!
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| philodendron 'moonlight' bloom |
Snapdragon flower is one of my favorite winter annuals...
Pertunia is perfect for containers. Red is used to combo the white.
Purple petunia is in this container I have just redone, together with Flax lily and purple Verbenas.
Red and white petunias are in this pot with 'Red Star'.
My most favorite red-white stripe petunia is in this container.
Orchids that are currently blooming...
The first is a Cattleya orchid gifted from my friend this Christmas. Love this soft yellow.
This Moth orchid is reblooming the second time for me since I bought it one year ago. I have special thing for any orchid flowers with dots.
I recently purchased this Mini Oncidium Equitant from a big box store. It has five flower spikes.
It looks so pretty and fits well in the pot that my husband brought for me from China last year.
I am really enjoying my winter garden. I have to say I am spoiled by this year's Florida winter.
