The weather we are having today is exactly why northerners flock here in the winter, and it's what we who live here year round, wait for every year. The last couple of days have been up in the 80's, and we've had the a.c. on. Woke up this morning to chilly temps so that we had to wear flannel shirts outside, but now it is wonderful out.
I hand watered the front garden areas, then got the hose out to do my shed garden and the secret garden, when I decided to do some trimming of the Louis Philippe rose and the bougainvillea that were taking over my shed. I did as much as I could do with the pole cutter, then asked DH for some help to finish it off. He got on a ladder first, then got up on the roof to get all that was up there. Now both plants will take off like crazy. There are only 5 roses on what's left of LP, but it won't be long before there will be more blooms. I am really bad about not pruning, so that things get gangly and overgrown. It hurts, if you know what I mean, to prune things.
When DH was finished pruning the rose and the bougainvillea, he asked, what about this dead tree. I looked up and I said "No, it's dormant now and you don't want to commit crepe murder." I told him it was a crepe myrtle. He asked if it got trimmed, and I said no because you don't want to ruin the form of the tree. That crepe last year was absolutely beautiful loaded down with blooms.
Here's a picture now, quite a shock after the pictures I've shown here recently. :-)
Here is a Chrysler Imperial rose bud.
There are a few more in different stages of growth.
I love the scent of this rose.
The next two pictures are of epiphytes that I have several of. I don't know the name of this but know Steve or another epiphyte grower will be able to tell me what it is. I'll post this again after it blooms.
Here is a kalanchoe.
The next two photos are of Desert Cassia. I grew this from seed.
I think this is the third spring. Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL
Now I feel ready for a nap. Then it will be time to make another loaf of bread in my faithful bread machine.
Have a great day whatever you are doing. Be thankful for blessings big and small.
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"The best is yet to be."
Robert Browning
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18 comments:
It must feel wonderful to get out into the garden and prune and clear up the beds. I envy you that in the winter. Your Imperial rose is such a lovely red color. Have fun in the garden.
Beautiful flowers. We are suppose to have sun for the next few days, but cool temps. It must be beautiful where you live. Linda
Ahhhh ... to be able to go outside and prune. I couldn't be more jealous then I am right now.
Beautiful! I'm glad you are getting such lovely weather! God Bless!
FL...your blooms are gorgeous as is our south Florida weather! We are definitely blessed! Your tillandsia is lovely and will be spectacular in bloom! Can't wait to see it!
In all honesty...I think my family could use a little of that warm weather right now. We are all starting to feel winter close in on us. Ugh. Thinking warm thoughts, and thank you for bringing them to our living room via blogland.
Oh, it was so cold this morning! I woke up to a house that was in the 60's and turned on a space heater to warm myself up. Don't really care for the cooler weather. I'll take those 80's anyday. Fortunately, the rest of the week will be much nicer up here. I always have a tough time pruning those roses. It's such a long wait for new blooms. Love that shot of the Chrysler Imperial.
I know what you mean about pruning being painful:-(. And bougainvillea is thorny too... Your plants look great, and it is so nice to see buds on your roses! Here my roses only have about an inch of growth on them, and buds are just a distant memory...
It's almost impossible to identify with the scenes in this post. I'm pretty sure I could be happy in Florida :)
It was a bit nippy here all day, but I look forward to getting out in the garden tomorrow. Your desert cassia is beautiful. It looks very similar to the Christmas cassia. I got my roses trimmed back last weekend and will give them a cocktail of goodies very soon. Do you put anything special on your roses in spring?
Dear FL, the wethe r Florida is very similar to ours in N India.
Love your garden displays. I am going to post of my garden photos. Come over and look at the roses. I don 't know their names.
FlowerLady, after seeing your Louis Philippe the other day I decided I would let mine grow tall and hopefully up into the tree it's under. He's getting too much shade now and is kind of gangly. I didn't know he could get that tall. Seeing your Chrysler Imperial reminds me that I miss mine - two of them, but they were cheapy grafted plants from K-Mart, and they just kind of dwindled away. Love your garden and your cooking. The sun finally came out this afternoon. Tonight's it freezing, I think. But spring is almost here!!
Quite a difference in the same state two zones apart....we are still wet and cold here...should be a nice weekend though.
I feel the same way about pruning. I have to get my husband to do the heavy pruning because I am too chicken. I am always afraid that I will hurt the plant. Silly, I know. Carla
Lovely rose.....
I have a new camera and when I work out how to use it I am looking forward to playing in the rose garden.
It was a beautiful day here too. You seemed to make the most of it down your way. I enjoyed the day doing some trimming as well. I can just imagine the wonderful smell of that fresh baked bread.
Your 80 degrees sounds wonderful to me lady! I so need that to arrive and stay with us. We have these teasing warm days in the 60's that feel so good then the heat is on again at sunset. Blah.....
We have been playing with our bread machine as well lately. We have been experimenting with wheat bread. We set the machine to bake in the morning and we woke up to the best scent of Cinnamon Raisin bread. The coffee pot was set to automatic as well. We jumped out of bed that morning! Was so yummy....
Thanks for your sweet words to me this morning. They mean a lot :-)
One would need a nap with it being that warm and the ac is on. I am glad you get to warm up a bit.
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