We Have A Problem.......

A few weeks ago,while at Home Depot,I noticed they had finally gotten some Milkweed in(they had about five plants).I bought two,thinking it would be enough for next year.

W-e-l-l,they seemed to settle in quite well,and were growing quite robustly.
Yesterday,I noticed that they didn't look quite so healthy anymore.Today,after work,I decided to do a little detective work............

We got babies!

I guess,it's true.

No birth control is 100% effective.

So anyways,here's the prob-lem-o.....

We don't have enough milkweed to feed the kiddoes! I'm thinking we're gonna be a failure as Monarch foster parents,this time.

Just hoping DCF doesn't come calling!

A Rainy Saturday

Yesterday morning dawned with great promise of getting some much needed tidying done in the garden.

But,alas,the clouds soon gathered,and the sprinkles began.(note to self-that's why they have weather people on the 6 o'clock news! Pay attention from now on!)

So,between the morning showers I played with the camera.
Shadows,lighting,macro,etc................

I think this is my favorite shot..............

In the afternoon,the on and off showers turned to a steady downpour.While sitting on our front porch,watching the rain,under one of the palm fronds,I spied this little guy hiding out from the rain........

This morning,the sun is out,and there's only a 40% chance of rain,today(I paid attention to the weather guy,last nite).

You had to know there'd be a photo of a plumeria,didn't you?

And this little lady has come to live at TheGreatWall........

She looks perfect,sitting on the toilette planter,don't you think?

Now,off to get some much needed tidying up done,before it gets toooo hot and humid.

Hope everyone has a great gardening weekend!



for more of Today's Flowers,click here.................

Ana,Bill,and Claudette

If you live in Florida,you never get used to this time of year.

The start of the peak of "h" season......

(I just cannot bring myself to say that word).

Today finds us facing ........................
Claudette(in the Gulf and heading northward-yea!!!!),Sorry for you gardeners up that way,but...

Ana(dying out,hopefully,in the Atlantic),

and

Bill-looking like he's going north into the Atlantic
(fingers and toes crossed on this,just 'cause you never know....After Elena and Charley,one can never be sure).

Today has been cloudy,overcast amd oh so humid,but because we haven't had any Jim Cantore sightings in our neck of the woods,I decided I'd work on the garden containers.
Replanting,repotting,etc.Just general gardenkeeping.

Lotus Begonia,Spider plant, Pink Polka-dot plant.
Heliconia

The Green and White Container.
Just a mish-mosh of cuttings from the rest of the yard.

The Black(or dark purple,if you will) Container.

I think when this one fills in,it will be my favoritest.

And when the weather is like it has been today,what's a gardener to do?
Go shopping for the garden!!


Something new has arrived on TheGreatWall!
May he keep us safe................

.......Amen........

I Was Totally Distracted........

Today,I went to a local nursery to buy a few more Farfugium plants,and was totally distracted by this.......... The person working at the nursery said they had just been dropped off,and they only got 7 of the plants.She wasn't sure of the name but said they are some type of red iris.

All I know is the moment I saw it,

I had to have it!

A close-up of the flower.

It is

stunning!

I was able to divide the plant into 2 plants,and they have been planted by the pool area.

Now,I need you fellow gardeners help.........

What the heck is

this?

I found it growing in a garden bed.Is it a weed that I should yank out.Or is it something I should allow to grow?

Thoughts?

Anyone?

and I did buy more of the Farfugium,too........

It's Hot !!!!

In Florida,at this time of year it's hot!

And humid!

The kind of hot and humid where you sweat just watering the garden.

The kind of hot and humid,where if you don't get your gardening done by 9AM,

ferget-about-it!

All you can do,is sit by the pool,have a tall,cool drink and enjoy the results of all your hard,sweaty work.

Or wander around the garden,camera and sweat rag in hand,

and take photos.........

For more of Scenic Sunday,click here.......................

For more of Today's Flowers,click here.....................

Life Begins Anew...............

Note:This is not the original post I had planned for today.That one shall have to wait for another day.Read on-you will understand why .

As you know,we have been babysitting three Swallowtail chrysallis,for a week.Yesterday,the first one emerged(you can read about that here).Today,I was determined to photograph the whole sequence,so I was up at 6 AM,in my jammies(bare butt hanging out-bet the neighbors loved that!),coffee and camera in hand,patiently waiting for what I hoped would happen.
The sun was just starting to come up,so the lighting is not too good in the first two pictures.

The photos above and below are the final two chrysallis.
When what to my wondering eyes should emerge ?! A boy AND a girl!!!


(note-the female was more hidden than the male,so there are not many pictures of her.Most of these photos are of the male.)


Note the spent chrysallis below the Swallowtail.

Wings still folded and wet,he crawled to the tip of a pineapple plant.

And hung upside down,to allow the fluid to spread to his wings.

As the sun arose higer in the sky,he started to spread his wings more and more......

Until,fnally,they both flew off.The male first,and then the female.She flew to a nearby palm tree,and rested for a bit,before finally taking off for the last time.

After seeing these photos,I changed my mind regarding my original plan for today's post.

I thought about the newness(is there such a term?) that happens everyday in the garden.

The beginnings of new life that occurs

everyday.

Right before our unseeing eyes.

A squirrel shredding cypress bark for a nest,in anticipation of little ones...........

A new rose,to beautify the garden...............

A new plumeria..................

and a new Heliconia,to brighten the pool area...............

A new hibiscus to add life to the garden...............

There are new beginnings all around us.

Everywhere.

Everyday.

You just have to look for it.

For more of Share A Garden Sunday,hosted by Artie,at Color Outside The Lines,click here........

For more of Scenic Sunday,click here................