Thursday, July 9, 2015

Showing My Colors..........

Several of my recent posts have been a little on the colorless side so, it's time to bring in some color.  For myself, I don't need a lot of bright color to be content. I tend to go for neutrals with just a pop of color in decorating, dressing etc.  In fact, I often think bright colors can sometimes look cheap.  I use to agree with Martha Stewart that there is no place in the garden for bright reds. I have pretty much gotten over that and have quite a bit of red.  After spending several years trying to get my color scheme to grow here in this garden, I threw the color plan away and decided I will like ANYTHING that will survive, no matter what the color! I had a white sand lot here and still pretty much do but with amending the soil and trying many different plants, I now have plenty of healthy plants and plenty of color......



 
One of my newer ones is Blue daze in this big pot. So far it is doing great. This picture shows about half of it. It is really becoming a "spiller" but the bottle brush plant in the middle is slow in being the "thriller".

 
 
Butterflies help me out with color. I see several kinds on a regular basis all year long. The swallowtails are probably my favorites for color. This is the Eastern Tiger and I see the Eastern Black, too.
 
 
 
I have a hard time getting any good sharp pictures this year.  They just will not be still long enough. This one is feeding on a Blue Plumbago. I have a new White Plumbago too. By the way, White is one of my favorite colors.
 

 
Pentas help bring in butterflies and add a little color themselves.
 

 
Not much color here but, wanted to show this before the next picture which is of the flower in the pot.  I have had this plant in this same pot for at least twenty-five years. It is my oldest plant. Here, where the pot is sitting, is an indented area made by hard rain running off of the valley of the roof above. I will have a pool of water for a few days after one of our inch or more rainfalls in a short time. It was a problem area because the nearby mulch would be all out of place and float. This spring I hauled these egg rocks and lined the pool and I love the result. I didn't mean to show it until I bring about two more bags, but decided to go ahead and show since it is taking me so long to get it finished.
 

 
This is the Hibiscus plant. I will show a full shot later when I complete the project. I DO like these red blooms.
 

 
Over on the other end of the house which is mostly shady, this Clerodendrum  has been very colorful lately. There is also a Persian Shield in the bottom front with nice purple and dark green foliage.
 

 
A close-up of the flower.
 

 
Most of my repeat-blooming roses, which is the only kind I have, seem to have smaller blooms in our hottest months  but are still colorful.
 

 
 

 
This ground orchid is in a big pot and it is in continuous bloom except for a little slow down in the coldest winter weather.
 

 
A Louie Philipe rose here in more shade than sun (not ideal) still blooms pretty well.
 

 
Along side it is a big pot of Wendy's Wish salvia which is a great humming bird attractor. I haven't been able to get a good picture lately but will keep on trying. I see at least one every day.
 




 
I could keep going with lots more color but will save the rest for another time.
 
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4 comments:

  1. I always think of the summer season for bright reds and dark blues. You have such beautiful flowers and it's nice to have a good variety. Your butterfly photos are great. Enjoy your evening! Sweet hugs, Diane

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    1. I actually, think if you have enough of them about any color will work. Like the border gardens in more northern states with all kinds of colors close together. I have the best of both worlds here on this lot - plenty of shade and I dug up my whole east side which is sun about all day.

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  2. I love your gardens! So many lovely flowers! I've never heard of Clerodendrum. I'm going to look for that one. I need to find more plants that enjoy shade.

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    1. Thank you PrillyCharmin. You have probably heard of bleeding heart which is in the clerodendrum family. Some of them can be somewhat invasive but, I haven't had any trouble with keeping this one inbounds.

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