Mostly Summer, With A Dash Of Fall

There's a period of time, quite early in the morning, when I sense fall in the air.  All too soon, the temperatures ascend to the mid 80's and fall is forgotten.  Summer blooms are still numerous in my gardens, like this Pagoda Plant with a lovely visitor...

    

This Clematis had been cut down a few weeks ago and has returned to flower once more...

Thryallis shrubs have been blooming since spring and show no signs of letting up.

Butterfly Bushes, Clerodendrum 'Ugandense',  have been in bloom since April.

'Louis Philippe' is a favorite rose among Florida gardeners.  It's one of the few roses that will thrive in our sandy soils and accept our constant high humidity without being defoliated by black spot.

Tithonia, Zinnias, and Salvias are putting on their final show of the season...

Tibouchinas in the shade garden.

Out front in full sun...

Turk's Cap blooms from early summer until frost in my garden.  These shrubs get by on only rainfall, so they're not looking their best - as we've had little rain lately.

Now for what's looking a little like fall!  The leaves on this Oakleaf Hydrangea look quite fallish...

Blue Ginger

Tractor Seat is sending up some strong buds for fall...

And too soon...I say this because it's still too hot...camellias are bursting with blooms!  One of my favorite tree Sasanquas, 'Kanjiro'.  I took this photo in the morning fog today.  I would prefer that they waited for cooler temps., so the blooms would not fade so quickly.

'Setsugekka', also a Sasanqua Camellia.

Shade gardens still have a lot of color...

I'll be back soon with more Camellia photos...I know this post has been a little long.  I'll close with a picture of Lucy, one of my favorites.  She's an 'Easter Egger' - lays lovely green eggs.

Missing my sunshine...

Today finds Central Florida, sunless, wet and cool.  Showers are expected throughout the day, temperatures in the low 50's.  It would be a perfect day to binge-watch gardening shows on television, but no, they've all been replaced with drivel.  Do you remember "A Gardener's Diary", hosted by Erica Glasener?  My all time favorite, because she visited gardens of everyday people, across the U.S.  When gardening shows were on the way out, they moved "A Gardener's Diary" to the ungodly hour of 6:00AM.  During that time, I taped the show on my VCR, but alas, no more VCR.  I need to round up my tapes and have them transferred to disc.  So, my fellow bloggers, now I get my gardening 'fix' by visiting your gardens.  

Blooms are still plentiful, as we've had no cold weather to speak of, but I'm just going to post a few new things.  This bicycle planter was a Christmas gift from my daughter, along with other garden accessories.  Before spring arrives, I have to decide what plants will adorn it.

Sasanqua Camellia, 'Yuletide' 

Something I've never seen on my Night-blooming Jasmine, shiny, white berries... 

A couple crazy things due to the warm weather, Caladiums popping up...

...and Lacecap Hydrangeas blooming.

In closing, photos from my garden, spring and summer, 2015...to brighten a dreary day.

I won't wish you 'happy gardening', but 'happy planning and dreaming' for next year's garden.

   

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day~December 2015~Central Florida

Central Florida is having absolutely, magical weather.  It was 84 degrees yesterday, perfect for lazing  about outside, enjoying a glass of iced tea.  There's no lack of blooms for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day,  so I'll begin with some of the roses that are flowering...

Belinda's Dream Rose

Clair Matin Rose

Queen Elizabeth Rose 

Red Cascade Climbing Rose

My smallest Sasanqua Camellia shrubs have an abundance of blooms...

'Cotton Candy'

'Stephanie Golden'

'Snow-on-the-Mountain'

This beauty is from a larger Sasanqua.

The Black Eyed Susan Vine has been in bloom for months.  Some of our neighbors have gathered  seeds from her, so perhaps there will be offspring to enjoy next year in our vicinity.  

I bought this ginger in spring, unlabeled.  Turned out to be a Costus spicatus, common name, Indian Head Ginger.

Cheerful hibiscus.

Clerodendrum Vine

A Tibouchina in the midst of the shade garden.

I cut these plants down to the ground, at the end of summer.  They were a ragged mess, but they've returned beautifully.  Salvia guaranitica, 'Black and Blue'.

While I was taking the photo above, a couple of our resident Sandhill Cranes came strolling down the road...

There's always a lot blooming here, and I never get around to sharing the Impatiens that are roaming around the shade garden, but they're important too.

Plants like the New Zealand Tea Tree, with their tiny rose-like blooms, are also overlooked.

Then there's begonias, often ignored too, but deserving of recognition.  This large potful has returned faithfully, year after year.  She gets moved about, brightening up whatever corner of the garden I place her in.

Turks cap

Gardenia

Pagoda Flower

Gloriosa Lily

I hope everyone is having a great week, whether gardening or planning next years garden.  Happy GBBD.  Visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see blooms from around the world.