skip to main content

Florida Gardening

what's surviving the heat in my garden

12 years ago

Since we've had no rain and high heat, my young garden isn't growing fast enough for me! But I thought I'd share some pics anyhow, especially what I have in containers. I don't do as many in the summer as the winter, because they require too much watering.

Here's what I started with last week.and in the planter box are thai crown of thorns which aren't blooming anad I'm not sure why - my nursery tells me they are cyclical but I'm not sure. If anyone has a thought, I'd love to hear it.

These are tasmanian violets and the plant in the ground is a hybrid croton - forgot the name - which I like against the green hedge.

Cosmos, white firecracker, sad geranimums and hard to see, jasmine sambac

Hoping the bamboo planted against the fence will take off soon! this is the view from my deck across what used to be driveway.

Boug in morning sun

and last ( I just had to put this in here ), my cat Ralph with his stone friend.

Now I go back to the rain dance....

Hester

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

saldut
12 years ago
LOVE it ! just gorgeous, and everything looks very healthy... your 'furniture' and accessories are so tasteful, I love the little stone kitty and love your real kitty, he's a beauty.... thanks for sharing, sally
juneroses Z9a Cntrl Fl
12 years ago
What pleasing combinations, Hester. I feel cooler just looking at the lush greens. - June
Related Discussions
Flowers that can survive heat/direct sunlight
Q
Comments (1)
I'm not in your zone, but this is a lovely idea. Some plants that come to mind for a fountain look are lavender and ornamental grasses in the lower tier. Lavender with a long wand, such as Provence or Hidcote might be nice. Lavender loves to be dry and well-drained, full sun. It attracts honey bees and butterflies. The flowers can be used for home products, crafts, etc. It smells wonderful. Lavender is probably perennial in your area. Most varieties are for me and they are evergreen for me. In the 2nd tier, you'll probably want a cascading plant. I can't make a recommendation for your zone, but this may be a good place for annuals for constant color or reliable perennials with long-bloom seasons. Homestead Verbena is purple, perennial heliotrope is a lavender/blue; lantana can be had in a variety of colors; wave petunias or million bells; just some thoughts. You may also want to ask on the Container Gardening Forum (I think there is one?) Cameron (in North Carolina)
...See More
Heat & Wind: Will these bald cypresses survive?
Q
Comments (37)
I stumbled across this thread and read with interest. I have an @ 8 year in ground Peve Minaret Bald Cypress planted in wet clay soil here in PNW, south end of WA. We chose this tree because we fell in love with the soft ferny needles & the interesting bark. It has developed knees quite a distance from the trunk. Because I prune it to maintain size, it has a pretty interesting branch structure all winter. I was hesitant to prune but from research on the conifer society site I learned this tree is very amenable to pruning. The conifer garden in the Oregon Garden Resort in Silvedale, OR has a couple of Peve Minarets which are pruned and they’re gorgeous speciman trees. These are older pics from 2016 & 2020 - You can see from the 4 year size difference why I needed to prune. I believed the plant tag info of a 10’ mature height. Our moderate temps & wet winters make many plants far exceed their nursery tag growth descriptions!
...See More
What flowers will survive the Texas heat?
Q
Comments (29)
My gardens are quite busy with lots of butterflies and hummingbirds....I have blooming at this time: 4 Lantana horrida, several Rock Roses, numerous Lady in Red Salvia and Coral Nymph Salvia, 3 New Gold Lantana, a Miss Huff Lantana, a Lucky Yellow Lantana, a Lucky Peach Lantana, a Dallas Red Lantana, 2 Silver Mound Lantana, 2 Orange Cosmos, many Zinnas, 2 Flame Acanthus, several sunflowers of various sizes, Gaura is covered in buds about to open, Zephyranthes citrina, Zephyranthes drummondii, Fairy Rain Lilies, Peach colored rain lilies, LOTS of May Night Salvia, numerous cannas, Lavender Trailing Lantana, a dozen or so Russian Sage, Cardinal Climber vines, Belinda's Dream rose, Don Juan Rose (red), Dill, chocolate mint, spearmint, 3 Arapaho Crepe Myrtle, 2 Japonica Kerria, Caryopteris Blue beard, Amaranthus, crocosmia, tropical hibiscus, passionvine, Purple Heart, Spiderwort, lirope, Rhodophiala bifada-Oxblood Lilies, Tuscarora Crepe Myrtle, Natchez Crepe Myrtle, several light pink Crepe Myrtles that are at least 48 years old, 3 Vitex trees, Queen's Wreath, Noah's Morning Glory, Pink Oleander, Summer Poinsetta, White Marigold, Yellow milkweed, comfrey, lots of tomato plants, pepper plant, squash vines, watermelon vines, Black & Blue Salvia, a J.C. Harvey crinum just finished blooming and Esperanza.
...See More
Jenn-air Fridge, survives CAlif winds, heat & dust!
Q
Comments (4)
I have a 48" built in and paneled JA. All the "works" compressor, control board, condenser are at the top of the fridge. There is a removable panel near the very top of the fridge, and it has a chain so you don't hafta hold onto the thing. You just "lift up" on that top panel and let it hang. I do like the "works" on top, as it would make the fridge easy to service should it ever need any, plus we have 3 cats, and the condenser on the JA, does not get full of "Cat fur", like our Elux wine fridge does, (Its works are on the bottom), apparently like your JA? I would get a can of the duster stuff I mentioned and spray the condenser then recheck the temps. Also check that all the door seals appear to be in their proper place. I suspects your JA is also a single Variable Speed Compressor as mine is. To better diagnose the problem, it would be helpful to know the freezer temp too. The way these VSC (variable speed compressor),work is that a sensor in the freezer compartment senses the temp there, and if the freezer is above set temp, then it speeds up the compressor. On the other hand, if sensors in the fridge section detect that the temp is above the fridge set temp. then it increases the circulation between the freezer and the fridge, by increasing the speed of the circulating fan or opening up a flap lever between the 2 compartments, or both, So to know whether the problem is compressor/condenser related, or a problem with circulation between freezer and fridge, we need to know the freezer temp. HTH's Gary
...See More
amberroses
12 years ago
Very nice
katkin_gw
12 years ago
Great photos. You do a great job, putting plants together in pleasing combos. :o) That croton is Andrew, I think. There is another name for it too, but I forget it now.
KaraLynn
12 years ago
I love your hardscaping, particularly those pillars and the arbor with the metal fencing framing it. Your boug is beautiful and the cat is real cute!

Kara
stuartwanda
12 years ago
How nice! I like the white firecracker and the croton and ofcourse the Kitties.
writersblock (9b/10a)
12 years ago
What a nice refreshing-looking space!

(especially compared to all the brown around here)
hester_2009
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks all, for your kind words. It's such fun to share!
Writersblock - there is a lot around here that's brown too! I just choose to post what I've handwatered...hope that will stop after today!
Kara - everytime I look at that arbor , I remember what it took to put it up! I found it out on trash day, all in pieces, bent and of course, screws missing. Took me two days to resurrect it but it was unbelievably wobbly. When I stood it up, it would fall apart. Grrrr. Finally got it in the holes I dug through the compacted dirt and cement of the old driveway and quickly poured quickset in the holes. Stood there forever holding it up and finally the quickset took hold!
But it was worth the effort and I'm glad you like it.
I want two more arbors but they seem to be in short supply at the stores but I keep looking.
Again, thank you everybody,
Hester
User
12 years ago
love the forth picture, neighbor slowly going away..:) nice pictures and beautiful plants! watching the rain go north of here tonight, bone dry..... keep posting them pics....love 'em....m your garden is looking good! (and ya never show the dry or dead stuff......big.:)
annafl
12 years ago
Hester, your plumbago is bursting with blooms! That is a beautiful shot of your garden, and you strategically add the pots as color accents. I wish I was better at watering pots, it's such a nice way to keep things looking great. I know you think your garden is growing slowly, but every time you show it I can see a difference, and new things blooming or as focal points. I hardly recognized your back yard! Your hard work really shows. I love your black and blue salvia, by the way.

Anna
bluesky7
12 years ago
Great photos of your lovely garden! Your cat's a doll, too. I have a dear tabby named Sweetie.

We did finally get a real downpour that lasted for a while this evening. How about you?

Sheri

Related Stories

LIFE Share Your Winter Storm Jonas Photos and Survival Tips!

By Becky Harris

Let’s see your pictures and hear your ideas on how you’re keeping your house warm and staving off cabin fever

LIFE The Moving-Day Survival Kit: Lifesaving Items and Niceties

By Becky Harris

Gather these must-haves in advance for a smooth move and more comfortable first days in your new home

KITCHEN WORKBOOK 8 Steps to Surviving a Kitchen Remodel

By Lisa Frederick

Living through a kitchen remodel isn’t always fun, but these steps will help you work around a kitchen in disarray

REMODELING GUIDES Wisdom to Help Your Relationship Survive a Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Spend less time patching up partnerships and more time spackling and sanding with this insight from a Houzz remodeling survey

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Agastache Rupestris, a Heat-Loving Hummingbird Magnet

By Susan J Tweit

Threadleaf giant hyssop adds color and fragrance to late-summer and fall xeric gardens

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 3 Ways to Bring the Heat to Outdoor Living Spaces

By Matt Clawson

Here’s what to know about surviving winter’s bite with an outdoor fireplace, fire pit or heat lamp

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Drought-Tolerant Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun and Reflected Heat

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Got a hot spot in your garden where plants often die? Try these tough shrubs that add beauty while shrugging off the heat

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Cold- and Heat-Tolerant Perennials and Shrubs for the Arid West

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

These flowering native plants shrug off the cold of winter and heat of summer while adding beauty to the drought-tolerant landscape

FUN HOUZZ How to Survive an Epidemic of Walking Dead

By Becky Harris

Tips to use around the house and garden to prep for the zombie apocalypse

PATIOS A Modern Backyard Trumps the Texas Heat

By Annie Thornton

New shaded areas offer a respite in an outdoor Houston living room, while a fire pit re-creates fond memories

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

29 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

Diagnosing problems with firespike in Sarasota

5

2024 January : upload your photos of first blooms of season

19

Garden plans for 2024?

6

Greening Satsuma

2

New Blooms Feb./Mar.

26