OK Wallisadi - I've taken up your "challenge" lol...
To show that some of us are nutty enough to be out all day working.
Here's the "before"

And here's part of the "after" - some done last fall but most this summer

and my heat loving shrub - not too invasive at all

and I love jewels of opar

Hester, you've done a wonderful job of making a tropical paradise in such a short time. I love your garden. I get out and work in the heat too. No one here does but me.

Wallisadi, for some reason Jewels of Opar won't grow for me. I've tried them several times. What's your secret? :o)

Jewels of Opar look great.

I usually work in the heat, too. From 9 to 10 am and again about 6 pm until dark. But, I usually hit a wall in August and I have again this year. Just the bare minimum here.

I try not to work in the middle of the day but I am out there all summer. With 2 1/2 acres you don't get to sit around much.

Hester, you continue to amaze and inspire!

The trouble with sweat is that it drips on your glasses and runs the bug repellent.

I pick my projects on where the sun is in the sky - so I'm in the shade!

This summer has seemed miserably hot.

My 'before' project:

Progress as of today (slow going in the heat, stopping to clear the glasses):

The nice thing about all this heat, and rain now that is has finally started, is that my new South Garden on a Dime is taking off and looking very nice.

and needing to be weeded ....

~dianne

Who is sitting in the AC listening to the rain and enjoying a nice glass of red wine

Here is a link that might be useful: Sweat Equity

hester, keep it up......:) i have a list a mile long for my day off tomorrow and it is all outside. i work outside for a job, so i'm kinda use to it, but it's been rough this summer. job well done,.....don't blame anybody for going inside, just miss alot of the pics from spring! your garden looks incredible.....! katkin...semi sun i think, freeze back every year and right back up....must have fifty around the yard all from the original mother plants, got a lime green one from that winter park garden we went to. damn, i'm never this wordy....?

Wallisadi, I'll have to give jewels a try again. I love the colorful leaves, it's a good filler plant.

I just got a pure white spathoglottis and a pure white curcuma at HD yesterday. You don't see them pure white often. I have both in many colors but not the pure white. So I am a happy camper. :o)

Thanks all for kind words...
Dianne - You've been busy too! What is the big leaf plant in the hanging basket? Looks interesting. I like the variety of plants along the fence.
Yup, sweat gets on your glasses and in your eyes. dont' you hate it when glasses fog up when you leave a store?
Katkin - I'm hoping my HD has something different today - lucky you!
Today may have to be a slow gardening day - it's only just 8am and the heat index is 93 with no rain in sight. As I've mentioned, I don't usually mind the heat, but jeez, I might hit a wall today!
Hester

You folks are an inspiration ! Such beautiful gardens, I drool in envy..... I have to get out at the crack-of-dawn and by 9 AM I am staggering ready-to-drop ! and some of you work as well, I hand it to you-all ! Happy Gardening, sally

Hester, the large leaf plant in the hanging basket? That is my roach eating Pitcher Plant. Neat plant.

~dianne

Jewels of Opar is something I've never tried. Has really pretty foliage, Wallisadi.

Hester, your transformation is definitely inspiring. Can't believe how fast it's gone!

Dianne, I know I've said it before, but your water garden is awesome. Love it, love it.

Anna

Maybe not as ambitious as some but here are mine:
Once the rain started so did the weeds. I have been laying newspaper and mulching (my least favorite job in the garden):
{{gwi:933092}}
This is a project that I loved. I am working on pegging this rose. I've somehow really messed up my soil so for a while have to grow roses in pots. But it turned out OK.
{{gwi:933093}}
I'm also repotting about a hundred roses, well that my be a touch of an exaggeration.

What a wonderful garden. I am trying to make our yard all sod free-but I find the plants are now invading my weed garden. Did you have professional advice or could I copy your method and what plants do you have? I find lantana grows well for me and have a beautiful mandevilla and firebush both die in winter but return.

try some jatropha....lowes or depot....comes back every year, nice red bloom........by june at least two foot tall!

I love that plant! If I had any sun here, I'd buy one. I had one in North Port that was in a pot, and absolutely needed no care other than a shot of timed-release pellets in the spring and fall. It bloomed continuously. BTW, I have that same bromeliad. Mine is not growing at all, and doesn't get enough sun.