Regina - I believe that's "Shampoo Ginger" - Zingiber zerumbet. Squeeze the red cones and then smell your hand.

Codiaeum variegatum "Alley Cat"

Regina, Your Pine Cone Ginger, Zingiber zerumbet is very nice.

Felix, thanks for getting us started. Great color on that hibiscus. I'm not familiar with that plant either.

Regina, those cones on the pine cone ginger look so perfect they look fake! Aren't shampoo ginger and pine cone ginger the same thing? Yes, I love the smell of the freshly squeezed cones.

Ricky, I've never seen that alley cat either. The pattern is so intricate and so much contrast in those leaves! How does that ever, ever happen? Keep showing us your croton collection, please! Just beautiful.

Well, mine isn't pretty today, but I wanted to show it anyway. You know how I'm always talking about begonias needing perfect drainage. My beloved nelumbiifolias are two clumps across from each other with a path between them. One clump is on a slight berm. The other is on what I thought was perfectly draining, but flat ground. One day we had three and a half inches of rain in less than 24 hours and the lower clump got wet feet for over a day. The drainage had been 'perfect' for years, before this overwhelming rain. These are the ones on flat ground:

These are the ones on the slight berm, about 4-6 feet away:

It's been 2-3 weeks now, and they still look like this. I've cut off quite a number of leaves on the sick clump in hopes that the remaining root system can start picking up the rest. I'm just glad that it looks like it may survive at all. I love these lilypad begonias. You never know how good the drainage is until you get pounded with several inches of rain in a short period of time!

Anna

How ironic. I just learned about Shampoo Ginger this afternoon. I think I was supposed to bring one home but I forgot about it because I was running late. I had to get homoe before my 10 year old son got home from school.

I was called to Lutz by a friend who had a Buff-bellied Hummingbird in her yard. I wasn't able to get a great photo but the bird in the photo is what makes it great.

Jealous that it's not my yard,

Steve

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Anna and Marcia,They get very tall. Do you want seeds?
Michael,did you get the seeds of 4 o'clock that I mail to you?
Felix

I googled Pine Cone Ginger and it is the same as Shampoo Ginger. It's neat to squeeze the cones and get ginger juice on your hands.

Regina

Another Orchid Show and Tell. This is Stanhopea wardii. I think it's from Panama since I bought it from a Panamanian gentleman. It makes me smile to see it in bloom. To me it looks like a cartoon character Dumbo. Notice that the infloresence grows out of the bottom of the basket. It has a powerfull perfume , but the flowers only last a few days.

john

Here's something for Marcia! Ironically, I took these in a butterfly exhibit in Canada!

A Zebra Longwing

And I'm not sure what this loverly sweetie is, but it sure was beautiful!

Monarch, just moments old.

Aawwww... they grow up so fast!

Kate

Gardengirl,
The blue butterfly must be a Blue Morpho. We've seen them in Costa Rica, in the Tapanti Natl Forest I think, but I was never able to get a decent picture. They would not cooperate by lighting on something.

john

This thread inspired me to take my camera out in my yard this morning. I took quite a few pictures but here are 3 of the flowers. I'm going to make a separate post with the others.

This is one of the popcorn cassia plants that I have. This one greets passers-by because it is located next to the street (not seen in photo).

The next pic is of blue ginger with pagoda in the background. I just love it when the blue ginger blooms because of its striking color. I saw lots of bumble bees on them this morning.

This last one is of variegated ginger --- not to be confused with variegated shell ginger.

Christine

thanks, felix! i was out of town for most of last week and finally had a second to look through my mail... i got 'em! next season i'm planting a bunch in a new butterfly area... i know they're weedy, but they're also TOUGH and pretty and maybe my favorite smell in the garden...

LOVE the Beautyberry! Its been on my 'wish list' for EVER!

Christine: How are you growing your Blue Ginger???
Mine looks crappy...even after 4 years of TLC.
It has never looked as good as the first year.
*sigh!

Here'e a couple of my Orchids in bloom:

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Anna,this is for you!
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In my opinion,this is the prettiest pink that I've seen in any of the Confederate Roses that I have seen in my garden.
Felix

Oh, wow,wow,wowee!!! Everyone's pictures are wowing me!

Steve, I never even heard of a buff-bellied hummingbird! And he is really pretty. I'm glad you were able to spot him, because now I've learned something new again. Thanks.

John, that stanhopea is sooo exotic looking. I never knew to look for dumbo in stanhopeas, but now I can see him clearly. I won't forget to look for him next time. The color combination with the polka dots is very nice.

Kate, the picture of the monarch with the chrysalis is outstanding. I especially love seeing the detail in the chrysalis with the jeweled rim. You were lucky to catch him at that moment. I also like how you captured the unfurling of the wings!

Christine, I absolutely love the picture with the pagoda, blue ginger and the dianella, and the pothos in the back with the large trees. Great picture composition looking up, and the colors are just so striking! Lovely!!! The variegated ginger is a beauty too. I've killed two of those (and all the blue ginger I've had in the past), and I'd never seen one in bloom. The red stem looks so pretty against the leaves.

Lellie, where have you been? Tending to your orchids, no doubt. Those are some beauties you have there.

Felix, mi amigo, that is one superb flower! It is far more beautiful than I would have imagined! So full and frilly, reminds me of a ballerina's outfit. And so many buds yet to open. Don't let the grasshoppers get any more. You don't want to pass any more of these beauties up. Thanks for showing me. It was a real gift.

Alright, my picture is very plain in comparison, but I really like these plants. They are furcreas, and they are so carefree and always look pretty. It's hard to tell the scale, but these guys are over six feet tall, and probably eight feet wide. I have a bunch in my yard here and there.

Keep the incredible pictures coming, all of you! I'm loving it!

Anna

Sue

Swamp Sunflowers

Lellie---I have 2 patches of blue ginger. I make sure they are in a location that gets filtered sun. They are well mulched and get regular irrigation. I fertilize lightly in the spring with a little 8-10-10. Sorry you are having trouble with yours. I would check to see how you are growing them and change what it is they are not liking.

Anna---So glad that you enjoyed the flowers. This thread has been a great motivation for me to get out the camera. If you are ever in my area I would be happy to share some of the plants with you.

Great pictures everyone. This sure does make a person add to their want list. ha ha

Here are mine. My roses are starting to perk up. They can tell Fall is here even though this week doesn't feel like it.

My Favorite, Pink Pet

One bloom on my baby Portlandia rose. I walked by it yesterday evening and I could smell it in the air. I had to go back and make sure it was from this particular rose. Can't wait until its blooms fill the arbor, the scent will be great!!

Hawaiian Woodrose. I bought this starter vine from Crowley's a few weeks ago, knowing that I will need to protect it this winter and that I need a huge something for it to climb on. If you've been there, she grows it in one of the greenhouses. It was in full bloom and beautiful. I had to buy it, it was her last one.... :) As you can see, it's still sitting on the ground...

Tina

lellie
fantastic pix of the orchids. Your post on the Orchid forum about Thelymitra ixioides the fabled Australian "blue orchid" Had always wanted to try these
but they are not only a terrestrial they come from a bulb.
There is a source for Thelymitra and Pterostylis in Oregon of all places. Wouldn't have to import.
I'm not very good with terrestrials but it sure is tempting!!!! gary

I was out with my camera chasing butterflies, and got this. Poor quality but entertaining!

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Red Cascade,in my new climbing Rose garden. All the roses in this garden are babies. Thank you,Marcia and Susan for letting me care for some of your babies. I love the dark red color. It just keeps blooming.
Felix

This is blackfoot daisy (melampodium leucanthum), a Plants for Texas feature. It allegedly does well in heat and humidity (and Texas should know heat!).

I was pleased to find it at my local Lowes a couple of weeks ago and have hopes it will do well here. It's supposed to be a little blooming machine that self seeds and doesn't require a lot of water. It does have a sweet fragrance but, at its current size, one is not yet overwhelmed by the scent.

The spent flowers clean themselves nicely so that the plant maintains a clean white look. So far, I like it. - June

I had to post a picture of these because the flowers don't last long.I never used to notice the "aroma" in that area until I had more than one flower in bloom. They may stink but the flowers are neat. The flies really love them!

Regina

Stapelia

Sue, are all those blooms on one curcuma plant? The deep rose color is pretty. I'd only seen it in pale pink.

David, I miss seeing pictures of your garden. Love the swamp sunflowers. So graceful and cheery.

Christine, thank-you. I sure hope someday I can see your garden in person.

Tina, that wood rose is beautiful. Not only the flower, but those leaves are huge! I'm a sucker for big, pretty leaves.

Fighting8r, he looks like a sweet guy. Is he smacking his lips at the anole or was that just coincidence? Funny picture.

Felix, that red cascade has such a deep, blood red color.

Regina, that's the only thing I don't like about stapelias... that they attract flies. I can't seem to smelll them unless I put my nose in them, but the flies find them so fast! They are just cool flowers, though.

Here is a philodendron giganteum. I got this plant when it was quite small. It is huge now, and I love the pretty leaves.

Anna

Felix, that climbing red rose is my grand baby. I gave a plant to Marcia and then she gave it to you.:o) See what a close knit family we are. The mother plant is the first plant I got to live when I first moved here to Fl.

I love the garden in the morning light. Here are a few shots I just took.
Anthurium radicans x dressleri, got at Searle's last weekend:

Fabio

My Chinese-Rain-Bell that Nova gave me,and I kept propagating. I have several of these plants in
various places of my garden. They are easy to propagate.
This one is by the pond,blooming and has many,many buds.
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Felix

Anna --- You are welcome to a yard tour. If you are in my area (near DeLand) let me know. I am planning to host a plant swap next year, perhaps late spring or early summer. That may be a good time.

Christine

Felix, that Chinese rainbell came from me as well. I gave it to Nova some years ago. :o)

Hi,
I haven't posted pictures here maybe someday I will get some pics of the zoo. All of them are beautiful!

Annafl - I love your Furcreas never seen them before do they flower or set seed would love to find some.

Katie

Nancy, I love that foliage area in your garden. Foliage is my very favorite thing and that area is a cornucopia for my eyes! That cordyline is gorgeous. Looks nice amongst the ginger.

Fabio, is your pretty dendrobium attached to the tree or hanging from it?

Felix, another great pond shot. Cute, delicate plant, and I can see your Blue Goddess blooming prolifically through the bells!

Christine, I hope next year is a better year for me to be able to get to swaps. I would love to see your gardens.

Katie, I love my easy furcreas. Every time I see them for sale I have to buy one or three of them! I've found them at the Searles sale and at Crowley's. I don't know how they propagate. I think maybe through pups, but I've never seen one yet on mine, and they are plenty big. The ones I showed are my largest, and I think they were purchased 3-4 years ago.

This is a little groundcover area I like.

Anna

this morning:

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Awesome! I love butterflies. Nature is beautiful. Great pics.

You guys caught some great moments with the butterflies emerging!! :)

Everybody seems to be getting better and better with taking pics, and posting them too. (thanks to Kate's Pic Posting 101.. :)..lol)

Like pics in magazines or text books. Awesome stuff!

Cliff

My shade garden,one of my favorite for weeding on hot, sunny,days. Boy, It's been hot.
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It's amazing how cool it's in here.
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Felix

Beautiful! I need to get out my camera!

Hi Everyone! I have been really enjoying all the pictures! Here is my contribution-

Susan

More great pictures !! As the week is winding down, I have a final picture. This is a new purchase. Love the colors....

Old Gold Allamanda

Tina

Fighting8r, that series is just amazing!!!The detail and quality of those pictures, and the way it shows the incredible evolution of chrysalis into beautiful butterfly is just too cool! I just love it.

Felix, your forest is so serene and looks cool and comfortable. I would hang out there too. Very pretty and peaceful.

Hi Nova! Another great butterfly photo!

Tina, I'd never seen that allamanda. Really pretty color and just in time for fall.

Well, I don't have a picture today... tomorrow I will try to find the time between mowing, etc. I have to try to get to Selby and get some nice ones there.

Anna

So many of the photos have been stunning. The series of butterfly hatching pictures is quite memorable.

This is a heliconia that I bought at Crowley Nursery a few years ago:

Christine

It's getting hard to find those nice plastic lawn ornaments any more. I found these at the Brevard Zoo. ;>)

john

Felix, wouldn't it be nice if all the weeds stayed under the trees where it was cool and a pleasure to weed?
Now that my broken knee cap has healed, I have started weeding and am getting the weeds that have taken over my garden under control.
Regina

Regina,I'm so glad to hear that your knee cap has healed. I remember,you telling us. Do be careful not to over do it.
Your garden,still looks beautiful.:-)

Katkin,
Your grand-babies here are sending you kisses.:-)

All the pictures have been so inspiring. Thank you,all,
for sharing!
Felix

Christine, pretty heliconia. Do you know what it's called? Looks very compact.

John, great flamingo color!

My salmon mussaenda had a rough year and almost died last winter. It has just recently started blooming, but it is now getting more and more shade, so I expect it to fizzle out soon.

Here is the path to the compost pile. It is in a lot of shade now that the sun is lower.

Anna

OH! I've been lurking all week looking at the pictures. Anna I love that varigated thing...I saw some at the USF plant sale yesterday but they wanted too much.
The butterfly pictures are great...just too many beautiful pictures to comment on.
This is my baby vanda...it's second time blooming! What a trooper!

Anna --- I don't know what the name of the heliconia is. When I bought it at Crowley's nursery she said that it is not a common variety. I think that the stem should be taller so it can be seen better. I only found it because I was checking out the island in my driveway loop before I started taking pictures to post. You have a beautiful pathway to your compost pile. Must make the journey more fun.