The weekly garden tour commences now. So many tropicals coming to life with the onset of the rainy season in South Florida. It has been stormy all week and the first named tropical storm of the year appeared in The Gulf of Mexico this week – Arlene. The storm is a long way from here and set to wind down into a tropical depression before making landfall in Cuba with a lot of rain. The first thing I spied when powering up the computer this morning was a Coastal Flood Watch; rainy season is definitely here.
To see more SOS garden tours, visit Jim at http://gardenruminations.co.uk
The Frangipani hedges are flowering. This is Bridal Bouquet Plumeria (Plumeria pudica). I have these in front of wood fences that aren’t so pretty. They are columnar plants about 8 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. These are unusual as they are semi evergreen.
The Frangipani hedge with a Java White Copperleaf shrub accent.
A psychedelic Aucuba? No, this is a Pie Crust Croton. Named as the edges of the leaves are crimped like – pie crust. New growth is yellow and will mature into a mostly red and black shrub later in the season.
In the above image you can see a bit of an orange flowering shrub – this is a Dwarf Red Ixora, a butterfly nectar source. I let the larval host plant, Corkystem Passionflower, a vine, ramble through the shrubs for the Zebra Longwing butterflies to lay eggs on. This is the first caterpillar I have spotted this season, though the butterflies have been out in force.
I am finally picking a few mangoes. They are delicious. The lower mango is a condo mango, Pickering. The others, Glenn Mango, a big tree. Condo mangoes are usually less than 6 feet tall.
And just for fun, a gift from my friend Lu. Gardening socks!
That is all from the moist South Florida. Thanks to Jim for hosting and…
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
Impressive caterpillar! And I bet the plumeria smells wonderful. I can’t wait to see the flower buds of mine
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It looks like a bad caterpillar, but the butterfly is beautiful. That plumeria is not very strongly scented, very light and only at night is it noticeable.
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I am always envious of your Frangipani and how fabulous to have a hedge of it. And having your own mangoes must be wonderful. Love the socks!
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If it makes you feel any better, the Frangipani looks dreadful in winter. Thanks, Liz – it is good to see you back to blogging.
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Crotons are wonderful. When I lived in Central FL, we had several of various types. Here, where I live now, crotons are sometimes available as a houseplant! But even though I loved it, it died on me! 😦 Great selection of items!
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Thanks, I could never grow them as houseplants. I think they require humidity. Massive humidity!
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Yes, I knew that even as I was buying it. 😀
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I thought about you when I heard about the TD and now that I know you live on the Atlantic side I have a better idea about your weather. It looks like your garden is coming alive in the heat. My heat lovers are coming up, but soon the others will take a summer siesta.
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I am just north of West Palm. The garden is enjoying the heat and rain. That TD seemed strange going south…
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A wonderful six this week. Glad your mangoes made it, safe from critters. I bought a box of mangoes at our wholesale club this week for a bargain, so cut them up for freezing. They’ll be a delicious treat out of season.
Love the vibrancy of that croton, it’s awesome!
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Thanks, Eliza. The critters are eating them! Rabbits I think, some are very low. Glad you got some mangoes, I will probably be freezing some too, it is surprising how well they freeze. Crotons are mad things.
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Amazing frangipani! Love those socks! My daughters bought me a notebook, on it written ‘Plant Hoarder’, which is kind of apt!
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Thanks from a fellow hoarder.
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Cool mangoes! That is so rad that you can grow them.
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It may not be so rad when 75 get ripe!
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Do they all ripen on the same day? Can they be canned? Otherwise, neighbors might want some.
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I have three different kinds and have never had more than 5, so I am not sure, though i have people lined up to eat them if the squirrels don’t, rabbits are already eating the ones close to the ground.
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So, 75 will make many squirrels and rabbits, and perhaps a few human neighbors happy.
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That’s probably a good call and I will freeze some.
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I love it all, but am especially intrigued by the Pie Crust Croton. Such pretty colors and what a FUN texture.
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Thank you, I bought that Croton because my husband bakes pies!
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Beautiful flowers and foliage, and a great shot of your caterpillar. The Pie Crust Croton certainly provides some fantastic colour. Does it flower too? Enjoy the mangoes! (I am so envious, but then I will be harvesting strawberries soon, so can’t complain!)
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Thanks, Cathy. The Crotons will flower but it is rare and not very showy. Mine never have. I am envying your strawberries and you probably have dill and tomatoes, wah.
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No tomatoes yet, and my dill is covered in greenfly!!!
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Ack!
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