Choice Morsels

 Two Garden Photos today! First up: my Bridal Wreath Spirea shrub has finally bloomed!  Spirea, also known as "Bridal Veil" because of it's arched, draping stems, is a popular shrub here in the Deep South. I've had this one several years and this is it's first bloom season. It's in particular a memento from a local garden shop I used to like that went out of business several years ago. This shot is mid-morning light. And a nice shot of Azalea blossom at sunset: I like the large, single bloom type best and have several. I didn't really know of all the hedging involved in having Azaleas at the time; if I had known, I wouldn't have bought any. They are pretty in spring and that's it. But, there they are, so I hedge them. I know better now and I prefer to plant things that don't require hedging! That Bridal Veil, pictured above, does not require it. I also like Hydrangea's a lot, because they need very only a very little care.

 These two long needled pine trees have to go.  I've contracted with a tree service to take them down. They stand right in between my house and my neighbors house. I'll have them cut off even at the level of the block wall. It will cut down on pine needle litter on the roof and save us the hazard of large dead branches falling or being blown off by even casual thunder storms.  Second picture is looking up:

  Today's garden photos are about what's growing: Numerous Flower Seeds in Seed Sprouting Tray: Rows of mostly various flowers, either purchased or saved seed, such as rubeckia, coneflower, dwarf marigolds & hardy hibiscus; a couple kinds of basil; some catnip and a few seeds I saved from last falls Bell Peppers.  What's Planted in the Raised Bed So Far: One tomato and 2 mounds, each with a different bush squash. (marked with red arrows.) One is a type of spaghetti squash and the other is Zucchini. Bush squash don't sprawl vines everywhere. Instead grow fruit from the center making them ideal for a small space garden. Left to Go to Seed: I left behind 2 heads of lettuce in the bed to flower and go-to-seed. This worked so successfully last spring, I thought I'd just let them do their thing again.

Garden Pics today are spring planting! Front Bed Improvement: I had this terra cotta bowl on hand already. Decided to put it in the center of my front bed out by the mailbox in the center and planted it with a pink petunia and some Caladium, which is a leafy plant grown for it's pretty leaves. I put two bulbs behind the Peturnia. I'll see if it works or not. The area gets Eastern sun in spring and summer and my car shades the area in afternoons---so the Caladiums my do okay. I sort of forgot they were more of a shade plant. So, I'll see. I can move them later if they don't do well. I also planted Pink Alyssum just outside the bowl on either side--it's a perennial and should return yearly, gradually spreading. It stays low growing. There's a basil ground cover and Creeping Jenny ground cover in this area as well. The larger green leaves to left are Sea Holly.  Purple Petunias & Red Salvia In Containers I like to put petunias in my outdoor containers, like thi

  Today, I thought I'd share 3 pictures of things in my Garden in full Spring Bloom! Everything is signaling that, here in Florida, winter is over! My Porteguese Squill: So unique looking! Had bluish-purple flowers that gradually unfurl from the center! My Winter Jasmine is looking pretty now! It's actually been blooming a few flowers ever since November, but now that's spring is on, it's really getting covered! I keep it trimmed in this draping form. Finally, a have a large cluster of Spring Snowflakes appearing around a stump in a back bed where I planted the bulbs years ago every spring! This photo is a close view of the flowers. They remind me of little white skirts edged with green dots, like small upside down tulips.