A new neighbor in my Garden

This weekend I noticed a new neighbor in my garden, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker moved into a nest in the trunk of an old Palm tree.

The past week has been a busy time for me, very little time for gardening or bloging. Work is crazy, my daughter is graduating from college tomorrow and this time of the year I organized a neighborhood garage sale this coming Saturday.

The only gardening I did this weekend was planting several Cannas Lilies bulbs I purchased on the Internet from easytogrowbulbs.com.

My Earth Day contribution to my garden

This weekend I took it easy around the garden, it was a nice weekend to reflect on what a blessing it is to have a garden, and the responsibility that we all share in keeping our planet green and healthy for all future generations.

I moved all my herbs to a sunny corner. I keep all my herbs in containers so I can move it around the garden, except for the Rose Mary bush.

I planted Sun Flower seedling in my old tomato bed. This is the first time that I am growing Sun Flowers this late in the year, will see how they do in our summer heat.

I did some maintenance to my Coleus; they took a beating last week from a storm that past by.

I added a new ornament in the garden, I call it “Los Tres Amigos” I found these cute frogs at BJ’s, they make a great addition to my collection of frogs.

Pictures from around the garden

I purchased a new digital camera

I had been thinking about buying a new digital camera for while. There was nothing wrong with my old one. The only problem I had was the display in the back was very small and my 54 year old eyes were having a problem seen the picture.
I purchased a HP camera with 3 inch LCD, now I can see what I am aiming at. The camera also comes with 10 mega pixels this is bit more that what I need (experts say all you need is around 7) but what the heck lets go for the best.
Now all I need is to learn a new system (no easy task for me) I never been a very good photographer so the first few pictures are going to be a work in progress.

First picture with my new camera.

I missed bloom day on Sunday

What was blooming in my garden on Sunday.
I was doing my taxes all day and missed bloom day so here are some pictures from my garden.

Yellow Bromeliad

White Begonia

Bougainvillea

Angel’s Trumpet

Beautiful Red Flowers

Compliments from above

I was gardening yesterday morning, totally immerse in the job at hand when heard a voice from above “Nice Garden” I looked up thinking that I was getting a compliment from the man upstairs (you know the all mighty) instead I see this huge balloon going by over my house. I had my camera with me and was able to take these pictures.
I been thinking about it all weekend and I think I would like to try ballooning. Now I need to convince my wife.

Yesterday the sun was hitting the Flax bush in the front of the house and the color was spectacular. Is time to divide this plant is getting too big. My problem is finding some one to give the extra plants. I hate to throw way such a beautiful plant but I have no place to put it in my garden.

My New Avocado Tree

Last week I visited a nursery that specializes in tropical fruit trees. I was looking for an Avocado tree to put in the spot where I had the Star Burst tree. To my surprise there was only one tree left in the lot, this puny little guy. I felt like Charlie Brown and the Christmas tree. The little guy called to me “Take me home, take me home and I will give you the best and biggest Avocados you ever seen”. After some bargaining with the nursery manager the little guy has a new home.

This week we had an interesting week in South Florida gardening wise. First yesterday we had huge thunder storm, it dumped over two inches of rain in a couple of hours accompany with 60 mile per hour winds. It did a number on my Coleus

Today our local water authority announced stage two water restrictions (not very good timing after yesterday thunder storm) this means that we can only water our plants twice a week from 4am to 8am my turn is Wednesday and Saturday. In the past 30 plus years that I have lived in South Florida this is the first time we had gone to stage 2.
I don’t know but we have gone from no water restriction to stage two in less than a month. Today’s announcements was accompany with this warning “If we don’t reduce the water consumptions soon there is a possibility that salt water will sip into the aquifer” that will be the end of us all, or it will make for very stinky people walking around with dead gardens. I don’t buy it, I believe in conservation all the time but this is too much.

Today on my way home I stopped by the local Home Depot and got some annuals to plant in containers and try to keep some color in the back yard. I got some Verbena and Salvia, which are draught, tolerant.

And a good time was had by all

We had a great time at our family Easter celebration we had over 40 family and friends. The weather cooperated we had a beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze coming from the ocean. That is what gardens are for to be share with family and friends.
I hope you all had wonderful Holiday

Our newest member of the family Alexander (3months old) with his great grand mother

Happy Easter from DragonFly Gardens

For the last two days I been preparing the garden for our Easter Family celebration, the weather looks like is going to collaborate and my wife has been cooking and preparing the celebration for tomorrow.
I hope this Easter season brings all our bloging friends, peace, love, happiness and fertile gardens

Tabebuia Caraiba or as is known around here The Yellow Tab Tree

This tree is now in full bloom in Southern Florida everywhere you go you see these magnificent yellow flowers, on the highways, parking lots and peoples front yards. Is so pleasant to drive up into a concrete jungle of stores and parking lots and be greeted by this beautiful tree.
The Yellow Tab comes from South America and it is very easy to grow. In the last few years it has become a favorite of developers and now you see it everywhere.
They grow almost by themselves, requiring little care from us in the way of water, trimming or fertilization. The less care you give it the more flowers it gives you.
The pictures are from my neighborhood this morning as I walked my dog Rosie.

This is my Yellow Tab tree in my front yard as you can see one or two flowers on the top and that is it, and is the same every year. Why you may ask? I have a sprinkler system that waters the entire front yard, this tree doesn’t like too much water. May be now that we have water rationing it will start flowering.

A Joyous Holiday “Hag Sameach” to all our Jewish gardening friends.

This weekend was all hard labor in my garden. I been letting some of my plants get away from me and the tropical look was getting to be more like rainforest jungle look too much for my small place. I attacked with my electric saw, pruner and machete. Here is the result.

I cut down one of my Starburst bushes and will replace it with an avocado tree ( I also want to add a mango tree but I have not found the place for it yet); I also cut back the Angels Trumpet and a confederate Jasmine. Today my wife told me that we will be hosting our annual family Easter Holiday party in our back yard on Sunday. Our family takes turn hosting the party every year the person that was the host for this year at the last minute had to pull out so we volunteer our place. Our party includes egg hunt; barbecue and all the Easter trimmings for approximate 20 people including kids. “ I got to go, so much work to be done and so little time.”