If potted plants could talk

This one would be screaming "when are you going to divide me"

Yesterday I came home with some energy left after work, so it was timeI used the old container to plant a combination of sansevieria and aloa vera, both of which I have plenty growing around the garden.I divided the bromeliads, some I planted in a new pot and the others are now in the front garden.Bromeliads and Succulents make for great container plants.

Maintenance and the banana trees

This morning I decided to do a little maintenance on my banana trees. I have three baby banana trees all with fruits. My father taught me a trick on how to get bigger bananas, he told me that by cutting the flower off at the end of the stem when the bananas are small, the trees will channel all their energy on growing healthier and bigger fruits. (The bees will not be happy; they love the nectar from these flowers)

The banana flower looks like a heart and I am told they are edible and a delicacy in Southeast Asia.

New flowers this week

Spider Lily

This orchid--attached to a palm tree--is a reliable producer of yearly flowers.

Aechmea fasciata bromeliad (fancy name). I have several of these flowers popping up in the garden

I counted 43 key limes today in my potted key lime tree. My wife is thrilled!

All water fountains are not the same.

I am a big fan of the sound of running water in the garden; that’s why I have two water fountains--one in the back garden and one in the courtyard. This week, the pump from the courtyard fountain stopped working. “News Flash “ the pump is attached to the fountain and it cannot be replaced. Today I bought a new fountain at Lowe’s with a replaceable water pump

The old fountain is now a flower planter in the front of the house and I planted rose moss.

It's raining again this afternoon. The rainy season is truly upon us!
The rain barrels are full

My newest toy, a Nikon D3100 SLR camera, was birthday gift from the CFO of the DragonFly Garden (my wife). Can you tell that I was a good boy?!!! Now I need to learn how to use it since it's not as simple as my old point-and-shoot.

GBBD in South Florida

Another Gardeners Bloggers Bloom Day but this one is special; it's my birthday. The pictures below are the blooms from the DragonFly Garden this morning. The rainy season has finally arrived and it has rained the last three days. The temperatures also spiked into the high 90's (That's S. Florida in the summer).

Thryallis

Ground orchid

White plumeria

Rain lillies after the rain.

Milk weed

Shrimp plant

Purple Allamanda

Miniture red ixora

Blue Porterweed

Kimgs Mantle

Don't know the name of this one. Any one???

Miami's Cape Florida State Park

Yesterday my family and I visited the Cape Florida State Park or “El Farito” ( The lighthouse) as it's known by locals. The lighthouse was built in 1925 and is the oldest standing structure in Miami Dade County.
The beach at Cape Florida is considered one of the ten best in the US. This beach is well known to locals but is less famous than its northern neighbor, South Beach.

The day was perfect for the beach, and many families took advantage of the great weather. You can see the city sky line in the background.

The lighthouse is visible from anywhere on the beach.

The family enjoying the day.

Composting the vegetable garden

Today I composted what remained of the vegetable garden

I am not a big fan of composting in a small garden, but I know the benefits outweigh seeing and smelling the ugly composter.
For now, the old vegetable bed will serve as a holding storage for recuperating potted plants. I am planing major changes for next season, so stay tuned.

Our Australian Cattle Dog, Rosie, plays and I work. It's good to be a dog! Rosie is one of the reasons why I keep grass in my garden.


The white Mandevilla was looking outstanding this morning.


Fires in the Everglades to the west of us were blowing smoke into the city this morning, it created an unpleasant outdoor day. The Everglades have been on fire for days due to the extreme drought conditions.


Tomorrow, weather permitting, my family and I are heading to the beach. We live near some of the best beaches in the world and we seldom go. Trying to change that!

Question to the gardening blogosphere.

I am in the process of designing a new vegetable garden for the upcoming season this fall. My plan is to build several wood raised beds. I am conflicted with what kind of wood to use; the least expensive and longer-lasting solution is regular pressure-treated wood.
I read several articles on the Internet that caution not to use this type of wood for fear that the chemicals used to treat it would contaminate the plants. There are others experts that see no problem with pressure-treated wood.
Whom to believe??? If you have an opinion, please let me know.

I could also use cement blocks for the border but the heat of South Florida might cook the plants.