Summer flowers in my garden

Welcome to summer in our garden.

Watch your step.

Animal statuaries are scattered around the garden to bring some delight to a garden walk. The timid cat peers out of the welcome sign and the charming duck ushers one to the garden. Take a walk along the stepping stones and pause and relax.



While traipsing along these winding stepping stones, one will find "wings beneath your feet" and words of wisdom.







Colorful impatiens flowers and vincas surround the newly-planted Krauter Vesuvius flowering plum tree.



These fossilized leaf stepping stones hide many secrets.




Here are two animals not known for their speed but are lucky symbols. The snail symbolizes perseverance and determination; the turtle represents Mother Earth.

Gazanias

Treasure flowers

Gazania is a sun-loving, clumping perennial plant also known as a ground cover. When planted en masse, hybrid gazanias make a spectacular splash in the garden or along the sidewalk. These drought-resistant plants are native to Southern Africa and are one of my favorite plants. Gazanias start growing in spring and stop flowering in the winter. These easy-to-care-for plants grace the sidewalks and the backyard.








For the Do-it-yourselfers-->How to spread your gazania groundcover.

Crepe or crape myrtle trees

Fireworks in the heat of summer

The crepe myrtle trees Lagerstroemia Indica make the most dramatic display of reds and whites in the garden. The name of the tree comes from crinkly flowers which resemble crepe paper. This woody perennial is cut back at the top every winter and comes back in all its glory in the summer. Robins love to build their nests in the dense branches of the crape myrtles.


Crepe myrtle flowers are long-lasting and continue to bloom from mid-summer to fall. Mali, our resident calico cat loves lazing around on the deck, chattering at birds and enjoying the colorful trees.This is such a treat for an indoor cat.


This is a closeup of the crinkly pink and white flowers of the crepe myrtle trees.

How to cultivate, plant, prune crape myrtle trees. Check it out here.

Roses

Colors communicate your feelings

There used to be a dozen varieties of hybrid tea roses in the front yard but only five survived the harsh weather we have had through the years. These roses continue to bring me wonderful cuttings to grace my home.
The hybrid tea rose have only one flower on each stem unlike other roses. It has thick long stems and grow to over 5 feet tall and occasionally has to be cut back to keep the thorny branches from arching over the sidewalk.

Do you know the meaning of rose colors?

Lilies

Not all lilies are true lilies

True lilies belong to the genus Lillium and have one flower per stem and a whorl of leaves on the stalk. Daylilies have multiple branches of flowers with leafless stems. The leaves grow out from the ground.

The asiatic lily is a true lily and grown from bulbs with a fleshy stem, blade-like leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers.These attractive hybrid asiatic lilies are upward-facing and star-shaped. It is easy to grow but its blooms last about a week or more.
True lilies vs. day lilies

Daylilies are so called because the flowers bloom at sunrise and wilt at sundown. As its Greek name Hemerocallis implies, a daylily is beautiful for a day. Hence these are not usually used as cut flowers due to their short-lived blooms.

These hardy yellow daylilies are ever-present in the front and backyard. Although these are not true lilies, their cheery display of sunny blooms light up the summer garden. Another good trait of the daylily is that it is low-maintenance and will thrive with little attention.

This hybrid "Crimson Pirate" lily (Hererocallis) has thin petals with a yellow throat and resembles a spider lily.




The cool orange color of the Rocket City lily with its crimped petal edges stands out in a crowd.

Frequently asked questions about Daylilies
What is a daylily? Why is the daylily the perfect perennial? How much do daylilies cost?

Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) is a South African native plant but is known as a California flower. It has large globes of bluish-purple florets on top of each stalk and rise up about 2 feet tall.


This short Agapanthus "Tinkerbell" is appropriately named with smaller bluish florets on top of shorter stems. This will thrive in condition of neglect and continue to bloom year after year.

Geraniums and pelargoniums

Hummingbird's favorite flower

This orange-pink trailing geranium is the choice plant for hummingbirds to build their nest on. At least in my garden. The sweet nectar in the florets, the dense waxy fan-like leaves, and the bouncy strong stems that sway with the wind, make the ivy geranium a real winner for the nest builders.




This white and pink trailing ivy geranium is one of my favorite colors to break up the reds, oranges, and pinks in the trellis. Unfortunately, it is not a hummingbird crowd pleaser.


This trailing pink ivy geranium was just repotted. In time, the branches will trail and hang down and attract hummingbirds to sip nectar and consider building a nest on it. We live in a windy area by the foothills and the hummingbirds that visit the garden are acclimated to "bungee jumping" on the geranium branches.


And of course, magenta needs to be there to break up the reds and pink. I am hoping that this vibrant trailing geranium will be the home of the next hummingbird family this 2012.


It is not true that hummingbirds are only attracted to red flowers. Pink, orange, magenta geraniums will do if all the good benefit are there- lots of florets with nectar and strong branches to perch on.


This red pelargonium only grows upright. Its leaves have a velvety touch to it.


This flowers of this lovely pink pelargonium look like clusters of rose buds.

How to create clones of your geranium plant through cuttings. There is no need to buy more plants.

Martha Washington geraniums are also known as the Regal geraniums. These were reclasssified as Pelargoniums more than 200 years ago, but the name geranium stuck. These have pansy-like flowers, dark green crinkled leaves, and thick succulent stems. The colors are so captivating and look fabulous in hanging baskets. I have two planted in the flowerbed, but the ones grown in containers seem to be doing better.

This tri-colored pink regal geranium flourished from a broken stem which I stuck into the soil of a wooden pot. It survived last year's cold winter and grew into a healthy plant in the back porch. I found out later that Martha Washington geraniums can only be propagated through stem cuttings. This is what I call a happy accident.



This purple and white stunner is one of my favorites. The hanging basket was started from three short cuttings given to me by the owner of a Victorian tea house where we stopped to have High Tea. The secret of the profused blooms is a good douse of cold leftover coffee.

Hummingbirds in the garden

Notable fine-feathered friends

This is Sam, a male Anna's hummingbird who has taken residence in this geranium pot next to the feeder for three months. Sam only leaves his favorite perch to ward off would-be trespassers approaching the feeder. Otherwise, this "homebody" Anna's hummer stands guard in this hanging pot practically all hours of the day. In the evening, this Anna's hummingbird would retire to some tall trees and go into torpor.




It is hard to believe that this is the same Anna's hummingbird with its iridescent crown and gorget. The maroonish color transforms to a flashy magenta red when shot from a different angle. Sam's fancy "headdress" reminds me of the maille coif that Norman medieval knights used to wear during warfare. For this reason, we call Sam, the Red Knight.

Listen to the sound of an Anna's hummingbird; Learn more about the Anna's habitat, diet, nesting and behavior here.

This is Sela and Sasi, the two Allen's hummingbirds who took refuge in The Big Nest I built for them after bird mites took over their nest. A story of survival and love that is a must-read for hummingbird lovers. Hummers living in an artificial nest? It did happen. Check it out.
A Home for Hummingbirds


This is Hummie, a female Allen's hummingbird who built a nest near our bedroom window.


There are not that many hummingbirds visiting the three feeders. Five at most and that is plenty. Some of them live amongst the cypress trees by the pool. Others are merely stopping over in the middle of their migration to the coast. The positive note about the low hummingbird traffic in the yard is that there is a better likelihood that a nest will be found. I have found three so far.

Hummingbirds love geraniums!

We've found three nests so far

Chrysanthemums

"Mums" is the word.

These colorful mums are compact and hardy. I keep these in containers in the back porch and pinch them back to encourage side-shoots.
Chrysanthemums bloom in the fall and make excellent floral arrangements because of the longevity of the flowers. In the winter, the plants look withered and lifeless, but come back every year. These are the same ones in the back porch the last 4 years.

Alstromeria

Restaurants love them!

The alstromeria "Lily of the Incas" or Peruvian Lily is a relative of the amaryllis. It burns easily under direct sunlight, so I have it in a pot under a trellis in the back porch. Frequent watering and weekly fertilizing are needed to get these dwarf alstromeria to bloom.

Hydrangeas

Water-loving plants

These hydrangeas (Hortensia) are shady or semi-shade plants with round flower clusters which are referred to as "mopheads."
This was my Mother's Day present from my son years ago which came in a one-gallon pot with a bow. How it has grown and continued to thrive year after year.



The bluish purple hydrangea "Penny Mac" offsets the pinkish-red one next to it.

Change the color of your hydrangea from blue to pink and vice versa. Here's how.

Butterfly iris (Moraea)

Flora imitating fauna

These butterfly irises are aptly named as these look like yellow and black butterflies fluttering in the wind.

Fortnight Lily

What's in a name?

The fortnight lily is a hardy plant that is also known as Morea Iris, African Iris, or Cape Iris. It is drought tolerant and will grow in full sun or partial shade. The butterfly-looking flowers only last for one day but new blooms continue to replenish the plant.

Cannas

A little bit of the tropics

Cannas are tropical perennials with large banana-like leaves and were grown from rhizomes given to me by a friend. This flashy red showstopper have performed well through many summers, as well as, attracted a lot of hummingbirds to feed on the nectar.
In the winter, the canna dies back and springs back to life in all its splendor in the summer.

This perennial is easy to grow. Try planting some cannas and watch these beauties light up your garden. Follow these step-by-step instructions.

Lantana

Ham n' Eggs

The Lantana (Verbenaceae) is a mix of orange, red and yellow florets which grow very fast - almost invasive. It has a pungent fragrance and its leaves will fall off in the winter and come back in the summer. Several of the plants died in the harsh winter and only this one remains.

Delightful greeters for your garden

Wild turkey

On a wild goose chase

This mother turkey went wild when her four little chicks went astray in the hedges. She went into a panic and ran around the frontyard, flew on top of the fence, desperately calling for her babies. After 30 minutes or so, the little chicks came out of hiding and obediently followed mom along the sidewalk to the neighbor's yard.

Did you know that wild turkeys are fantastic fliers and can outrun an Olympic runner? Find out more interesting facts about the wild turkey.

Bird's nests

I found these two light blue eggs with brown speckles on them well-hidden in a thorny bush by the pool. I am not sure what kind of bird's eggs these are but these are about an inch long.


Hummingbirds have built two nests in the yard this year. It has been proven that ivy geraniums were their favorite nest sites.

Garden felines

No pussyfooting around

Let's not beat around the bush. My garden would not be complete without garden cats greeting visitors in every corner.

This white cat is busy grooming itself next to a pot of lavender mums.


Mali, our calico cat, delights in sunning herself next to her bestfriend, the boot brush cat.


This shy feline is perfectly comfortable peering out of the ivy groundcover.


In Ancient Egypt, the cat was revered in society and religion and was known as mau. I liked this cat statue because its posture and demeanor reminded me of the Egyptian cats. It sits like a sentinel guarding the front door.

Asparagus fern or foxtail fern

Not a fern at all

The asparagus fern Asparagus Densiflorus 'Myersii' is a great ornamental filler plant which give dimension to the garden. It is often used in container plantings and the feathery branches look soft and fluffy. The asparagus fern is not a fern at all and is related to the lily family.
The aparagus ferns remind me of of clumps of foxtails, hence its common name foxtail fern.

A different path leading the way

Petunias

A gardener's favorite

What is a garden without the colorful summer annual petunia? The petunia is the most popular bedding flowers. However, it will not tolerate intense heat, so the hanging basket is in a shaded and cooler part of the yard. This plant is also a bit difficult to deadhead because the hairy and sticky branches tend to stay glued to my fingers. Cutting back the dead flowers and stems will encourage petunias to produce more flowers.
But it is worth all the trouble.

Mandevilla vine

Likes the heat and is clingy

These stunning trumpet-shaped flowers of the Mandevilla vine are showy and blooms in spring, summer and fall. The vine loves the sun and grows very well in containers with good drainage. When not kept in check, these vines will twine and cling around the wood trellis next to it. These are always trimmed back to keep them bushy rather than trailing.

Showy bougainvillea

Beautiful cascading flowers bursting with color

A summer garden is not complete without the showy profuse bloomer, the bougainvillea. It was discovered by French naturalist Dr. Filibert Commerçon and it after his close friend and ship"s admiral Antoine de Bougainville, who commanded the ship La Boudeuse that sailed around the world between 1766-1769, and in which Commerçon was a passenger.

It is my fondest wish that this vine will climb and arch over the fence next to where it has been planted.

Read more on how to care for bougainvillea

Colorful coleus

Painted Nettle

The leaves of the coleus plants are known for their striking colors and variety of leaf shapes. These are tender semi-shade perennials and make wonderful flower borders and can also be grown indoors. I just acquired these plants and have them on the back porch under the trellis.


Interesting links to show you how to grow your own coleus plants:
How to grow and care for Painted Nettle
How to grow coleus plants indoors

Succulent garden

Cacti do not have to be uninviting and prickly. The drough-resistant plant can be integrated into a small succulent garden in a hanging basket. This arrangement includes cabbage roses, kelanchoe and jade plant.



Must See! Amazing vertical succulent gardens you can make yourself.

Soothing sound of fountains

Shady Impatiens

Impatient plant

Impatiens flowers are a popular bedding plant creating mounds of reds, white, pinks, and coral under trees and flowerbeds. These are hybridized and treated as annuals. The name impatiens comes from the Latin word "Impatiens" which means impatient. This is because the ripe seed pods will burst open at the slightest touch as if these are impatient to open. Impatiens thrive best in shaded areas, container gardens, and hanging baskets.
On warm days, I give these a good shower in the mornings and weekly fertilizing.

Pineapple guava (Feijoa)

Exotic and delicious

In early spring, the pineapple guava shrubs turn into a marketplace for all kinds of birds in the backyard. Each and everyone is vying for the red flowers on the shrubs, pecking away with wild abandon.
This evergreen shrub is very prolific in the summer and bears basketful of fruits. The pineapple guava looks like a guava but taste like a pineapple. The ripened fruit is about the size of a large egg. I would harvest these and bring them to work where these are very popular.




These pineapple guavas will be ready for picking at the end of September when the rind turns to a lighter green and the fruits get to be the size of large or jumbo eggs. These are also great additions to green salads.

This is the last batch of pineapple guava harvested from my garden as of November just before the winter rain came. I brought several baskets to work and shared the fruits with my co-workers who just cannot have enough of these exotic fruits.
Make this Pineapple guava fall fruit salad.

Large and juicy strawberries

Every garden needs one.

Strawberries are one of my favorites fruits. These are great with cereal, in smoothies, dipped in chocolate and are known to whiten your teeth.
This is a starter basket that was just added in the garden and already shows a lot of promise.
How to Grow Strawberries in Strawbery Pots

Pomegranate

Incredible Edibles

I like this pomegranate plant for the attractive bright orange flowers which eventually develop into fruits. It likes the warm climate and is easy to care for. Aside for its decorative purpose, the pomegranate tree produces round apple-like fruits which have a citrus flavor. It is also known as the Chinese apple or Granada.



Interesting health and medicinal benefits of pomegranate
The juice of the seeds, bark of the tree, and rind of the pomegranate have been used for thousands of years for medicinal pruposes in the Indian subcontinents. Some of the health benefits include stoppage of nose bleeds, diarrhea, common cold, coronary artery disease.
Pomegranate juice has gained popularity lately as a source of vitamin C and B5 and mixed in smoothies and health drinks. And there are now jams, pomegranate wine and salad dressing in upscale eateries.

Exotic plants from Amazon