Our condo decided to go with Variegated Impatiens for this winter.
They are planted as small plants with three flowers, but within two weeks they
have spread to this size, and within another ten days, they will be one large bush
covered with various colors of flowers.
Here are a bunch along a sidewalk and coming together.
I like these purple impatiens because the petals separate a little;
each flower is different, with variations in color.
These are Pink Infinity Impatiens, in which every flower is a different color and
each flower has various shades in itself.
"Mardi Gras Ground Orchids." They have surprised me by their hardiness. They were
planted in a mixed bed with African Iris, and they have taken over and forced
the iris out. These orchids grow in soil; they are not tied to trees.
"Imperial Purple Ground Orchids"
The "Crinum Lilies" look like a fountain with cascading water or a series of
firecrackers going off. Every building has a couple of these bushes.
"Coral Infinity Impatiens" They make a nice contrast to the white and purple.
These are delicate Pink Infinity Impatiens, but during the heat of the day the sun turns
them white. Tonight they will be soft pink again and tomorrow morning also.
"Hothead Caladiums" make a nice contrast to the flowers. These stand about two feet high.
"Golden Globes Ixora" with clusters of flowers six inches across.
They make a beautiful hedge along a walk or against a wall
Two "Golden Globes Ixora" flowers.
"Candy Apple" Red Hibiscus with the sun shining through it.
The "Strawberry Parfait Hibiscus" bush is covered with these luscious double blooms.
But my favorite is "Mango Delight Hibiscus," with its subtle colors.
These are big flowers, seven or eight inches across.
"Flirtatious" is a double fuchsia hibiscus which is especially sensuous.
"White Candles / Whitfieldia Elongata"
One building has two of these bushes, and they are now in full bloom. They thrive
in complete shade, no sun at all. So they are very nice for the North side
of buildings.
The "Brunfelsia" tree is in its seventh week of blooming. It is amazing; I don't know why
they don't buy a couple more, they are so colorful and hardy.
Close-up of "Brunfelsia" flowers, also known as "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow."
They first bloom deep purple, then gradually fade to lavender, and finally turn white
before falling off.
"Snow Princess Orchid" now has three big blossoms and more to come.
"Gracie Gold" Orchids just began blooming, and there will be lots more soon.
"Dolly Madison" and "Gracie Gold" orchids. Both of these began as gifts for people.
When they stop blooming, people usually throw them away. But a man here has
talked people into giving him their old orchids, and he ties them to trees on the
North side of the condo, and the next spring they bloom again.
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