On My Walk This Morning 4c

 

Many of the condos do their winter planting now, and these plants will bloom

until May or so, when the summer plants will be put in.  These are Pink, White,

and Red Impatiens or Busy Lizzies, one of the usual standbys.  They will grow into

bushes two or three feet high and covered with flowers until summer.  Note the

pointed leaves.

The various Hibiscus trees are coming into full bloom.   Yellow with red center,

but in differing proportions, is one of the favorites.  This is "Arizona Sunset"

and can be pruned a great deal.

The other very popular small flower is the "Vinca / Periwinkle"  You can distinguish

it from the Impatiens by the leaves.  These are shiny and oval, whereas the

impatiens is a flat green and pointed.  They come in many colors, and each condo

chooses a different combination; here we have Pink, White, and Magenta.

The Orchids on trees are all coming into bloom; it is amazing.  "Daisy Mae" is

a lovely blue with white spots tied to a small American Hawthorne tree.

The "Red Amaryllis" have finished blooming, but this White Amaryllis

on a patio was still in bloom.

"Dainty Doris" is loaded with buds and is only one of six orchids

tied to this tree.

Ti Plants are highly decorative and grow to four feet or so.  I first found this one

all in bloom.

But then a little while later, I found this clump of Ti Plants loaded with flowers.

Ti Plants come in a variety of colors, although the most common are the

deep purple.  But various shades of green are also common.

"Orangina Double Ruffled Hibiscus."  The bush was covered with blossoms.

The orange color comes in several varieties; this is one of the fanciest.

This is a "Thatch Palm," which has just been planted.  It looks like it has been growing

for years, but it was just put in.  I think it is a very nice, decorative variety with broad

fronds coming down low.

"Bubblegum Pink Hibiscus" seems to be particularly hardy, and many buildings

have one or two of them in front.

This is another yellow and red hibiscus, but it is a much deeper yellow, almost

orange, and many deep veins in the petals.  This is "Aztec Gold."

Outside one doorway is this very nice collection of Bromeliads (with the broad,

spear-like leaves) and Coleus.

"Peachy Keen" is a lovely orchid plant with a number more blossoms to open.

Phalaenopsis Orchids.

"Torenia / Wishbone Flower."  I haven't seen one of these in years.  They are very

prolific bloomers and come in many colors, always with white centers - red,

blue, lavender, pink, etc.  They are small bushes, about 18" high.

"Yellow Crown of Thorns."  You can see the very thorny stems in several places.

They come in red, yellow, white, and a mixture of red and orange.  These were

small, about two feet high, but some grow to four feet.

It was a nice, colorful walk today.