On My Walk This Morning 4p

Various flowering trees are now in bloom.  This is one of the 

"Royal Poincianas" in bright red-orange.  They are all around the property.

A closer view of the "Royal Poinciana."

Above my head, the "Blue Jacaranda" tree is filled with clusters of

bright blue flowers.

"Jacaranda Flowers"

"Magenta Vincas" are especially popular this year.  The flowers themselves

are larger and more prolific than usual.  This must be a new variety.

The "White Vincas" are also larger and more prolific than usual.

This bush is almost totally covered with flowers.

"Alison Oncidium Orchids" continue to appear; they are much later

and smaller than the Phalaenopsis Orchids.

Part of the "Succulent Garden," which has developed very nicely.

That "Pencil Plant" at the top which has no leaves has filled out very well.

"Magenta Moss Roses" have begun to appear on the left.  The two"Sedum"

plants expand.

These "White Impatiens" are  much more prolific than usual and they are

longer lasting than usual.  They really fill up this space very well.

The "Magenta Moss Roses" are a nice surprise.  We always had them in the garden,

but this is the first time I have seen them in Florida.

I turned a corner today and found a beautiful "Princess Charlotte" pale pink

oleander bush.  It was hidden by another larger bush.  The flowers are quite large

and very soft pink with thick petals.

"Princess Charlotte" pale pink oleander bush.

"Tipuana Tipu / Pride of Bolivia" South American Tree.

As I entered the park this morning, I was greeted with this sight - a tree completely

covered in yellow blossoms.  The "Tipu Tree" has only recently been introduced into the

U.S.  It is very popular in California, where Santa Barbara and San Diego boast of

their large collections of tipus.  The tree is excellent for shade; its leaves are delicate

and fern like, but very dense.  And then it gets completely covered with yellow flowers

during the summer.  We have two of them.

"Portulacaria Afra / Elephant Bush" is a succulent vine from South Africa.

It has done very well draped from a tall urn.

"White Cape Jasmine."  It makes a big difference which direction you walk

on a path.  I changed direction today to avoid some hot sun, and suddenly

I saw flowers I have never noticed before.  These are "Cape Jasmine,"

which are shorter bushes than the usual and with more flowers and a

beautiful aroma.

 

Bushes of "Whiter Cape Jasmine" close to the ground.

Just a little to the left is the "Blue Jacaranda Tree."

The "Coral Mussaenda" is doing very well.  They had overpruned it the last two

years, and it did not look very nice. but this year it has a nice shape and lots

of flowers.

Close-up of "Coral Mussaenda."  I was introduced to the flower by an elderly

Greek couple, who said they had many of them in Greece and enjoyed having

some around the house here.

I have always liked this corner by the door, filled with these "Orange Heliconias"

and "Mardi Gras" Ground Orchids.  Both flowers last a very long time.

My favorite "Frilled Double Orange Hibiscus" continues to bloom.

"Frilled Double Orange Hibiscus."

A beautiful "Pink Oleander Bush" by our swimming pool.  Two years ago,

they butchered it in pruning, and we had nothing last year.  But this year it has

recovered and is blooming very nicely.

Clusters of "Pink Oleander"

Another flower I stumbled on walking in the opposite direction is this

"Orange Geiger Tree."  They are short, decorative flowering trees.  They also

come in white.  There are several others on the other side of the community, but

they have not bloomed for a couple of years.  It was nice to see this one.

Another colorful morning in Palm Aire and Cypress Bend.

__