Completely satisfied Friday GPODers!
We’re going tropical at the moment and looking at some plant highlights from a latest journey I took to Delray Seaside, Florida.
I’m a powerful believer that vegetation are thrilling and fascinating irrespective of the locale—whether or not you’re 10 minutes down the highway or on the opposite facet of the globe. Nonetheless, I may even be the primary to confess that seeing vegetation and wildlife in a local weather vastly completely different than the one you’re most accustomed to will be essentially the most awe-inspiring and informative expertise. I’ve had the chance to journey all the way down to southern Florida a couple of occasions over the previous couple of years, however every time I’ve been equally excited and enamored by the succulents, palms, and numerous tropical vegetation rising in all their glory. I don’t suppose I’ll ever neglect the primary time I noticed a stunning variegated croton (Codiaeum variegatum, Zones 11–12) (a plant I’ve failed at rising indoors numerous occasions) as an enormous, mature shrub rising in somebody’s entrance yard as casually as I might see a arborvitae rising right here in Connecticut.
All of this to say, my most up-to-date journey was no exception. Whereas the group I travelled with was trying out the rooms in our Airbnb, unpacking, and pouring drinks, I used to be instantly outdoors snapping photos of all of the fabulous vegetation within the small however great backyard border across the pool. You’ll discover these images beneath, in addition to another vegetation I noticed throughout our excursions on the town.
The scene that immediately caught my eye from the french doorways within the eating room. The palms are all the time thrilling to see, but it surely was the intense pink flowers and succulent-looking hedge that drew me in for a better look.
Not a succulent upon nearer inspection, however a useful plant identifier app let me know this was a variegated Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegatum’, Zones 8–11). Stunning all yr spherical with it’s putting variegated foliage, however significantly enticing in spring when it’s coated in orange-blossom scented flowers.
Simply mistaken for impatiens, frequent in comparable shades of pink, crimson and white, Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus, Zones 8–11) would nonetheless be thought of an annual for colder areas however will be grown as a perennial right here in Florida.
One other plant typically grown indoors in colder climates, the colourful colour and other-worldly texture of ‘Myers’ foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’, Zones 9–11) is an absolute deal with to see in a backyard mattress. Whereas this photograph options solely foliage, there’s nonetheless a lot variation and curiosity.
Dotted between among the foxtail fern have been a couple of aloe vegetation (Aloe vera, Zones 9–11), an exquisite and helpful plant to have useful by the pool!
A few of my favourite vegetation across the pool have been truly peaking over the fence from neighbor’s yards. The brilliant yellow culms of this Asian Lemon bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides ‘Viridi-Vittata’, Zones 9–11) made it an absolute present stopper.
If I haven’t already made it abundantly clear, I’m a sucker for an interesting-looking tree. The rising behavior of this umbrella tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum, Zones 10–12) seems to be straight out of the pages of Dr. Seuss, and everybody made a remark that the few yellow leaves regarded like bunches of bananas at first look.
Once we lastly pulled ourselves out of the pull and headed downtown to seize dinner, there have been nonetheless loads of alternatives for plant watching. It’s onerous to seize the true scale of huge vegetation in images, however these traveller’s palms (Ravenala madagascariensis, Zones 10–11) have been completely huge. Although coined a palm, these tree-like vegetation are literally associated to bird-of-paradise and may truly produce white flowers in a equally spiky type.
One more houseplant grown to a dimension us northern gardeners may solely dream of! Snake vegetation (Dracaena spp. and cvs., syn. Sansevieria spp. and cvs., Zones 9–11) are notoriously straightforward to develop in nearly each setting indoors, however simply because they’ll adapt doesn’t imply they’re thriving like they’re right here.
Making our technique to the seaside, an entire new world of vegetation will be discovered. Native to coastal seashores and really tolerant to salt, aptly named sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera, Zones 10–11) will be discovered rising in mass alongside seashores in southern Florida and the Caribbean.
Saving certainly one of my favourite finds for final, this spineless prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica, Zones 10–11) should have loved this spot for a while by the seems to be of its fairly severe trunk. By no means did I feel my love of cacti and bushes would mix, however now I’m brainstorming methods I can have this rising inside??
Thanks for becoming a member of me on this tropical plant reflection! In the event you’ve made it this far, let me know within the feedback your favourite place to see new or fascinating vegetation. It may be a trip spot, an area backyard, or your favourite nursery that’s all the time promoting one thing new. You probably have an opportunity to go and take images of your favourite finds, please share them in an e mail to [email protected] or ship me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad
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