Spring Things in the Garden

Something had been eating the leaves of this white geranium and it wasn't doing so great.  I don't like to spray chemicals in the yard, but I gave this a bit of a spray and it has recovered quite nicely.  

With the return of the hot weather, the Sambac Jasmine has increased its blooms.  Last night was humid and after walking the dogs, I took time to sit with them on the bench in the front walkway and get good whiffs of fragrance from the Jasmine surrounding one of the palms nearby.  (sorry about that run-on sentence)  It was wonderful!

I am equally delighted to find a ton of new buds on the Star Jasmine in the backyard.  

The last time it bloomed profusely was when I still had it on the lanai.  I moved it outside of the lanai to a bigger trellis and it has always bloomed, but not in great quantity.  It looks like it's going to be a good show this year!  

Last year, I don't know exactly how, but I think I over fertilized the Mandevilla.  I'm usually stingy with the fertilizer, just for that very fear of overdoing it.  Anyway, the Mandevilla became sickly, lost all of its leaves and I thought maybe that was that.  But, wonderfully, it is getting some beautiful new leaves and I hope it will be blooming again soon.

Like this!

It seems like all the Allamandas in the neighborhood are blooming, except mine.  I am happy to say I found buds on some of mine yesterday while out perusing the backyard.

I'm sure they're slower to form buds because mine are more shaded than they should be.  They're under the Giant-White-Birds-of-Paradise, and I need to trim a little so they get more sunshine.

 The Plumeria is blooming with only one leaf on the whole plant.  It looks so funny.  It should be leafing out any time now.  

I'm happy how the Impatiens I planted under the Date Palms have filled in and are so showy and colorful.  I hope they'll last awhile with all the sudden hot weather.

The purple Lantana has really taken off just this past week.  I chose to do a focused color on this shot because the birdbath water was a little green-looking and not so pretty.  I have to clean the birdbath every day during the hot and rainy season or it will get moldy and green overnight!

I found some chain and a basket and hoisted this Ivy Geranium into one of the trees in the front yard.  I thought it would give the mailman something bright and cheery to look at.  My husband went to get the mail last night and didn't even notice it...*sigh*

I'm so glad that the Painted Buntings are still hanging around.

They should be here through this month and hopefully into April as well.  Then we won't see them again until October.

This photo is so bad, but it shows what the male Indigo Buntings look like right now.  I'm not sure if they're molting or maturing, but they're at this stage before they burst into full blue!

Then they're this insane color of heavenly blue - absolutely gorgeous!  I really need to learn more about these beautiful birds!

This is the only photo I have of the male Indigo Bunting and the male Painted Bunting together.  This would be my "Holy Grail" shot, if only I could get a decent one!  :)