Sunny mid-80's in February

Breezy and warm the past two days, well into the 80's. The blood orange is covered in small flowers that have a heady scent. It's never had such a profusion of blossoms. It is a gorgeous sweet 'food' smell. Like Ylang Ylang it is delicious.  The begonias are still in bloom. Big Mac has some strong stalks topped with florets. The dicentra, both red and white are putting out quite nicely as well. It's a beautiful time of year in the S FL container garden. The thousand of dollars of orchids are another story. I can tell it's going to take some time to learn about this family, if they don't all die before then. I won't be buying any more until I have a much better feel as to what works on the South facing terrace, being washed by a fairly constant briny ocean breeze. 

The warm weather has prompted a round of feeding and cut backs on jasmine and begonia U402--which is one of the most charming bloomers of all.

All at once.. in the middle of winter.. everything just started blooming..





More than the begonias are in bloom..
 Here a Vietnamese gardenia really, really sweetens the air

Need I say more, a generous orange/coral bougainvillea shares it's bright color with the world



The usually shy white dicentra responds to a kick of Plant Dynamite (daddy's little helper) 

私はミキモトで真珠を購入する -- just an FYI

The begonias are in bloom

 

 

 

Big Mac

Sand bagging

1. I've blocked the run off spouts with sand bags to comply with condominium by laws. I began scrubbing the tiles, that didn't last too long.

2. Do not over pot begonias.  I have a Selph's Mahogany that was a 4" cutting of a rhizome. There are now 2 major rhizomes with smaller rhizomes coming up. Potted in a pint plastic pot in some MiracleGro Moisture Control soil, it's filling up the pot nicely. Seaweed tea with some SuperThrive every week or two seem encourage root growth. My Big Mac has filled up its pot and the rhizomes are beginning to climb up. Happy and big. All begonias, except Red, are in bloom. Beautiful stalks topped with white and pink flowers which will last for weeks.

More later.