The grand ball continues. We are advancing steadily now. The colors are vibrant and the dancing is becoming more lively. The dance floor is filling up so that there is a sense it soon will be crowded.
The lighting is on for more hours per day now and the activity of the dance is creating more heat. It will get hotter soon but it is tolerable now. The warmer nighttime air and the adequate hydration is leading to a faster pace.
The pollinators are active. I am noticing several host plants this week.
I hope to post to Six on Saturday again this week. Several gardens post regularly. It is fun to see the gardens from different parts of the world. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Our host is Jim Stephens.
The Caladium on the left is Florida fantasy with its candy red shade. I buy caladium bulbs every year and plant them in containers when the ground temperature reaches 65 F. I have not had much luck saving them over the winter after the season is over.
The Hydrangea quercifolia on the right is a favorite. The blooms start out bright white but then develop this reddish shade as summer approaches.
Here are two bizarre photos for you to see. First, the one on the left is the seedpods of butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). This is the host plant for the Monarch butterfly. As the pods mature, they will dry and twist and open before releasing the seeds which will be attached to a feathery parachute.
The right photo is Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea). It is a host plant for the gulf fritillary which is very common in my yard. I will post a photo of the butterfly as my featured image.
These are two dahlias that I started from seed several years ago. They can be seen from the bathroom windows. The plant stem can get very high but I cut it back to keep it no more than 3 to 4 feet high.
I hope you are enjoying the grand ball. Happy gardening!!
