Garden in Paradise

A Plant Fanatic in Hawaii, aka Noel, says, "the theme is HOT!!!  TROPICAL!!!"

We're not talking about the Miami Heat here, although they're pretty HOT!!!



Let me set the mood...click here to jam to Buster Poindexter's HOT HOT HOT Carribean style!!!



So, what's HOT in my garden right now?! 

This is the ever tropical, VERY HOT Orange Bird of Paradise, my personal favorite!

Another all time favorite is this Indian Blanket flower...these are the colors of the sun!!


How 'bout a Tequila Sunrise?  OOPS...that's not a flower!!!  Great color though!!


What's your favorite?! (the drink doesn't count!)

Yes, I'm experiencing a blogger's quandary.  I'm certain I'm not the first, nor will I be the last.  I've only been blogging for a relatively short amount of time, so this is my first official experience with such a dilemna.



Thus, I present the situation...to blog or not to blog, that is the question!

The weather is finally turning for the better on a consistant basis.  The garden is coming to life, and my garden specimens hit hardest by the long Florida winter are displaying promising signs of recuperation.  The recent rain showers have not only brought spring flowers but hoards of weeds


as well as muddy patches of unfinished garden spaces for my dogs to trample through.

Again, there's the lovely weather...perfect for a day of boating and fishing.  My patient husband becomes more anxious by the day as the boat beckons him at every turn.  The TV constantly displays fishing shows and the weather radio droans on and on about the perfect conditions.  Even the children are ready to chance the spring water temperatures at the sandbar.  My son is waxing his surfboard, anticipating any hope of a beach day.
 
What is a garden blogger to do?  And what about my poor neglected family who is accustomed to my sermons of living an outdoor, active life?  What are they to think and do?  But if I don't blog, what will my blogging friends think?  Will they miss me?  What about all the fantastic posts I will miss...the beautiful photos; the poetic words and fascinating stories; my funny comrads that keep me in stitches...what about all of that?!?!



Well, considering the fact that my last post was 5 days ago, I suppose it's obvious which side of the argument won this current battle.  And although I'm fearful that I have missed out on the best post of the year, I haven't read any of my favorite blogs.  BOO!!!


However...I can report on a great weekend!  First, there was the Garden Expo at the Martin County Fairgrounds (the one I mistakenly "attended" last weekend, only to find out I had the wrong date).  This show was fantastic!  So many interesting plants, ideas, and people!





















We also spent a day on the water, enjoying some incredible wildlife.  I wish I had photos to share but they didn't come out that well, and I'd rather focus on the action than getting a great shot. Among the multitude of beautiful animals we spotted (sea turtles, dolphin, crabs, water birds, etc.) we witnessed a pair of osprey feeding their young.  Absolutely beautiful!  Additionally, my daughter and her friend became boat captains for the first time. They were giddy with excitement!


The garden was not 100% neglected during our busy weekend...we added some colorful annuals, blocked portions of the garden from the dogs, and laid stone in the remaining bare areas.  No more muddy paws!

I'm still feeling a bit disappointed as I had a wonderful "Palm Sunday" post planned exhibiting a few of my ailing palms and a handful of my favorites.  Noticably, this didn't happen.  So, to make up for my slacking ways, here's a few of the palms I love best...

Yes, I'm a huge Tim McGraw fan, so of course my inspiration for this post came when I was listening to his song, "Back When".  I crack up every time he sings, "Back when a Hoe was a Hoe..."
Click here to listen to "Back When" 

It made me think of nostalgic things...my parents farm, my Grammys patio garden, etc.  My family is from rural SE Indiana where the gentle rolling hills and hollows create a beautiful canvas. Every farm has a clever name...Pork Chop Hill is the name that displays on the side of my family farm barn; Billy Goat Mountain is another just north of our farm; and Hoot Owl Hollow (Holler, actually) is another close by.  My grandparents settled here from Okalahoma, with visions of a quiet, simple life.  What a wonderful place, our homestead!



When I think back on my parent's corner of rural paradise, I think of the acreage before the corn and bean fields, even before the alfalfa fields and before the willow trees.  The green lawns decorated with lovely old world peonies...






hydrangea (close to the old farm house chimney, the shrub stays warm during the cold midwest winters)...




My Grammy's front patio was a place where everyone would gather and sip sweet tea.  It was a peaceful place, even on the hottest afternoon, where the hummingbirds would gather together with the cats...a kind of garden of eden. 







She was a magnificent artist and pianist.  Her piano holds a place of honor in my home today.  What fond memories of days gone by.