Whoops
Posted: May 20, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Lantana, penta lanceolata, Southern Gardening 15 Comments
In my post Plant Shopping in My Yard, one of the volunteers I was transplanting was Pentas. I usually wait until the first two big leaves grow before transplanting them.
One reader commented on my good job identifying the young plants. I dug this plant with its first two leaves and planted it with another penta. As the days passed, it grew at rocket speed. Hmmm. I thought maybe the penta had reverted back to its heirloom form that grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Before long buds appeared and the plant revealed itself to be a Lantana. Whoops!
If I had looked closely I would have seen the leaves are slightly different. The Penta leaves are smooth and the Lantana leaves are serrated. To add to this mystery, I do not grow Lantana and wasn’t expecting to see it in my yard. I found the Lantana’s brothers and sisters one house down on the other side of the street. Now I have one more plant to move to a new location.
Around the Garden
Posted: October 22, 2021 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Green Anole, Gulf Coast gardening, nature photography, penta lanceolata, Southern Gardening, Subtropical Gardening, Zinnias 15 Comments
A zinnia just opening.
The perfect host.
Score!
Red Hot for Summer Heat
Posted: July 10, 2020 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Asclepias curassavica, butterfly weed, Encore Azalea, Hamelia paten, Hibiscus coccineus, hummingbird bush, Monarch Butterfly, Penta, penta lanceolata, rose, Salvia coccinea, Texas Star Hibiscus 16 Comments__________________________
The summer heat is on and the temperature is rising to 100 degrees or so. My red flowers are undaunted by the heat. Usually, I flee these super hot days for cooler climates, but in this current situation all plans have been canceled, so I’ll be enjoying the red hot plants of summer.
Saliva coccinea is a staple in the Automatic Garden. It survives the heat and the cold.
Hummingbird Bush (Hamelia paten) is a favorite of hummers and all pollinators.
Penta lanceolata will reseed and can make it through the winter, although it will look raggedy. Butterflies love it.
This Encore Azalea is kind of red. This azalea will repeat bloom throughout the year with early spring being its most prolific time.
These are probably the last roses until the weather cools.
The Butterfly Weed (Asclepias curassavica) has come back after being eaten by spring migrating Monarchs’ caterpillars.
Texas Star Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is the star of the garden. It is big, red and loves the heat.
Pot O’ Volunteers
Posted: October 28, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: abelmoschus moschatus, Automatic Gardening, Clown Flower, Gardening, Golden Dewdrop, golden dewdrop duranta, Gulf Coast gardening, penta lanceolata, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, summer pansy, Torenia fournieri, Wishbone Flower, Year-round gardening 15 Comments
The black pot had been sitting in a bed in the front yard for several years. Its purpose was to hold the Golden Dewdrop Duranta (the tallest plant). Over time some, volunteers decided the large pot would be a great place to grow. White Penta and Abelmoschus Moschatus seeds dropped in. Even the Passion Flower is attracted to the pot. Luckily for them, I love volunteers and the plants have a happy place to grow.
Another volunteer that I am thrilled with is the Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri). Its tiny seed is able to lie low all winter and germinate when the temperature rises. Its nickname is Summer Pansy, as it is too hot to have real pansies here in the summer.
Shortly after photographing the pot full of volunteers, I came across another Abelmoschus volunteer growing in the cobble rocks. It was quickly moved to a bed. Volunteers are a great way to keep the garden full.
A Tale of Two Beds
Posted: September 3, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, penta lanceolata, pentas, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 18 Comments
The two flower bed at the entrance of my front porch tell a very different tale. The plants were all bought at the same time and the same place.
One side is growing lush and blooming well.
The other bed is struggling and dropping yellow leaves. Early on I gave this bed fertilizer and a new layer of soil. Both beds grew equally well in the past. This is definitely a gardening mystery.
Automatic Gardening & Real Gluten Free Food 