It’s been all veggie all the time around here lately, let’s see how the flowers are doing.
The echinacea, who do not dig the wet/hot/Florida summer scene, have recovered nicely. Here’s purpurea:
And Evan Saul:
The birds-of-paradise are still blooming:
Starry-eyes nierembergia:
Verbena with ipomoea:
Heliotrope entangled with the dianthus:
My beloved, seed-raised Zebrina hollyhocks:
My second-favorite flower ever, this so-tough-it’s-growing-under-a-palm gallardia (Goblin):
And my very favorite flower, ever, of all time, no matter what else you might show me, the strawflower. First, artsy:
Then white with orange center:
Then pink-tipped white:
Then fuschia with spots:
And my favorite of the favorites, this sunset yellow/orange:
One of the perils of growing so many annuals and perennials is they’re, of course, more vulnerable to frost…and since these things make up the majority of our landscaping, we’re going to have to do some hustling during the few days when we have temps in the 30s. Like, oh, say, LATER THIS WEEK. Dangit.
on 
on Jan 13th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Just luverly!
on Jan 13th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Oh my! All of those are so beautiful. I have never grown strawflowers, they are so neat!
on Jan 14th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I’m so jealous that you have flowers in January! Our yard looks like winter hell, but I know I’ll be singing differently come spring.
Actually, our rosemary loves the cold weather – I swear, it’s growing even now – and the lavendar has turned out to be quite hardy, although I mulch it pretty well. It doesn’t lose it’s leaves… have no idea if this is normal or not.
on Jan 14th, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Caitlin: I have to say, I do enjoy that part almost as much as the constant stream of fresh veg. Well, that and the fact that I’m wearing flip-flops right now.
Granted, it’s 62 degrees and I do have on a long sleeve shirt, but I’m from Florida…standards must be maintained.