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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Spiderwort and Spider Webs

Tradescontia ohiensis spiderwort, Native to Florida
A gardener never knows what unexpected beauties await as we take a stroll around our beloved plots of earth.

Every time of day offers its own unique ambience and surprises. It would seem the delicate spider webs are bracing the spiderwort. First streams of light radiate here and there through the tree limbs to disclose fresh scenery only morning's sun can provide. In the native garden it is the white blooms of Oakleaf Hydrangea that are highlighted for these few moments. Clear and crisp. Brilliant brightness illuminates dew drops, petals, and foliage, and showcases characteristics of the garden that must be discovered during this short window of time. This is the view that drew me out this morning. In the distance this is what I see directly through my kitchen window. All that shimmering and glimmering from the soft rays of morning streaming into the tropical pathway and the circle garden. Can you see the spider's web on the Cordyline 'Red Star' in its small orbed pattern?

There we go... now it's visible. Elsewhere in the garden I'm drawn from place to place and met with unexpected garden gifts. Keeping an eye on the bud for the amaryllis just outside the pool cage... Today it has burst open in red flames of color. For some unknown reason (to me anyway) only this plant sends up buds and blooms each year. There are several more in the garden that don't bloom. Ever. Trachelospermum jasminoides Confederate jasmine is sending out its sweet fragrance to greet my senses. This care free vine covers the entire fencing surrounding the edible garden. It doubles as a wind break and privacy screen. The fresh earthy smell of edibles mixed with the lemony-clean aroma of jasmine all at once carries with it the power to cause a girl to swoon. Confederate jasmine wraps its strong roots and twines its foliage over the arbor that connects the perennial garden and the wildflower garden. A pretty moth I've not noticed in the past is nectaring from the sweet flowers. Juxtaposed to the arbor is the more than 20' single trunk Ligustrum japonicum tree. It is loaded with white buds and blooms for spring... and the pollinators. A quick peek in the edible garden and the Black Swallowtails are seen laying eggs on the parsley. There should be plenty for the instars to eat. This year flat leaf parsley sprouted all over the garden from seeds dropped by last year's parsley. Just one more unexpected but welcomed surprise on this bright and beautiful spring morning.
Happy gardening,
Meems

16 comments:

  1. What a delightful morning walk in your lovely FL gardens. I love the way the sunlight hits and wakes things up.

    FlowerLady

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  2. Meems,

    Enjoyed seeing the spiderworts, some reason I really like them. Loved the Black Swallowtail photo, they have not appeared here yet, I have two tiger swallowtails on the azalea last night.

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  3. FlowerLady,
    This is the time of year when the whole earth seems to come alive. Each day is new and fresh and to be cherished.

    Randy,
    I am with you. I love the spiderworts... see them on the side of the road everywhere but in my native garden they are in the shade. I've got my fingers crossed they will behave better there. Tiger swallowtails are fun, too. Soon you'll be out capturing all kinds of beautiful photos in your area.

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  4. I have some white native spider worts I would like to share with you. Your garden is beautiful today.

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  5. Rick,
    Thank you. I can't recall EVER seeing white spiderwort. Yay. I would LOVE it.

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  6. What gorgeous scenery you and God have created together...
    I need to get some of that Confederate Jasmine. Is it native? Does it have to be staked or supported? I took particular notice when you said it could be used for privacy. It looks amazing!
    Here's to more butterflies gracing your garden!

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  7. Meems: Love your pictures with morning sun stream radiate through the limb branches! I have not matered the skill to capture the spider web yet :) I so want to get some of those spiderwort. Blue is always my favorite color in the garden.

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  8. Caution: Swooning Girl here! Lovely post...love the view you have from your kitchen window. I wonder if your Amaryllis need to be replanted? I am waiting on a bud to open here too..have a happy gardening weekend....the weather guesser said our weekend would be oppressive...I thought that was a mighty harsh word to use for April.

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  9. Daisy,
    Confederate jasmine is VERY Florida-Friendly... not native however. I have seen it used as a ground cover (which I think is very cool idea in the right place) but otherwise would need to be trellised, staked, or supported. It climbs and twines on whatever it is near so be sure you give it plenty of room. A relatively slow grower but 'once established' can really make a statement.

    Ami,
    Oh, that morning sun is glorious. It makes everythig look better. Email me... I'll be happy to mail you some spiderwort.

    Darla,
    I'm wondering if that is the case with the amaryllis. They lost most of their leaves last year with the freezes and I've read they must have them to feed the energy in the bulb.But they are the one plant that grow with abandon in the most ill-kept yards I see around town. Funny how that works sometimes. Oh well... I might try digging them up and replanting.

    The humidity is high again... maybe that's why oppressive??? Enjoy your weekend, too. Thaks.

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  10. Hi, Meems! I can see how the colors, sun rays and spider webs drew your attention. Lovely views!

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  11. Such lovely views in your garden. I love the way the slanting light comes through all the leaves. Great shot of the spider web. Their intricacies are fascinating aren't they? I am always amazed at the precision of the designs they make and how different types of spiders have their own designs.

    I have some parsley planted just for the swallowtails. I have seen a few flying about but haven't caught them on the parsley yet.

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  12. Thank you for sharing your lovely garden ! That photo with the spiderwort is just beautiful ! Your garden always looks beautiful ! As always your photos are just the best !

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  13. Hi Meems, Beautiful post--prose and pictures. Love that last swallowtail photo! It will be a few months before my Jasmine blooms but from your post I can already {almost} smell the blooms. :)

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  14. Meems - it's always a treat to come by and see what is going on in your gardens! It feels like a walk through a Botanical haven...

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  15. Dear Meems, What a delightful capture of the Swallowtail butterfly laying eggs! The skippers and a few butterfly have started visiting the garden~It's so exciting to see the critters wake up...I know they never go to sleep in your garden. xxoogail

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  16. Kimberly,
    The webs are intriguing as they drape, droop, and connect ... amazing little workers spiders are.

    Kay,
    The swallowtails WILL find your parsely... often it happens without us noticing.

    Sandra,
    The spiderworts are not fancy flowers or plants but they are surely loved by the bees. The color is magnificent, too. Thank you.

    Grace,
    The jasmine is heady these days. I'm so glad now I covered that ugly fence way back when... it is a wall of white fragrance right now.

    Shyrlene,
    I hope your idea of heaven includes lots of humidity because that's what my botanicals are getting this week. :-) It is like summer down here. I hope your spring is lovely!!!

    Gail,
    It IS exciting no matter where we live to see the critters making our gardens their home. I can so imagine the bees and butterflies waking up in your lovely wildflower gardens being very happy it is spring again!!!

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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