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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.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

White Queen


Caladiums have had a long-standing presence in my garden. It is their cheery, heart-shaped faces that signify summer when they sprout among the structural and foundational plants.

Just for fun and for the sake of trying different hybrids I've given various types a place among the mixed planting beds. After all caladiums have been bred to showcase an array of colors. Selection based on height and leaf-size are considerations along with patterns and hues when making selections.

'White Queen' remains the cornerstone as far as selection goes in my garden. Her outstanding qualities make her a good fit in the partially sunny situations or the shady locations in the back garden. Although she is tough enough to take a good bit of direct sunshine as well.

Sometimes her creamy white background marked by her intense magenta central veining serves well in a 'pocket' among the perennials of variegated shell gingers, aztec grass, impatiens, and xanadu.

Other spaces are filled with drifts of her charisma floating through the garden in curving patterns broken up only by footpaths. She's happy planted tightly together standing 18"-24" tall in well draining, organically amended soil.

'White Queen' has earned her place as the queen among the caladiums in my garden. She will always have a large presence here.

15 comments:

  1. I must agree that it is a well-deserved title. I have two queens in my garden. Maybe I should add one more? Potted, though, unlike your fantastic garden showcase.

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  2. Majestic! And so exotically beautiful!

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  3. She certainly makes a lovely statement in your gardens. I love the heart shaped faces of caladiums too.

    Have a wonderful week ~ FlowerLady

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  4. 'White Queen' is my favorite of all the caladiums. I use it every year in my garden and in containers. Very reliable and very beautiful :-)

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  5. White queen is a beauty...she definitely brightens up a dark spot.

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  6. Hi Meems, i've always loved caladiums too, although certainly that variety is really a stand-out. I haven't seen that here yet. Since our garden is small, i prefer those with smaller leaves. Those with longer petioles i plant in the sunny areas to shorten the petioles. Your composition looks so complimentary in height and color and they look perfect.

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  7. I love caladiums and White Queen is gorgeous!

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  8. Hi,
    I've been following your blog for weeks now, what an inspiration you've been. I've moved from a rural location to a suburban yard in NE FL, and am just starting re-doing everything, transplanting from the old place, etc...I want to use lots of caladiums next spring. Do you dig yours up every year?

    Thanks,
    RL

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  9. fresh, dewy images, and so much beautiful flowers combination of the beauty of God's creations and being a wee bit creative. White queen is a beauty.

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  10. Always room for another Queen, Bom. She definitely fits well in pots!

    Bridget,
    Thank you... White Queen is among *the exotic*.

    FlowerLady,
    White Queen has good standing here and brightens up so many borders. Have a great week, too.

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  11. Toni,
    You Queens look fantastic in your containers.

    Susan,
    She loves me. I love her. :-)

    Daisy,
    She is lovely ... no question.

    Andrea,
    White Queen surely does add to the summer garden squeezed in between all the other more 'green' plants.

    Ginny,
    Caladiums are lots of fun~~there are so many varieties to choose from. They even work in your area.

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  12. RL,
    So nice to have you here. You've taken on a big job ... just getting started in a new place. To answer your Q: no, I don't dig up my bulbs. I take my chances on which ones return each spring. I order more and I fill in around the ones that DO sprout back. If your ground freezes in winter you'll want to dig your bulbs up... our ground does not freeze. Hope that helps.

    Save a marriage,
    Thank you for visiting.

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  13. I believe that white caladiums are my favorite. The reall stand out in the evenings.

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  14. I had to start a new blog because of family issues...no, not in this household, everything is fine. Anyway it's
    http://hundredsofideas.wordpress.com

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


September 2010

Back Garden: October 2010

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