Florida Gardening in January

For all my whining of the exhausting heat and humidity in the summer (sometimes in spring too) these days of winter are what keep me “put” right here in my birthplace of central Florida. Weather reports are full of talk of the “winter wallop” sweeping across the south central states to the East Coast tonight. Ice, rain, snow and all the stuff old man winter conjures up.

January could very well be the slowest gardening month for Florida gardeners. Thankfully for us we are enjoying some of our best weather of the year surrounded by greenery, blue skies and for the most part mild days. While the blooming of perennials and lawn growth is at a lull due to shorter days and cool nights we actually get to take a break from the constant attention demanded in other seasons. This month I’ve still had to mow and edge, still had to dig up weeds- weeds like the mild weather too- still building compost with cuttings and all the kitchen clippings… still hand watering all the container gardens.

I even bought some red geraniums and some other native plants (below) I hope to finish putting in the ground this weekend. I’ve tried really hard not to purchase new plants this month but what can I say I popped into a couple of garden centers and they were selling plants and I bought them… it just happens like that. I do the same thing with shoes. Is that so bad?

This photo also shows the American Beauty Berry plants I bought in Sanibel. They don't have any blooms on them yet. I'm excited to see how well I do with these. They are a first for me.

Oh, I almost got distracted by shoes… back to plants…I purchased a new container for some herbs that were growing out of their current home and got them transplanted and a new wire hanging basket I was thrilled to find at a newly opened garden shop in my neighborhood.

What about you? Are you biting at the bit to get back in gear with gardening? I'm torn between enjoying the break and wanting to get back in the swing of designing and digging.

Captiva Florida Weekend Getaway Bird Photos Pt 3

"Come back in the morning when the tide is low-- just about daybreak( 7:00 a.m.) and you will get to see a great number of birds feeding in and around the estuaries."
This from the friendly park volunteer to hubby and I as we pop in to the J. N. "Ding" Darling Refuge Visitor's Center on our way home from golf. We just wanted to pick up info even though our plan was to tour the 4 mile stretch of wilderness road the next day.

Like good tourist on a quest for wildlife photo ops, we did exactly as instructed the next morning. Disappointment set in as we drove down the two-lane road out of our cottage bordered by beach residents on one side and the beach on the other. We knew the beach lay less than 100 yards away but we couldn't see it.

It was extremely foggy and hazy that morning until about 10:00 when the sun shone through and burned off all the grey density. Of course we were quite finished gawking by then --not to mention the birds which were quite finished with their morning foraging.

Talk about frustrating! I've never seen so many birds in the span of 1.5 hours and yet obtaining a clear photo was impossible. I took oodles of photos but all of them filmy (as above) or worse.



On our first day on the islands -while at the conservation center purchasing plants from the native plant nursery- I kept hearing a Red-bellied woodpecker and this Pileated woodpecker just beyond borders of the nursery. Fortunately I had my camera around my neck so I excused myself from the fellow helping me and slipped away to snap a few shots of both. He kind of laughed and mentioned his fellow worker was kind of that way too when she heard birds so he understood.

Back to the beach after the foggy morning when all was clear and bright there was no lack of shorebirds to snap. Here the Ring-billed Gull is looking for a hand-out so getting a close-up was not much of a challenge.

Black-bellied Plovers fascinate me and though I'm new at this photography thing- I find myself very happy to capture as many photos of them as I can.

Not sure about the ID on this one. My guess is a Ruddy Turnstone but I can't be certain. It has orange-ish legs. Any help from my birding friends is more than welcome.

While lounging on the beach that afternoon thinking how blessed we were to have the beauty of the horizon and the shore lapping in the rythm that soothes my soul I noticed this GB Heron sauntering- and they do saunter right in front of me. I had also noticed a family doing some fishing just a little way away. Instantly I knew it was the fisherman the Heron had its eye on.

Patience and time proved to be advantageous for this magnificent creature. The fisherman tossed a fish in the shallow water and in the blink of an eye the Heron deftly harpooned it with its beak.


Making certain he moved far enough away from the flock of nearby begging Gulls that they weren't going to have the chance to taste even one morsel. Then with the same skill he snagged the fish from the water he quickly flipped the fish upright turning it head first into its mouth.
In about two gulps the fish was sliding into never never land as a partial meal for the Heron.

The Heron did some preening and what seemed like a little satisfactory gloating and then returned to its position waiting for more. Hmmm... you'd think an entire fish would be plenty but they will continue this process.

We had to go back. I couldn't stand it --having felt like the day before left me wanting. On our way out of town on Sunday hubby took me back through the Refuge only this time it was a little later in the morning. The tide was in and not much activity.

Even though I've lived here all my life getting to observe these enormous White Pelicans is a treat. They migrate here for the winter.

It was very cold (well for Florida it was cold) and quite blustery the morning we left for home. All the birds were puffed up trying to stay warm I suppose.

This was my first Tri-colored and my first Juvy Yellow-crowned.

The "Ding" Darling Refuge is 6000 acres of natural beauty. With so many wonderful birds left alone to nest, forage, and freely come and go. As a matter of fact the islands of Sanibel-Captiva are unique in that they have conserved a large amount of the islands to be forever kept natural.

Captiva Florida Weekend Getaway Part 2

Total physical and mental inertia are highly agreeable, much more so than we allow ourselves to imagine. A beach not only permits such inertia but enforces it, thus neatly eliminating all problems of guilt. It is now the only place in our overly active world that does. John Kenneth Galbraith

I find myself at the extremity of a long beach. How gladly does the spirit leap forth, and suddenly enlarge its sense of being to the full extent of the broad, blue, sunny deep! A greeting and a homage to the Sea! I descend over its margin, and dip my hand into the wave that meets me, and bathe my brow. That far-resounding roar is the Ocean's voice of welcome. His salt breath brings a blessing along with it. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Foot-prints on the Sea-shore"

A winter vacation on the beach even for this native Floridian is a treat. With blue skies, crystal clear green waters, sandy sea shell laden shores, cool breezes and ample salty air the beach is quite possibly my favorite place on earth.

Hubby and I spent a mini-vacation of sorts on Captiva Island- one of the many islands off the west coast of Florida. There is so much to do on Sanibel-Captiva... two islands joined by a short bridge. People come here from all over the country to view and photograph the wildlife- especially the birds. Sanibel-Captiva has done a marvelous job of conserving most of the island in its orginal habitat.

The foliage and plant-life is rich, dense and every nook and cranny oh so lusciously tropical. There are so many great places to eat it is taxing to decide which one to enjoy. Restaurants with live music and open air, on the beach seating offering outstanding menus.

The sounds of waves lapping the shore being the first thing we heard each morning and the melody lulling us to sleep each night. Our cottage was on the gulf side of this narrow end of the island while only a few steps away the intracoastal waterway easily accesible. We chose to walk almost everywhere for the scenic value and to get the most from the "island feel".

One of the beautiful sights of south Florida is the remarkable Banyan Tree. This one just outside our little cottage.

Some of the blooms surrounding our beach get-away included these magenta infused Giant Spider Lilies.

... and the ever brilliant fuschia Bougainvillea vines growing everywhere.

Beach daisies growing wildly along with the sea oats and morning beach glory.




We visited the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation which happened to house a Native Plant Nursery. How convenient for me! Recently I've been adding to my garden more native plants. I picked up a few from my wish list while here... The American Beauty Berry and Blue Porterweed are currently waiting to be put in the ground at hoe and shovel. It just wouldn't have seemed right for me to come home without a weekend garden project to look forward to.

Four days never seems long enough to be in such a heavenly place. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the glorious time of relaxation and rejuvenation.


To top it all off on our way home, God painted the sky with a lingering, vibrantly breathtaking sunset. Hubby pulled off to the side of the road for me to capture it on camera.


As I finished snapping the intense hues of orange and yellow to the west I turned to my right and captured the Sunshine Skyway Bridge with the eastern sky of pinks and lavenders as its backdrop.

Stay tuned for my post of the bird life on Sanibel-Captiva.

Captiva Florida Weekend Getaway

Hubby and I returned home late this evening from a long weekend out of town south of our home. We stayed on the Gulf of Mexico in Captiva. It is one of our favorite small island towns on this coast.

I'm posting a couple of videos/photos to give you a preview of our time there until I can get around to completing a post.

Willet shorebird foraging on Captiva.

White Pelicans (here for the winter) at J. N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Preserve, Sanibel Island on an extremely foggy early morning.

Garden Bloggers' January Bloom Day in Florida

Who could expect to see much from a January bloom day display? At the urging and motivation of Carol at May Dreams Garden, the show must go on. This is my third month to participate even though bloom day was started a year ago.

These are the months when gardening in Florida is most enjoyable. The sun is shining and the skies are blue and for the most part we are humidity free... very unlike our long, hot summers when I will be enjoying the blooms in the northern gardens more than my own.

What a surprise. When most of the flora in this area is lacking any enthusiasm due to our flash freezing temps a couple of weeks ago the impatiens in my garden have emerged center stage. By all accounts they are the weakest in nature not liking direct heat or too much wind and would surely have shriveled at the onset of such cold weather.
Being keenly aware of their sensitivity to the threat of freeze and their location susceptible to the north wind, I took special care to cover these in my front bed well (I'm so thankful I did even though I grumbled my way through it). It was to be that they appreciated the snuggly blankets as they hunkered down between the Xanadu and the Liriope for the long night. Today they are mocking that cold spell as they enjoy our current mild weather.

Arranging this group of impatiens, petunias and polka dot plant is by design placed in perfect view from my kitchen window. A visible cheery garden sight at first glance while I'm indoors is a must! Do you do that too? ... Making certain your line of sight out of popular indoor spots gives you color?


The New Guinea Impatiens with their bright red blooms and deep toned foliage joins the cheery team that catches my eye looking out through the kitchen window.


African Iris is an intriguing plant. It does well in full sun to part shade and multiplies itself over time. I have dug up several plants from this "mother" Iris and transplanted them successfully throughout my garden. In the spring the entire bush will bloom profusely from almost every stalk after each soaking rain. In the summer not so much... but as soon as it feels the cool nights again it will make random efforts like these to produce a few here and there. The blooms only last a day or two. I love white bloomers and this is one of my faves.


Indigo Spires (Salvia) is another of my favorite perennials. I adore the way the long, lanky blue-violet spikes (these can grow up to 1 ft) wave in the wind. It performs well in heat and humidity (we have more than our share of that) and it is guaranteed to be a butterfly and bee magnet.

Weeping lantana is perfect to use for colorful low maintenance groundcover... it is fast growing and easy to propagate, establish and maintain. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies and it is tolerant of hot and droughty conditions. I am using it here at the base of Jatropha, Tipachena (sp?), and counting on it to spread to underneathe the Scarlet Milkweed.

Speaking of Scarlet Milkweed. I am so tickled at how well the Milkweed is doing its intended job of hosting Monarch caterpillars. I didn't cover these during the freeze and they made out just fine.

The Dwarf Azaleas in my front beds are producing loads of blooms and the Formosa's have buds all over them. It won't be long and most of the homes on our street will display every color and size of Azaleas.
Plumbago has been a consistent producer although as you can tell they are now looking a bit scraggly. In a few weeks I will trim them back with a severe pruning and the show will start all over again for all the hot, sunny months in my garden.

There are only a couple of Dianthus plants left from when I planted a few in the fall. I like the bright color and I might try planting a few more of these in the spring. I'm not completely sold.

There are several Bromeliads producing blooms right now. These plants are so easy as they require so little attention. Most of them have such unique foliage offering its own display of beauty that even when they aren't blooming there's nothing to disappoint.

Okay, this is an indoor Anthurium. This is the first time I've photographed an indoor bloom for my blog! I would have felt like it was cheating except the blooms here have come up since I bought the plant in the first of November. Indoor plants are not my 'thing' but I buy them anyway and when they decide they've had enough I transplant them in the ground somewhere in my yard and we all stay happy.


Lastly, this exotic blooming bush has provided orange blossoms all year long. I have posted photos of it on my blog in the past... never for a bloom day ... but I must admit I still don't know its name. I noted before that it was a gift from my neighbor and she doesn't know either. It has dropped seeds and I have spotted several new plants shooting up around this one. It is a gift that keeps on giving...

As a regular feature on hoe and shovel I post what's blooming this month in my garden so you are welcome to look through those as well. Some are the same flowers, some not taken in the same location. Thanks for walking through my January bloom day with me and thanks to Carol for inventing the fun! I welcome your comments, it's nice to know you were here.

Butterflies and Breakfast

The butterflies were out in numbers as the sunshine gave them flight. Once in a while we have a White Peacock or two drift through and it always makes me happy to capture one.

Landing on my freeze-damaged potato vine this Monarch put on an opening and closing "wing show" for us.

The hawks in our neighborhood do fascinate me with their soaring flight and pleasant shrill calls they sound. While chasing down a butterfly the wings of this hawk landing in the open grass of my next door neighbor's yard caught my eye. Hawks don't seem to be too threatened by humans so I slowly moved as close as I thought I could to take some snaps.

If you tend to be squeamish you might not want to read or view the rest of my story.

After standing there for several seconds looking around as if to stake out its territory it used its beak and talons to dig around in the grass. Poking his head a little further into the ground I couldn't see his eyes anymore.

Voila! He came up with the prize. It would be interesting to know if this was his target or if this snake was disturbed by his landing???

mmmmm... yummy... breakfast of champions! The way he snagged this snake right out of the grass made me wonder how many times I have walked over one of these slithering garden creatures without the least knowledge of it. Oh well, best not to think about that too long.

It was a matter of seconds and no apparent effort...

a couple more gulps... and ... all done. One fast food stop and he is on the go again. His next stop--- on a branch about 30 feet above. I wonder how long that meal will last him? Maybe it was just a snack. Does anyone out there know?

Florida has Fall Colors TOO --- in January

This far south in Florida we occasionally have a few trees with fall colors. Only if we have any, it doesn't happen until winter. I guess the couple of cold snaps we've had spurred on the color changes in the maple trees.

I spotted this yellow-leaved tree among a cypress stand on my way north not far from my home. I've noticed a few of these around town.

This red one was a welcomed surprise I noticed as I was waiting in the drive-through line at Starbuck's just north of my home.

It's a little late but we don't mind. It's just nice to see some leaves changing colors.