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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.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Day 9:: Twelve Days of Christmas in a Florida Garden

["Just for fun and also because we just keep right on gardening through December here in Florida, I'm going to challenge myself and post something from my garden everyday for twelve days. Think of it as 'excerpts from Hoe & Shovel.' It may just be a flower (or two) or it may be an informative post or it may involve a give-away. It may include lots of thoughts or none at all. ]

Day 9:: Refreshing Rains

Usually the Dietes iridioides, African Irises flush out in profuse blooming patterns beginning in April. They will do this in rotation for several months. The last few days each of the plants which are located in several places around Hoe and Shovel have bloomed one or two blooms.

My guess is the 3.5 inches of rain we had last week and the warm weather this week got them a bit confused.

Whatever the reason, I don't mind at all. Getting to see their stark white blooms in December is a real bonus.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold,
everything is softer and more beautiful."
Norman Vincent Peale
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't forget to leave a comment on Day 6 for a chance to win Judy White's newly released book, Bloom-Again Orchids.
Posted by at Wednesday, December 09, 2009

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6 comments:

  1. Betsy Banks AdamsDecember 10, 2009 at 12:20 AM

    We got ALOT (TONS) of rain here the past couple of days too, Meems. Today the sun came out--but it's getting VERY cold tonight and tomorrow. Winter is HERE!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 10, 2009 at 6:45 AM

    This lily is a beauty. You are definitely in a different gardening world than where I live.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nell JeanDecember 10, 2009 at 9:14 AM

    I look forward to seeing my African Iris, new to the garden this year, bloom next spring. It is a huge clump. When are they best divided?

    ReplyDelete
  4. SusanDecember 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM

    Thank God it's raining! I haven't noticed any irises in bloom here. I'll have to venture out after the storm.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LonaDecember 10, 2009 at 7:14 PM

    What a beautiful bloom. I need it in my white flowers ;-) The touch of lavender makes it look so dainty.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MeemsDecember 10, 2009 at 11:26 PM

    Thank you all for stopping by during this busy holiday season. Our temps are dropping here tonight, too but only in the 50's which is a nice break for us.

    The African Iris bloom is one of my favorites and it is a most durable plant here. I have divided it like crazy.

    Nell Jean,
    The rules are very different for us here in Florida so dividing is not so much on a strict schedule as it is in other zones. Generally I would say to divide the African Iris in earlier autumn or the spring. But typically I divide things whenever I need to and they always do okay because we have enough warm, sunny days down here to stimulate root growth.

    ReplyDelete

Have a blessed day,
Meems

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