Friday 18 November 2022

GPE #7 : Melanie's Pink Bits on Parade

This hummingbird, as spied through the window of the ProximaBlue ranch, is buzzing with nearly as much excitement as we are to unveil...

M E L A N I E' S

Pink Paradise

 
 But first, in keeping with the pink theme, Melanie has put together these hors d'oeuvres:
 
From Florida, some plants that look rather festive and ready to party. I don't know what they are called.
 


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The only things that looked good in my yard this year, which wasn't much, are all pink. They survived two weeks of solid freeze, unrelenting rain, then a three-month drought with two months of smoke:

I don't know what this is. It's a groundcover that looks good year-round after you trim off the spent flowers. I tried to find more but with no luck.

This native Mallow plant volunteered to come live here at Fernmire,
much to my delight.

My hardy hibiscus 'Aphrodite' never disappoints!

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Here are my entries for our more mysterious and some may say, sinister plant brethren, though I assure you all these fine plant friends are just dressing up as Goth for the occasion:

Color play, color drain, for this vampiric beauty.


A highly saturated view of something lurking within the petals.
Not your mother's feather duster.
 
 
Something found lurking in the Florida swamps earlier this year.

[The vampire and not-a-feather-duster are, of course, magnolia flowers.  And we have it on good authority (i.e. Dinah's) that the Swamp Thing is some sort of crinum - IDV]

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 Melanie, your pinks* are perfect!  And the inclusion of wildlife (just like with The Very Mistress's mallard), has inspired a possible theme for next years Garden Photos Event, so thank you for taking part.
 
 In a couple of days time we will be visiting the penultimate gardens (yes, gardens plural) of the event - Mr Tonking's! - so, do pop back then.
 

* Which is what I suspect your groundcover-plant-with-swallowtail-butterfly is - Dianthus, aka Pinks - but I'm sure Jon will be able to confirm/deny it.

30 comments:

  1. Pink paradise, indeed! I'm thrilled by the addition of that hummingbird.

    Mr. DeVice, does this mean we're finally going to get a "garden wildlife" option for next year's Garden Photos Event?

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    1. Yes, indeedy - Pinks for a "Pink Garden Paradise!"

      Lovely show, Melanie! The Crinum alone is stunning. Jx

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    2. Don't give him any ideas MJ! The wildest life I have in the garden is a cock.

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    3. Thank you! I keep trying to get the bear and the coyote to pose with the pretty flowers, but they'd rather poop in the driveway and move on. The deer can't stand next to anything without trying to take a nibble of it. I had some nice purple poms coming in on a plant I was excited about, but the rabbits went Morticia Addams on it and snipped of their heads.

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    4. Jon, Thank you for the id on that one as well! It's in my MIL's yard in Florida.

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    5. Yes, the front-runner for next year's GPE theme (or just additional photos) is the inclusion of some sort of wildlife in one or two (or all) photos.
      I'm also thinking about weeds. We'll see how the rest of this year's event goes before I make any decisions, though.

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    6. If I had my way, it would be a dead squirrel next to a dead fox. Jx

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    7. So the fox caught the squirrel and choked to death on it? Perhaps a bit macabre for the GPE. Unless, of course, one of your triffids nobbled them?
      What about birds, Jon? Or butterflies and moths?

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    8. We have loads of birds around, but they're very skittish because there's also loads of cats around this neighbourhood - more's the pity as they seem to think our on tiny square of actual earth is a toilet. We also have loads of different bees and hoverflies and such, but this year not many butterflies other than white. Jx

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    9. Jon, it's a terrible thing to wish such ill will against the wildlife! *Especially* when you know how much I like foxes! Tsk, tsk!

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    10. Please, Melanie, have ours. We don't want them! Jx

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    11. I agree with Melanie. Send a few fox here to the Casa. I adore them as you know. I can always use more of them, especially to have dinner of the annoying cockerels three doors up at 5am!!!!!

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  2. Oh, I knew Ms. Melanie would have a fabu garden. I loved her triffid pictures to start with. I also love those two first floral species. I have no idea either what they are, but the third one, the pink ground cover, with the sweet dainty pick flowers I believe is in the Dianthus family, or known here as Sweet William. We have it also, in pink and deep red and your right Melanie, if one keeps up with dead heading, it will continue to bloom all spring and summer.

    Lovely!

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    1. Thank you, Mistress Maddie! You're too kind! Next year I hope to be on the ball fast enough to get pictures of my Mock orange and Mexican Orange. Both smell so delightful I forget to appreciate the flowers for their beauty.

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    2. I just looked up Dianthus and I think you are right! I will try again to see if I can get some more next summer. Maybe even a different complimentary flower color to tuck in for variety.

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  3. I adore pink blooms! They are so cheering and vibrant, and hardy.
    The highly saturated view would look wonderful made large as a print - very Georgia O’Keefe.
    Sx

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    1. Thank you, Ms Scarlet! I'm amused that all that survived well is pink because it is one of my least favorite colors. I seem unable to produce a Goth Garden of black, purple, blue and magenta. Speaking of which, there is still time to look for black tulips and see if I can get them to grow.

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  4. The first pic is a Starburst bush and the 2nd I suspect is a Bleeding Heart Vine. I'm in awe of your photography skills.

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    1. You're much better with exotic tropical plants than I, m'dear.

      They're both in the tropical Clerodendrum family, and to us are greenhouse/hothouse plants. It's funny to read, however, that a plant such as the Starburst bush - which we would love to be able to grow, and would "ooh" and "aah" at in Kew Gardens greenhouses - is considered an invasive species in some warmer climes... Jx

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    2. Hi Mitzi! Thank you! Starburst seems like an appropriate name for the first one. I would have never guessed that the second one was a Floridian version of a bleeding heart. We get the other kind more commonly called fuschia. Or "Bleeding heart" is a common name to more than one plant type, perhaps?

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    3. "Bleeding Heart" is indeed used for more than one plant, Melanie. This one (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is probably best known in the UK.

      P.S. I found Jon's comment above in the spam folder and have just published it, which is why it wasn't there when you commented.

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  5. Given the atrocious weather patterns you've had to endure your garden is a treat. And wont next year be a hoot with the varied wildlife!

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    1. Thank you, Dinah! I was pulling my hair out in my frustration not to be outside caring for things as much as l'd liked this year. I hope next year will be kind to us all!

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  6. The hummingbird capture is downright marvelous! Not to mention those gardens. I adore pink. Dianthus and peonies are among my favorite flowers. I have three magnolia trees...they are so beautiful, but as the most beautiful flowers and trees, they last but a week and half and are then but done. I'll miss them most when I move.

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    1. Thank you, Agnes! These feel like small success amongst a much bigger battle. My Magnolia tree is a survivor. I pruned back 10 years of invasive English Cherry Laurel when we first moved here and found this sad little bent thing. It took two years to recover for me to finally be able to identify what it was. It's been thanking me with these delightful flowers ever since.

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  7. I'm shocked that I can confirm that plant is dianthus because we had it in the garden when I was a child.
    I'm going to lie down in a darkened room.
    Lovely pink refuge, Melanie. 😱

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    1. I have a cool, damp cloth on standby for your forehead, Hound.

      And one for mine, too!

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  8. Hound - First the draft protector and now this! I've been wandering through some strange places in my sleep, but this is starting to sound like the movie Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind! Stop leaving so many doors open! Were you born in a barn? You'll be lucky if I'm the only thing wandering through.

    IDV - I think I'll need a cool damp cloth as well but keep me away from the salts.

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  9. Some very interesting blooms and a humming bird too. Your garden certainly looks ready to party.
    We would have to visit Kew Gardens to see any thing like the first two photos.
    Lovely flowers. Love the Crinum and your Hibiscus 'Aphrodite' is a lovely shade of pink.
    Ttfn

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