Today in the Garden

French Hydrangea 'Pink Elf'

This cutie just grows more and more stunning by the day. Also pictured: New Zealand Brake Fern and Maidenhair Fern.

African Iris

A reliable grass-like evergreen. The flowers are just a bonus.

Impatiens

These bloom pretty much year-round for me. One of thse days, I'll replace those ugly white blocks with a more natural-looking moss rock.

Pineapple Guava

I have two of these in my butterfly bed. They're new for me this year (I planted them last fall), and should grow into small ornmental trees. The flowers are apparently edible (I haven't tried yet), and they produce a small fruit in the fall.

Passionflower

Haven't decided whether I'll keep this. The vine is a bit unruly, and it doesn't flower very prolificly for me. When it does flower, they sure are gorgeous, though.

Today in the Garden

Gardenia
I have four gardenias in one of my beds. This is one of the first blooms this season. Look closely and you'll see a lot of other buds around it; I should have a burst of blooms within a week or so.

Pentas, Egyptian Star Cluster
Just love these. Butterflies do, too.

Mexican Oleander
Lovely, fragrant flowers.

Dutchman's Pipe Vine
(Aristolochia elegans)
This probably wins the prize for strangest bloom in my garden. It's about 6 inches wide. About 5-6 of these are blooming on my vine currently.

French Hydrangea 'Pink Elf'
(Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pia')
A new favorite. It's full size at 18" tall.

Lily of the Nile - white
(Agapanthus)
First time I've had some blooms on these; they may be in too much shade. Doesn't really matter too much to me, though, as I love their foliage, too.

Caladiums
Finally coming up. These are perennials in my garden. I planted them last spring and wasn't sure how they'd winter, but it looks like they did fine. Also pictured: one of my favorites, dwarf Abelia

Yellow Buttercup
(Turnera ulmifolia)
Cute new addition to the garden this year.