What's bloomin' in my garden today?

I know, I have been remiss in taking you along for a garden walk lately. It's just sooo hot and humid, did I mention it was hot?

The grass needs mowing and I don't feel much like weedin' in this heat. So, if things look a bit overgrown, I hope you will overlook it, like all good friends do:)

One new plant I tried this year for my Florida garden is a cone flower or echinacea. At the Green Thumb Festival, my favorite herb guy, Sweet William, talked me into trying his newest selection.

When it opened it's first bloom - I had my doubts.

The BF asked, is it supposed to look that way?

Well, it kept changing and today - it is pretty in pink.

What have we here?

 Another one of those wild mystery berry bushes that pop up all over the yard.

I do pull them, but always leave a few for the birds in inconspicuous places. They have attractive yellow berries which turn a vivid orange and the birds love them.

Oh, and here is a perfect photo opportunity.

Both a red and yellow bud on the same hibiscus.  

Can't wait to shoot them in full bloom later:)

Further in the back, along the fence I planted a Jasmine tree, a few years ago.

I love it for it's evergreen glossy leaves.

See, it is in bloom and looking fine. 

You mean you smell something even sweeter, more like perfume permeating the air?

That would be a mixture of honeysuckle vine and frangipani.

Frangipani or plumeria - about to open it's buds.

The one next to it is almost in full bloom.

Divine scent............

Exotic elegance!

Oh, cool, a pretty new hibiscus bloom for us to enjoy.

Let me take a quick pic for you:)

Here are three of my beautiful moss rose blooms.

So far, they are really doing well in the heat, I'm surprised. The ones I tried a few years back, I planted in the ground and they did not do well at all. This year I planted them in a pot, which they seem to prefer.

Aren't they just lovely?

My miniature roses are taking a break from blooming.

I can never resists roses and this one is turning out to be quite the little charmer. The color is a lavender pink. I haven't done well with my roses in Florida, but Sweet William assured me this one was practically a Florida native and would tolerate the heat well. It has.

Here is a look at the one lonely, late rose blossom.

Let's have some refreshments, I have some fresh chocolate mint for a cool mojito, before we tour the other parts of the garden.

Butterflies and dragonflies are out and about today, but so far I haven't managed any good captures yet. I keep trying. 

OMG, I can't believe my eyes! My azaleas have gone into a second blooming cycle, but they are not white now, they are blush pink. Wow, that is soo cool.

....and now that I am looking closer - even the flower shape looks a little different.

Amazing - I don't know what happened, but I love the result.

I wonder if that garden fairy stopped by again?:)

I will look for my white azalea pictures I took in the spring and post them alongside for comparison. Unbelievable.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my garden today,

it was my pleasure.

All images taken by Rose H. - in my garden - with an Olympus D-540 digital camera.