The Maple Hill Hop 105

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*


Fall is in full swing here in Central Florida.
Let's take a look at some of the blooms we're enjoying.

The gloriosa lillies are gracing us with their vibrant colors
and unique shapes.
What an amazing flower.
Every time I look at them, I wonder why I didn't sow more. 

The Tithonia sunflowers we are growing for the first time are just getting started.
They have velvet-like petals
in the most intoxicating shade of orange.
Hopefully, we'll be savoring these throughout the season.

These quaint lil' sunflowers are still giving us ample blooms.
They look a lot like the beach sunflower,
but I haven't identified them yet.
They abundantly provide a splash of fresh color. 

The butterfly bed is going through another transition.
We have numerous butterfly-friendly plants
scattered throughout the garden,
so they won't be affected by the changes.
I thought an herb garden might do well here,
so the design is in the works.
It sits near the back door leading to the kitchen
which makes it the perfect site for any cook.
This spot gets full sun,
and now that the days are a bit cooler,
they should do well.

We still have loads of butterflies and some caterpillars around.
The gulf fritillary cats are nowhere to be seen,
but we have quite a few of the butterflies.
We are always happy to share our space with such wonderful critters.

The pollinators have been busy.
The saltbush we have in the back bed is in bloom
and is just swarming with bees, wasps, and all kinds of flying insects. 

Another busy bush has been this plumbego.
This Florida-friendly plant has been home to
insects, birds, even a snake from time to time.
Over the past few weeks, we've noticed a new visitor.
Hummingbirds have been frequenting this bush
every evening around sundown.
What a treat it's been to watch them do their magic.
I'd never seen one up close until now.
    

 
Here's a recent video of hummers  
enjoying the star jasmine bush.
They are difficult to capture on video
because of their amazing speed.
Catch 'em if you can! 
The sound you may hear in the background
are our resident Sandhill Cranes.

You northerners are cooling off up there.
Perfect weather for heading outside!
HOP to it!
 

  

    An InLinkz Link-up