The Maple Hill Hop 133

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.*

sunflower

We haven't had much in the way of April showers,
but we sure do have a load of May flowers to share!
Here are some of the beauties that bless our garden this month.

The lilies are just starting to peek out of the fern bed.

A few Easter lilies are scattered about 
and getting ready to open up.
I guess they don't much pay attention to the calendar.

The passionflower vine blooms year-round,
but we are only now beginning to see the gulf fritillary butterfly
lay its eggs on the leaves and tendrils.

This coral bean plant (recently identified by one of my readers),
is gracing us with a multitude of vibrant red blooms.

The gloriosa lilies are nothing to sneeze at either.
They have reseeded themselves and are popping up all over the west side of the yard.

I'm not sure if this is gallardia or something else.
The stem is tall and spindly and the profusion of blooms
lingers near the top.
The color combination is striking.
(After identification help from a reader,
I reviewed a past post and realized that yes,
it is indeed tickseed!)

I found these on the "dead rack" the other day
at Lowe's and knew that for a dollar each,
they'd bring us a lot of smiles.

I'm excited to say that our agapanthus
looks like it's finally ready to start blooming.
This is one of my all-time favorites in the Florida-friendly garden.
It's so elegant!

Amaryllis are finished for the season
and are dropping seeds to ensure their return.

The porterweed out front seems to be happy where it is.
We get lots of pollinator activity humming around it
and it's a wonderful sight to see out the front window.

Our beach sunflowers haven't stopped blooming since last summer
when they were started by seed.
It just keeps giving.
It is flanked by our beloved lemongrass.

Passionflower vine is being used as a border on the newest butterfly garden.
I ran out of trellises on which to grow it,
so I thought it might do well as a ground cover.
It just needs to be trimmed frequently.
We also have pentas, salvia, zinnias, milkweed,
lantana and marigolds growing here.

Another border was started using variegated liriope.
These send out purple spikes when in flower.
We have more salvia, zinnias and marigolds planted here,
along with cosmos, our agapanthus and the coral bean plant.

A couple of onion plants I just kind of threw into an empty space
are now flowering.
So interesting how food crops continue to provide.

One of the dwarf Fakahatchee grass plants out front.
I just love the way they sway in the breeze
and hold onto the drops of rain like precious crystals.

One of the pines we are keeping in a pot,
so that we can bring it with us when we move.
Marigold seeds were sown a week ago around its base.

shasta daisy

With most of our food crops finished for the season,
it's good to know that we still have a whole summer of flowers
to look forward to.
I hope something wonderful is blooming in your garden right now.

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Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidings-Garden Update

Here are some recent happenings around Maple Hill.

 

These sweet potatoes were just harvested not too long ago.

After placing them in a bin, we noticed them sprouting.

These will be used as new slips

and the rest were placed in the refrigerator for enjoying.

Pine bark mulch had been used around the butterfly garden.

This newly acquired "acorn mulch" will be replacing it.

I like the texture and the best part

is that it's free for the taking!

We'll add to it as it is collected.

The pine bark mulch has also been used in the areas

surrounding the veggie garden.

As our back beds have a different material which is preferred,

we made a change this weekend.

Pine straw mulch is my hands-down favorite ground cover.

This natural material adds a trail-like feel to the area.

I made sure to designate where the clothesline goes in.

The pine bark was used out front

(where HOA eyes are watching),

to replenish any barren areas.

These moonglow tomatoes

have been feeding someone well...

but it hasn't been us.

So far, the birds have eaten more produce

from the backyard than we have.

I'm happy to share,

but I may have to take measures.

Thankfully, we haven't got any burrowers,

so the carrots are safe.

(So far, so good!)

This pineapple surprised me!

I'll have to keep an eye on it.

The relocated amaryllis is starting to bloom.

Tomorrow's post will feature more of this area.

Spring is beginning early this year!

Have a wonderful day, y'all!

Recycle Those Bulbs!

These amaryllis bulbs were purchased from a local gardener.

Her front yard is covered in blooms in March.

I had added them to this new bed just last year.
Here's how they looked a few months back.

These are SO easy! 

Like most bulbs, they ask for very little

and resurface each year

like princesses awakening from a long nap.

I love the pop of color they add to the surrounding greenery.

However, I am working on subduing

and simplifying the front yard

and have decided to put in a blue garden.

So, these have to be relocated.

I think I originally bought 5 or 6 bulbs.

As you can see, these babies regenerate over and over.

They are easily divided by pulling the bulbs

away from each other.  As long as there are roots,

they will regrow.  I trim the roots a bit

before replanting in their new location.

They are being used in the backyard for a splash of color

in the back of the bed.

They follow the curve we have created

and will be a sprinkling of contrast behind the saltbush.

The neighbor behind me will have a nice show.

You can learn more about amaryllis here.

Get yourself some bulbs

and enjoy the carefree rewards!

Autumn is here!

Worth Waiting For...

Wait for it...

Ta-da!

I hope you're enjoying your own blooms this fine day!