April Gardenias in Lakeland, Florida

 

Gardenia bushes typically thrive in USDA Growing Zones 8–11, requiring warm, humid climates, though some cold-hardy varieties like 'Frostproof' and 'Kleim's Hardy' can withstand Zone 7 winters. They prefer full sun to partial shade, acidic soil, and consistent moisture. In zones 6 or lower, they must be grown in containers and brought indoors. 

 

The gardenia bush in the garden in the center of my condo building has been blooming for the last five days.  It is so wonderful to open my front door and step out on the 2nd floor walkway with a view of flowers. It really makes your day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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End of the Camellias Season

 

 

Camellias are popular, long-lived, evergreen shrubs (or small trees) renowned for their glossy foliage and stunning, rose-like blooms that appear from fall to spring. As staples of Southern gardens, they bloom in white, pink, and red, thriving in acidic, well-draining soil and partial shade in zones 6-10. Here at the condo, the bush in the center garden finished blooming last week. The bush by the walkway from parking to the condo building has been blooming steadily. It is slowing down, and I believe the end of the camellia season is almost here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tulips at Publix Supermarket

 

I’ve been driving around and enjoying scenes here in my home of Lakeland, Florida. The days are mostly beautiful with blue skies.

 

 

Of course, I love to visit the flower department at my local Publix Supermarket. Some things never change no matter where I am in Florida. Floridians love the seasonal flowers that grow up north.  Spring flowers, like tulips, are very popular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the visit. I’m wishing you blue skies and tulips wherever you are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Visit to Bok Tower Garden, Lake Wales, Florida

Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre contemplative garden and bird sanctuary located atop Iron Mountain, north of Lake Wales, Florida. It was created by Edward Bok in the 1920s. It's a National Historic Landmark in Florida, known for its stunning 205-foot Art Deco/Neo-Gothic Singing Tower with a 60-bell carillon. The beautiful Olmsted-designed gardens are a peaceful bird sanctuary, all created by philanthropist Edward Bok as a gift to the American people, with its dedication attended by President Calvin Coolidge in 1929.

There are many types of plants in the gardens that include flowers, but it is not really a flower garden. In winter, the camellias are wonderful. In spring, the azaleas provide a magnificent display. Throughout the year, the garden is a quiet place to view green vistas and relax.

Let's start with a quiet moment with a view worth lingering over. Sometimes the most beautiful experiences are the simplest ones. A beautiful view with a trusted companion is hard to beat. I hope your day includes a moment like this.

 

Japanese camellias aren’t just gorgeous — they can bloom in winter and early spring when most other flowers are taking a break. Let's look at some camellias in bloom at BoK Tower Gardens in January and February.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owls and hawks are often more active and easier to spot in cooler months, making January and February a great time to keep an eye out for our nocturnal friends. Below is a Great Horned Owl, a powerful raptor with a huge range across North America, and they don’t migrate.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 I'm wishing you a beautiful view and the time to sit and enjoy it.

 

 

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Camellias In Bloom In Our Central Florida Garden

 

 Camellias are popular, long-lived, evergreen shrubs (or small trees) renowned for their glossy foliage and stunning, rose-like blooms that appear from fall to spring. As staples of Southern gardens, they bloom in white, pink, and red, thriving in acidic, well-draining soil and partial shade in zones 6-10. 

 

If you visited me before on my old blog, you probably know how much I love flowers.  I've updated my header with a floral graphic similar to part of my old blog's header. What do you think?

Here in central Florida, we are in zone 9B which is semi-tropical.  Our two camellia bushes get buds in December and bloom late January, February, and into March. I look forward to the short time of flowers in winter. The freezes we had two weeks ago, made the buds brown and the flowers too.  Now we are back to beautiful white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It irritated me when I lost a week of flowers, but all is well now. Hopefully, we don't get more freezes coming south.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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