Glaring Blooms

By Stephanie
There are not many plants in my garden that is blooming. Most surprising are the usuals like hibiscus plants... none of them are flowering. The obvious ones are the ones in white. The Jasmine sambac 'Grand Duke of Tuscany' double blooms have finally opened. Both blooms didn't open simultaneously but one after another. They are precious nevertheless, as the plant was a gift from my neighbour's mom. Out of the several plants I received from her, this one proves to be most heat tolerant. The other was the double hibiscus which however wilted few months ago due to the prolong rain.  At another side is my white dwarf Azalea. The little shrub has four flowers on it which looks kind of strange as all four are at one side of the shrub. Also these blooms last so much longer than the Jasmine although their petals are thinner.
Well, not all white blooms are glaring. The green ones from the Crossandra infundibuliformis 'Shamrock' are also extremely bright. Actually I am surprised that this shrub is flowering as I thought it usually flowers during rainy weather. Well, I guess when it's about time, they will flower :-) Here is the first bloom from my Solandra maxima. I waited a long, long time (more than a year!) for this to happen but in the end, the big bloom petals were damaged just when it opened :-( Anyway, the scent was there... still sweet :-)
Spotted a yellow flowered weed that I purposely didn't pull out. It grew out from my pot of Lavender.   The yellow flower is dainty and has strange-shaped leaves... The little sprout of my Malpighia glabra has not showed its true leaves yet. Oh, it is growing much too slow... Meanwhile I replaced the plants in one of my terrariums with two bright green Episcias. They look like they don't mind the heat that comes thru' the window. Here is the view from the top... green and beautiful :-D It is really hot and dry here. I hope your plants are doing well!