Victoria Amazonica in the pond

I was able to get Victoria Amazonica,  the world's largest lily, to grow from seed this year in my pond

Tadpoles

Tapoles from the garden, almost fully a green tree frog.

Mangrove seeds, sprouted

These were red mangrove seeds that had washed up on the beach. I put them in my fresh water fountain, with a 100% sprout rate. I will transfer them to the bigger pond when they are bigger.

Native Florida air plants in the garden

bulbophyllum orchid in bloom

Green friends in the Garden

Here are a couple of green friends. We have lots of tree frogs, and this green lizard lives in the passion vine, eating
Gulf Fritillary (akaPassion Butterfly) caterpillars that you see here all day

New Addtions

Vanda - Purple

Passion Vine

The Passiflora, known also as the passion flowers or passion vines, is growing up the side of my house and doing well.

Unusual Papaya

Unusual Papaya, see how the fruit hangs.

This Papaya was a male, when it changed sexes and started producing fruit, it did so in an unusual way, with these hanging strands of fruit instead of close to the trunk. This is from my mothers garden.

Chrysalis Zebra butterfly

This hatched chrysalis was for a Zebra Butterfly, on my Passiflora Incarnata vine. The Passiflora is a host plant for the Zebra Butterfly caterpillar.  In summer these are full of Zebra Butterflies and Gulf Fritillary Butterflies.

Passion fruit on a Passiflora vine

Lotus from Seeds

I grew these Lotus from seed this Spring. Its August and still no flower, a flower is unlikely the first year, but I am externally optimistic

Dendrobium Orchid

Tiny yellow flowers from an unusual Dendrobium Orchid

Water Feature

This water feature was made by sealing an old pot, and planting with Black Magic (colocasia), Water Lettuce, and Fairy Moss (azolla caroliniana).  I keep the plants small by not fertilizing them

Begonias, birds nest fern and other assorted plants in the Garden

Aroid Seeds

Seeds from one of my Aroids

Water Feature -Backyard

This water feature was created by sealing a pot and filling it with duck week, water lettuce and local aquatic plants, and mosquito fish (Gambusia) to control mosquitoes

Papaya Trees and Bananas

The weight of the papayas broke both of my papaya trees in half, but my bananas are looking good.

Mango Shakes

Mango Shakes from the Garden

Amaryllis Flowers

This was my first year growing Amaryllis.  I was impressed with the size of the flowers. Hopefully they will be even more spectacular next year.

Orange Dendrobium Thyrsiflorum Orchid

This has to be one of the most incredible orchid flowers I have ever seen. I bought this Dendrobium Thyrsiflorum orchid at RF Fuchs about 5 years ago, it never flowered before, but patience paid off this year.  The cluster of flowers are about 14'' x 4.5''.  We had unusually cold weather this year. Dendrobium thyrsiflorum likes colder winters than we typically have in Miami, so this may be the reason for the incredible bloom.