The rain has really changed what’s happening in our yard this year. Lots of blooms are coming on, and we’re enjoying cactus and lantana as well as esperanza, canna, vitex, and oleander. All of the passion vines are growing like crazy. If you like butterflies, and you don’t have one planted, you need one. It’s the host plant for the fritillary butterfly. The awful orange worms with black spike-like things eat a fair amount of leaf material, but it’s worth it to have the butterflies. One of our plants is putting out so many starts this year, I’m potting them and selling them!
Vitex and oleander remain two of my favorites in this climate, because they require no care after they’re established. Even my new beach vitex is starting to bud out.
Don added the picture of the Purple Martins, I just noticed it! I think we have 3 families this year.
This Abelia is the first thing I planted in our yard. Abelias are very hardy and beautiful plants in this area. This cultivar is not easy to find, and a favorite of mine. The rosemary you see in the foreground is a volunteer. The pea gravel makes an excellent plant starting medium.
You are so right about oleanders. I had several in Arizona. They don’t need a lot of water. I only watered them once a month but deep watering. We had them cut way back in the fall and they still grew in the spring. My backyard was mostly pink from their flowers all through spring snd summer. They are extremely hardy!