New Edition

Here is the latest addition to my ever expanding family, 'Kobe'. His dad is a shih tzu, his mom a chihuahua, and he is pure joy. He loves to eat, sleep, and play with his older yard mates, Shadow and Marley.

Marley & Shadow

My "Kids" I have no clue how I was able to get the both of them to stand still long enough to take this photo

Shadow

Shadow is not camera shy, look at the great smile

Garden Shots

Front garden with Butterfly Palms and what I believe to be a Golden Prince Aralia
Allamanda 'Yellow Bells'
Close up shot of flower bed
Canna Lily and Bougainvillea
Christmas Palm, Canna Lily, Plumeria Pudica, Croton and Bougainvillea

Close up of Crape Myrtle
Petite Pink Oleander
Front Garden
A group of potted plants 'chillin' under a mature Butterfly Palm
Garden Bed with Elephant ear, white Pentas, purple False Eranthemum, Red Ginger, Powder Puff Lily, and Croton

Puerto Rican Hat Palms grown from seed by my Mom
Rubber Tree
PR Hat Palms with ixoras planted in front
Alcalypha godseffiana, still very small
The north side of the garden with some tall Crape Myrtle and bushy Bougainvillea. A couple of Desert Rose plants, a petite Oleander, and a Crinium Lily were just recently added to the mix.

The eastern side of the garden
A small newly planted Caricature Plant
Firecracker plant
Firecracker plant close up
Sliver Buttonwood and Puerto Rican Hat Palms

Currently Reading

Although I haven't finished reading this wonderful second novel by the notable Jhumpa Lahiri, I will go ahead and say that this is one of my favorites that I have read this year. I am enjoying it so much, I can't hardly wait to go home from work to continue reading it, but then I dread reading it too often and unfortunately I'll come to the end. Sigh, what's a girl to do?!?

Garden Benches and Seating

I like the organic shape of this bench
Loving the privacy this affords
The lushness of the potted plants would draw me outside everyday
A bench in a totally unexpected color
What a great view
A cosy retreat from a hectic and stressful day
Nice idea
I like the idea that the vines have a place to wrap themselves around
A great rustic look, this is one of my favorites
A secluded nook

Thanks to all the websites for the photos

Garden Arches

I can guess that in the mind's eye of every gardener there is the image of what should be incorporated into a garden in order to achieve perfection. For some its creating perfect garden beds, to others it could be gathering a collection of as many variety of palms(enter your own favorite plant here)as possible. Occasionally in my post I will allow little glimpses of what I think will create a winning garden. As I have said before, a girl can dream can't she.