The Mimosa tree that was later to make leaves, this year, after a harsh winter, has begun blooming. This is a couple weeks later, than usual. I also harvested my currants and gooseberries. They will be made into a tart juice.


The hybrid Confederate Rose has begun blooming. For anyone unfamiliar with the Confederate Rose, it is a type of Hibiscus that is native to Asia, but has since become popular in subtropical areas of the U.S. Regular Confederate Rose, Hibiscus mutabilis, is not hardy below z8, without protection. However, a cross between the Confederate Rose, Hibiscus paramutabilis, and Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). The outcome was a much hardier plant, than regular Confederate Rose, but produces larger flowers, than Rose of Sharon. There are two known hybrid Confederate Roses. One is 'Tosca', and the other is, 'Lohengrin' (the one pictured below, in my garden)...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/SA5okvKEnUA5ZMt56



I decided to try growing a few, regular Confederate Rose plants from seed. Most Hibiscus seeds are hard. So, after scraping the tiny seeds on sandpaper, and soaking them a day, in water, I sowed them, indoors
The seeds were already germinating after 4 days, in a ziploc bag..


https://photos.app.goo.gl/av4QNMWuisHNZPEf6


Similarly, I started some Washingtonia filifera seeds. After soaking the seeds in water, for several days, with only 1 seed sending out a root, I put some moist potting mix in a ziploc bag, dropped in the pre-soaked seeds, and placed the baggie in the hot July sun. The seeds were germinating in about a week..


https://photos.app.goo.gl/tCFYR2G6b8Uvnzab9



The Persian lime has begun blooming. This is grafted plant I got, last year. The flowers are fragrant...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/NxJCoz7NNe1qZ3Lv7


The Tahitian orange is also blooming. As with other varieties of citrus, the flowers are fragrant:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dhSFCGvmLtpXZx21A



Check out this neat Yucca recurvifolia, plant I got from Brian's Botanicals, in Kentucky:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/esyaY7C2dhgiZef46



INDIAN PHYSIC, Spigelia marilandica, is blooming!


https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zdvw3SbS32mvbVtBA



The groundcover CREEPING ST. JOHN'S WORT, or Hypericum calycinum, is blooming..


https://photos.app.goo.gl/tX7xUANupjraHcig6



The CANTERBURY BELLS (named after a cathedral in Britain's bells), are blooming!


https://photos.app.goo.gl/AkBtNWPPa1TGDmQz7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/N1GAmYnFkaKZ3qfdA



Early HOSTA and Creeping BELLFLOWER or Campanula rapunculoides, blooming together:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/i5gb8Ec1VYVQbg6F7



The MALTESE CROSS, or Lychnis chalcedonica was so-named because the florets are shaped something like tiny Maltese crosses, is blooming:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/c1XLXUhKkD3gCsie8



HARDY DOUBLE COREOPSIS is blooming. i started these from seed, last year. The variety is 'Early Sunrise'...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/xR9H7GkAZvSqx8zw5



The NORDINE RED Smoke Tree is blooming!


https://photos.app.goo.gl/LeTd3q3JsvMKSkvs6



The BOYSENBERRIES are now ripening. I love these. Their flavor is even sweeter, than blackberries. Boysenberries are blackberry hybrids, with at least one other berry...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/X7saQQ6q8uhWPJTc9



Here is a potted Sabal palmetto I got:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/axTGj3abPm3J1d3e7