Blue Skies Shining Above

This week for Outdoor Wednesday I thought I would share with you a few things that are blooming around here at The Hut. When I made the move from Florida to Georgia, I brought plants with me that had suffered tremendously through our unusually cold winter. I had to leave many behind, I mean it's not like I could dig up my whole yard and transport it here, right?. Besides, most of my plants were tropical and would not adapt very well to this environment once it gets cold again. I've left them in pots, so that I can bring them inside when they start feeling a chill. Poor little guys, they don't like the cold and I don't blame them.

First up, my absolute favorite — my plumeria! My 18-year-old tree did not survive, but as some of you know I made numerous cuttings before the freeze did them in. I showed you this photo last month right after I had planted one of the cuttings in a big pot.

Here it is just about five weeks later and you can see that it is thriving and blooming like the dickens.

I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

Even the cuttings still waiting to be planted are blooming! Don't let anyone tell you that plumerias are hard to grow.  The only thing you have to do is bring them in when it gets cold (below 45 degrees). They'll go dormant in the winter and patiently wait for Spring to arrive.

Next up is my Chenille plant. It used to be about four times this size, but after being outside all winter it surely looked as though it was a gonner. Come the sunshine and warm weather and sure enough I started seeing green. It's growing like a weed and seems to be happy here in Georgia.

Same holds true for this fern. (Yes, even my yard has seashells and driftwood.) Now I don't know if I can leave this outside year-round like I did in Florida, maybe someone out there knows.

I also haven't seen any hibiscus in my area, so I have to check that out. This one started as a bonsai, a highly unusual bonsai, but I loved it so much I planted it in a big pot and it is growing like crazy and full of these teeny, tiny blooms. The entire blossoms are no bigger than my thumb. Cute!

In this next photo the Money Tree in front is actually a houseplant, but I had it on my screened-in porch year round in Florida and it was gorgeous. Lost every single leaf in the freezing temps, but look at it now! Looks leggy, but the tops are so pretty. In back is a tree I had growing in numerous places in my tropical yard, don't even know what it's called, but I dug up a small one, potted it and it looks beautiful.

Know here's another plant I can't name, can you? I know it's an orchid, but I got it at a garage sale and it needs to be potted. I had no idea what it would look like, but they are about the size of my thumbnail and just as cute as all get out.

Here's the leaves from that orchid plant. Any idea what kind it is?

Okay, now I want to show you what I get to see everyday when I look to the sky. My place may be small and it may be kind of dumpy (it is), but how can I complain when I walk into my backyard, look up and see this?

I love sitting on my little back porch with my morning coffee and watching the sun come up through these pine trees. The birds are singing good morning and the tree frogs are croaking good night. Life is good.

From my front porch this was the sky this afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and looking across my yard to this was so peaceful. In Florida, when I looked out my backyard I saw my neighbor's house. When I sat on my front porch, I saw cars swooshing by and the rest of the houses in the neighborhood. Maybe this isn't so bad after all.

Then it gets even better. When I sit in the swing in my front yard in the evening, this is what I see…

…not bad, huh?

Oh, but turn around and look up and there's the moon.

Now I know that some folks laugh when I say I live in the country, but I've always lived where the skies around me were filled with rooftops  and tall buildings. I'm used to spectacular sunsets when I go to the beach, not right outside my door. I'm used to hearing the sounds of traffic, not singing birds. So, for me this is pure bliss and when I think about all I've lost in this economy, I also think about all I've gained.

Okay, that's it for today. It's getting late and I must get some sleep. Tomorrow I'm going to meet one of my favorite bloggers for the first time. We're going for lunch in Fernandina Beach and I'm so excited I don't know if I'll be able to sleep anyway. Most of you know her, but I'm not telling who it is until I post about our visit. I'm sure there will be pics and stories to tell, see you then!

On Thursday I'll announce who won my giveaway! I already know who it is, but I'm going to keep the suspense going for a couple of more days. Check back in and see if it was you!

Now don't forget what today is…

Outdoor Wednesday!

This is the day we share the great outdoors with each other, so stop in over at Susan's @ A Southern Daydreamer and see who else is participating this week.