'Fiesta Olé' Impatiens
I went to a plant sale at my sister-in-law's church last weekend. We bought a bunch of these double impatiens (Impatiens wallerana.) Although one of the pups chewed a couple of them up they are now safely planted in the stone urns that flank the front door where they have recovered and are looking spectacular! Download large versions of this and other images from the Impatiens Wallpaper Gallery

Visit the Wallpaper Browser page to see more than 1,400 larger format (800x600px) plant images. Links to these images are also present in the title area of each Plant Profile.

Part 30 of Flowering Plants of Hawaii
In this latest post to his Flowering Plants of Hawaii series, Bruce surveys the families Myricaceae and Myrsinaceae as represented on the Hawaiian Islands. Click to read Part 30 or here for the menu and introduction.

Butterfly Gallery

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Fothergilla gardenii
Dwarf fothergilla is a deciduous shrub that is a native of the southeastern United States. It features showy bottlebrush-shaped flower clusters in early spring and in fall the leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. It prefers a woodsy setting and due to its small stature it is a good choice for smaller yards and gardens. Click here for more on this charming little shrub for Zones 4-8.

Wild American Beauty: The Black-eyed Susan

I spend a lot of my time in front of the computer and to pass the time I listen to music. My selections are mostly downtempo instrumentals (but sometimes random other stuff) that are good background music for working in front of the computer (and for browsing Floridata and our Plant Profiles!) ~DJ Jack.

One by One
Known for his Hôtel Costes compilation discs, Stephane Pompougnac is a producer, DJ, composer and one of my favorite musicians.

Previous Picks Playlist:
The Way by Fastball
Canadian Sunset by George Shearing
Rhapsody in Blue performed by Chucho Valdes
The Enchanted Sea by Martin Denny
Run for the Roses by Dan Fogelberg
Glider by Mettle Music Collective
Ohayoo Ohio (Hello Ohio) by Pink Martini

Bignonia capreolata
Hummingbirds are fast and furious adding action and drama to the garden. They are my favorite birds and are hugely entertaining when observed from the comfort of a lawnchair with a cool refreshment in hand. The trumpet creeper is one of the best plants for attracting hummers. It is a large aggressive vine and not recommended for small spaces but the hummingbirds love it because it blooms throughout the summer.

More species to help transform your garden into a home for hummers:
beebalm (Monarda didyma)
calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
coralbean (Erythrina herbacea)
larkspur (Consolida ajacis)
lion's ear (Leonotus leonurus)
nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa)
Texas red sage (Salvia coccinea)
zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

See more species in the Plants that Attract Hummingbirds list.

Lemon Balm
This herb has been grown for centuries and used by herbalist to cure ills and heal wounds. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is also reported to "renew youth, strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature and prevent baldness". I'm going to plant some because I feel a need to languish less.

More herbs that may not renew youth but they do taste good:
basil (Ocimum basilicum)
chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
dill (Anethum graveolens)
lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
oregano (Origanum vulgare)
parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
peppermint (Mentha X piperita)
rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
sage (Salvia officinalis)

An Addiction to Dahlias: The Easy Way to Fantastic Flowers