Pride of Barbados -- Hot Colors for Hot Weather

Caesalpinia pulcherrima in my garden, seed grown.

According to Rugerrio:
"Northwest & Northeast cool colors look lush but delicate--
Hot colors look loud and obvious.
Conversely, hot colors hold their own in harsh light of the Sourthwest and Coastal South."

First blossoms, many buds. I can never wait until full bloom to show them.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a legume, you can see the pea-like foliage.

It also has fine hair-like parts that grow into sharp thorns along mature stems.

Esperanza Tecoma stans in front of Caesalpinia on the right. 

In the background is irrigation in a corn field.

Corn is 'as high as an elephant's eye' and has tassels but is not yet mature.

Back in  late winter, I planted seeds indoors. By summer's end the new

little plants should have blooms as these do. These returned from the roots

after dying to the ground at first hard freeze.

Pride of Barbados tolerates drought but appreciates some water.

Flowers and text are from the garden of Nell Jean blogged on Dotty Plants Journal in hot, humid Southwest Georgia.