Collecting Seeds of Pride of Barbados

Last year I let most of the seed pods of Caesalpinia pulcherrima
split open. Seeds fell to the ground where they are lost forever.

Janie told me to tie a paper bag over the pods. She forgot to tell me that in case of unexpected rain to run out and grab the bag. This morning the soggy bag with seeds was hanging there.

Only one of 5 pods had not opened.

I'm drying the seeds in a colander.

I'm wondering whether I should plant them while

they are fresh?

A Pride of Barbados seedling in 2010.

When I was checking the spelling of Caesalpinia pulcherrima,

I saw seeds for sale for 40 cents each. 

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

Bloom Day Butterflies' Favorite Flowers

When I went out this morning it was starting to rain and my hoped-for Butterfly post was not to be on Seedscatterer. I showed Okra blossoms instead.

This afternoon when the rain stopped, butterflies came back out with the sun.

Swallowtail and Bee on Pride of Barbados, Tecoma stans behind.

Swallowtail on Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Sulphur on Lantana

Dusky Wing on Lantana

Gulf Frit on Tithonia

A Skipper on a Zinnia

The very favorite nectar plant right now is Tithonia.

I made two short butterfly videos so you can see.

Bloom Day is hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Visit Carol to show your Bloom Day blossoms and find many other Bloom Day posts.

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

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.

Esperanza or Tecoma Stans?

Whichever name you know it by, it is a beautiful late summer bloomer despite drought.

It plays well with Pride of Barbados, bringing out the yellow in the blossoms. P of B is setting seeds and I haven't clipped them off. Only one of the seeds I set early in the spring produced a plant. It has struggled in the drought.

Other tropicals that have survived drought and bloomed are Shrimp Plant and Curcuma. No Cannas have bloomed and Lantana has very small blossoms.