When you are trying to germinate Angel Trumpets from seed, it is important to have a full-time sentry around to make sure insects, snails and slugs are kept at bay.

It's that time of year when I have an abundance of our friendly lizards making themselves at home amongst my Angel Trumpets.  I think our severe winter reduced the population greatly.  At the beginning of summer i saw very few adults, but noticed lots of babies. I certainly hope this plump Brown Anole ate whatever was munching on this brugmansia leaf!

Even though we are having record-breaking heat right now, it's color time in my growing fields. I think all of my exotic hibiscus seedlings I started from seed last summer are starting to form buds.

Even though we are having record-breaking heat right now, it's color time in my growing fields. I think all of my exotic hibiscus seedlings I started from seed last summer are starting to form buds.

Even though we are having record-breaking heat right now, it's color time in my growing fields. I think all of my exotic hibiscus seedlings I started from seed last summer are starting to form buds.  It is great to have some fresh color while my Angel Trumpet's are in between flushes.  Here's a nice yellow seedling that bloomed for the first time yesterday.  It is a cross of Hibiscus Harvest Moon x Gina Marie.I should have a couple new doubles blooming later this week.  One seedling is ...

Every time I take my evening stroll through my Angel Trumpet forest in search of new blooms, I always manage to surprise a few "creatures of the night".  Tonight it was this jumbo Katydid who had claimed this bloom as his evening residence.I wonder it these critters actually eat blooms?  I've caught them in the daylight hours munching away on leaves, but I have yet to catch them eating flowers.

Several of my hibiscus seedlings bloomed for the first time this week.  I was only able to capture this one on film because our afternoon thunderstorms beat the other blooms up.  This bloom is from a cross of Exotic Hibiscus Antique Treasure x Cherries 'n Cream.  The blooms were average in size, stretching six inches across.  The plant itself is one of the more vigorous seedlings in the bunch and is self branching.I spotted lots of buds on my hibiscus seedlings so I should have more new ...

While out for my stroll tonight I came across this fat and happy toad.What was funny was that as soon as i snapped a couple of pictures, the toad sprung up and did a complete 360 degree back-flip.  That is the first time I have seen such acrobats in a toad.  Unfortunately I was not able to capture it on film and he was not in the mood for an encore .  Toads are my friends and I go out of my way to make sure they are not harmed. One of their main staple foods is slugs and snails. Fortunately ...