I like to “window shop”. I enjoy walking through stores and seeing what’s new. Today we’re reviewing some plants for sale by a couple of home gardeners. I no longer have a yard and bought nothing. I just enjoyed seeing them. I hope you do too. These gardeners had listed plants on FaceBook Marketplace in central Florida.
Read MoreTag: central Florida garden

Last of My Forced Amaryllis for 2025
Native to tropical regions, amaryllis thrive outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 (and potentially 7b with protection) and can be grown indoors in colder climates.
My forced amaryllis by my condo door have been steady bloomers for over a month starting mid-February. They are blooming early as they are forced, and I expect next year to see them bloom later in probably April. Let’s start with the last white amaryllis flower.
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March Unknown Flowers in Central Florida
I moved to Lakeland, Florida in mid-January 2024. I’ve been enjoying beautiful blue skies most days here. In February and March, there is an added pleasure of spring blooms.
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September Yard In Central Florida
September is the height of hurricane season. It’s been hot, and we’ve had rain which means everything is growing. After years of getting up with an alarm clock, I wake up early most mornings. Sometimes I see a beautiful pink sky.
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Crepe Myrtle Time in Central Florida
Lagerstroemia, commonly known as crepe myrtle, is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of Oceania, cultivated in warmer climates around the world. It is very popular here in the southeastern USA in growing zones 6 to 10.
Spring is one of my favorite times of year here in central Florida with flowering trees, bushes, and amaryllis. When summer comes, I always look forward to the crepe myrtle trees flowering. I see them everywhere as they are very popular. The second year I was living in my home, an old dying tree in the front yard was leaning toward my neighbor’s home. I had it cut down. The next year I planted a small crepe myrtle tree with hot pink blossoms in the old tree’s spot in the front yard. Several days ago I took photos to share. It’s crepe myrtle time!
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My End of April Flowers
I live in Central Florida, growing zone 9B which is semi-tropical. Amaryllis is a subtropical bulb that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is native to South Africa. It is grown as a potted plant in most parts of the United States but can also be grown outdoors year round in warm areas like Florida. The red amaryllis you buy at Christmas are FORCED bulbs.
Since I am not supposed to drive (think lack of range of motion with a neck brace!) I don’t exactly see lots of things to photograph. Most of the time I do not have the energy. Walking in an uneven place like my yard isn’t really too smart either with my current limitations and equipment. However, within last 10 days I did take several photos of my still blooming amaryllis. (for more information about my surgery, see ACDF & My Cup Overflows)
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Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida
Leu Gardens. 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, Florida
Leu Gardens
Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed Christmas)
This post was originally shared on July 5, 2018. I have updated it with current information. Photos were taken over several seasons.
The next time you visit Central Florida and the Orlando area, take a day to visit beautiful Leu Gardens. The gardens are an amazing 50-acre botanical oasis minutes from Downtown Orlando. Each garden is designed specifically to further the mission: inspire visitors to appreciate and understand plants. The garden and historical home were donated to the City of Orlando in 1961 by Mr. Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane. Admission is a reasonable $15 for adults, $10 for children 4 – 17, and free for children 3 and under. You can purchase admission tickets online. The following first Mondays will be Free Admission days at Leu Gardens: July 4, 2022 – August 1, 2022 – September 5, 2022 – October 3, 2022.
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Last Day of April in The Garden
Plumeria is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. Most species are deciduous shrubs or small trees. The tropical species are indigenous to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil, but are grown as cosmopolitan ornamentals in warm regions. Common names for plants in the genus vary widely but Frangipani or variations on that theme are the most common.
Yesterday I went into the front yard checking my plants around 10 AM. The sky was blue with white clouds and the temperature was about 81 degrees F.
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