Fall rode into South Florida on the coattails of Hurricane Ian last week. While Ian left an unprecedented swath of destruction through the peninsula, my garden was unaffected by the storm for the most part. Leaves, branches and palm fronds were strewn around by the winds and a few plants are taking a more southerly direction bent by the higher wind gusts. Otherwise, all is well. The temperature change is a welcome relief from summer as is the lower humidity. Clear blue skies and daytime highs in the low 80s are the reason hordes flock to South Florida in winter.
I went in search of fall colors in the garden. Real fall color is difficult to find here, fruit bearing shrubs and trees are about it. Beautyberry and Goldenrain tree are my fall color change plants. The flowers in my vase are a different perspective on fall color than most gardens north of here.
The flowers:
The orange flowers are from Aechmea rubens, a long lasting bromeliad; variegated foliage is from ‘Java White’ Copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana). The vase is a thrift store find.
The orange tubular flowers are Firebush (Hamelia patens var patens); yellow lobster claws are pieces of Blanchetiana Bromeliad (Aechmea blanchetiana) flowers – the actual flowers are 3 or 4 feet long.
To see more vases, visit our hostess, Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com.
Happy Fall Ya’ll.
The Shrub Queen 
I’m glad you didn’t have damage from H. Ian. Love your take on fall colors. I prefer reddish over browns and yellow in autumn. This is lovely and sophisticated.
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Thanks. Susie. I like the reddish tones, too.
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The lower temperature and humidity must be a welcome relief for you, although the thought of low 80 degree temperatures for months on end doesn’t appeal to me personally! 😉Your vase certainly represents your change in season and has left me trying to visualise flowers that are 3-4 feet long…! Love this shape of vase, which always make them look so tactile
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The temps do go down a bit in January. I will have to post the whole big flower, they are well, unusual…
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Pretty fall colors… the colors are definitely reflecting that around here!
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Thanks, Eliza. I hope you post some real fall color pictures.
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Most likely!
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It never ceases to amaze me that, not only do your bromeliads bloom, they bloom with abandon! Their blooms are rare here and, to make things more irritating, I usually discover them after they’re done. Like you, we get very little in the way of conventional fall color. At the moment, it’s the persimmon fruit that provides that color.
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Thanks, Kris. Persimmons are wonderful for fall color. I am probably too far south for them.
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Have you featured Aechmea blanchetiana before? It neither sounds nor looks familiar.
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yes, it is the big orange brom, I think common in LA.
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? Well, now that I look at the pictures of it, I do remember seeing it without bloom in Southern California. I have never been to Louisiana. It does not look familiar from your posts though.
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Stunning.
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Thank you.
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Low humidity must be good, temperatures in the 80s are less appealing for me though! I really love that variegated foliage draped over the edge of your vase today. A 3 or 4 foot long flower sounds weird!
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It is, last night it was 76 and the north wind was coming off the Atlantic…I was cold! I have to cut one of the big flowers, they are weird.
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