Week of May 26

A wonderful addition to the early summer garden  at our Florida Home are the CALADIUMs, which  provide the brightest colors after many of the flowers have ended their show.  Caladiums are closely related to the Elephant Ears.  You plant their bulbs in shady areas in the winter and they emerge as wrapped up leaves that unfurl to give some of the brightest colors and most intricate patterns in the garden.  We have three plantings in the garden.  The largest is in the front yard next to the street, surrounding the fire hydrant.  Another is in the back yard under the sweet gum tree next to some coonties, and the third is next to the driveway in the shade, planted there by Jack, our neighbor, as part of our shared bed of shade plants.  The colors of the leaves range from total white, pink, deep reds and green.  The patterns are spots, swirls, veins, of color.  Many of our Richmond neighbors also have them, so we can compare our caladiums as we stroll.