The sun loving plants, we have, live on the outer edge of our back patio where they will get the sun from first light until early afternoon. They do seem to be quite happy with this arrangement. Our adenium obesum is a plant that needs the most sun so it sits in a position where it does get that. It would be good if we were able to have it in all-day sun. Ah, well. The other plants here are, mostly, our succulents & cacti, though they do need some protection from the sun during the hottest part of the day. This they get from the shade afforded by the nearby palm trees. We have a beautiful agave attenuata, four different aloes, juvenna, aloe vera, "Pepe" haworthioides X descoigsii & one unknown, crossandra infundibuliformis "Fire Glow", echeverias "Topsy Turvy" & "Violet Queen" & another unknown. We need a succulent expert!! Echinopsis seminudus, graptoveria tricolour, hibiscus schizopetalus, mammillarias hahniana ~ "The Old Lady" & bocasana ~ "The Powder Puff", our miniature roses "Chameleon" & "Fiesta", sedum clavatum "Giant Stone Crop" & our beautiful yucca elephantipes or guatamalensis. Many of the succulents spent time indoors but have really flourished outside & they are in the least sheltered part of the back patio.

There were, also, double petunias, marigolds & phlox. Alas, the petunias are now coming to an end. They have done so well & we have had a nonstop display of flowers for well over a year. The marigolds also did well but they really don't last long. Even so, I have just bought some more seedlings which will give us some lovely colour for a few months over summer. The phlox we had was "Vegas Lights" which I grew from seed. They were such a fantastic little flower & I have more seed which I shall plant soon. I promise. They should make a great showing through summer though they also flowered well this past winter.

A display of flowers from last December.



Some more summer colour.



Some of the succulents in dappled shade.

Some more pics taken today. The back patio is forever changing as plants are moved around to make more room or when flowering annuals finish their season. Winter does seem better for some of these flowers. There is actually more sun on the patio during the winter as it is lower on the horizon.

The beaucarnea recurvata looks good in the early sun. This poor plant was ravaged by mealybugs but now seems to be free of the rotten things.



The Extra Dwarf Tom Thumb balsam, which I grew from seed through the winter, make a pleasing splash of colour.

Pics of some of the sun lovers on the back patio, taken a few days ago. The sun is very strong & seems to draw the colour out of them.

A few of the back patio flowers enjoying the sun. These are the Chameleon miniature roses, the mandevillas & the New Guinea Orange impatiens.

Have not been taking many pics of our plants in a group, which is a shame as the groupings change so much. Some disappear, others grow so much that they look like different plants. The mandevillas have grown so much you can hardly see the Pony Tail or beaucarnea recurvata, now. It, certainly, does not stand out as it did.

The "Aloha Bright Pink" mandevilla & the Chameleon miniature rose are still neighbours. Here is a pic taken of them in the sun this morning. Both have started flowering.

Finally, have taken a pic of our last container of New Guinea Orange impatiens. Evicted two of the plants as I needed their pots for the stapelias & I persuaded myself that they weren't doing so well.

Anyhow, this one has been flowering, nonstop, since May Of last year. Here is today's image. They are a bright & cheerful little flower.

Gorgeous!

You sure have a green thumb Joy!

Thanks Glad. The New Guinea Orange is cheery little plant which seems to be a perennial in our climate. It is very hardy & soon lets you know when it needs water. There is a dramatic droop.

This plant comes in two other shades ~ White & Lilac ~ I think. Must look for them as they are so easy to grow, even in pots.

Some more of our sun-loving plants. Don't seem to take as many of these group shots as I should.

From left to right they are adenium obesum, crossandra infundibuliformis "Fire Glow", Fiesta miniature roses, echeveria "Topsy Turvy" flowers (they are the small coral/orange flowers) & a couple of hibiscus schizopetalus flowers.

Our wonderful old pony tail or beaucarnia recurvata is often overlooked when it comes to taking pics. We have had this plant for at least 22 years & it was a mature plant when we were given it as a gift from a guest on the boat we worked on at the time. So it would be about 25 years old. The mandevilla have taken advantage of its long strappy leaves to wind their runners around them & climb. This plant has recovered so well from the dreadful mealybug infestation it suffered for a couple of years.

This pic was taken today.

Hi!!

The pictures are absolutely beautiful!! The flowers are indeed gorgeous . .. you did a great job arranging different plants together! Love it!
Sherri

Thanks, Sherri. It is such a small space, so everything is just shoved together. I have tried to arrange them according to their sun or shade needs & this has, generally, worked out ok. Wish I had more room, though.

Three of the five hibiscus schizopetalus flowers on the one cutting for this day.

I feel envy!Those are really great... I wish I can do that too

Thank you Krocker. The hibiscus schizopetalus plant in that pic is flowering again. Haven't posted any pics of the new flowers but will do. Eventually.