Appearances Can Be Deceiving

One of the coolest things about growing exotic tropicals is becoming acquainted with their unusual forms, which often have otherworldly appearances!  Those of you who have the plant pictured probably know what it is, but for the rest of you, try to identify it by looking at just the first photo. 

Give up?  Its hidden ginger, or curcuma!  I think the flowers look like cheerful little snakes, complete with pointy fangs and a yellow forked tongue, though my fiance sees fried eggs.  She must have been hungry.

Okay, here's another test!  See anything unusual about the grass in this photo?  Okay, how about the dead grass?  Congratulations if you guessed it, and here's the answer if you're still stumped:

I was walking around the garden and narrowly avoided the toad nestled in the grass's dead thatch, but did bother him for a photo, as it definitely beats being stepped on any day!  The two toads above were under the plastic runoff catcher thing... forgive me if that's not what they're really called.

Well in other news, soon-to-be tropical storm Nicole just showed up on our doorstep and I for one am pleased as punch.  (By the way, what does that even mean?  Why would punch find a greater sense of contentment than other beverages?)  Anyways, I'm satisfied.

Right now its cool outside and pouring rain, perfect napping weather if there ever was such a thing, and the rainbringer isn't even upon us yet!  My garden will be pleased as Kool-aid (That sounds pretty happy too) to receive all of this much needed precipitation, and if my bone dry garden gets some flooding, the flood tolerant plants will be ready for a nice deluge.  My leather fern, gingers, alocasias and cat palms are made for this sort of thing!  Hmm... a weather update doesn't fit my theme of deception, so lets just say that tropical storms sound horrible but they're just what the doctor ordered!  For me anyways, and sorry to my friends down south.  Hey, you're used to this stuff by now, right?

I also have to throw this little tidbit of info in this post somehow, even though it doesn't really fit either.  Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, FL is having an Orchid Show and Fall Plant Sale on the 2nd and 3rd!  I know that most of you can't make it and have ridiculous excuses like "I live in Oz" or "I can't afford airfare", but consider yourself invited if you live nearby.  I'll be wandering aimlessly among plants and plant lovers if you're looking for me.  Maybe I'll find another cryptic looking ginger!
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