Bloom Day, Birth Day

So once again it is the 15th of the month, Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. It is also my 50th birthday. I am alternating between being pleased, unfazed, and holding my head in my hands wondering how in the hell this happened. (The turning 50 part; Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I can face with complete equanimity.)

So here is what is in bloom here among the leaves today. First the houseplants:

Aechmea fasciata inflorescence. The blue buds, which are about to open, are the true flowers.

Hoya multiflora

It is outdoors right now, but since my Hibiscus rosa-sinensis spends more than half the year indoors, it is officially a houseplant.

The same goes for Euphorbia milii

Now a selection of what's blooming outdoors:

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prarie Sun,' my favorite garden flower. Something's been nibbling on this one.

Double flowered Platycodon grandiflorus, aka Balloon Flower

An apricot-hued Hemerocallis (Daylily)

Another Daylily

A Delosperma (Ice Plant) variety

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'

Gaillardia 'Goblin'

Echinacea purpurea. I have a few different cultivars of this, but I never remember which is which.

I realize that cut flowers don't fit the theme, because they aren't growing, but they are here, and they are blooming and I love them. My Birthday flowers:

Dendrobium orchids from my cousins in New York

A beautiful blooming basket from my husband and stepson

Happy Bloom Day, everyone!