Ft Lauderdale Blooms Oct 17, 2009

Blooms have been sparse the past two months since I pruned back so many of the hibiscus plants. Here are four blooms from today starting with Hibiscus "Pay Dirt"

Hibiscus "Black Jack"

Hibiscus "Space Oddity"

And last is Hibiscus "Misbehavin"

Jon

Beautiful Jon! The colors are so vibrant...

Hi Jon, they are all soooooo beautiful. Space Oddity is simply stunning....well they all are but the many different colors are fantastic. Was that your yard featured on HVH last newsletter? Really pretty & looked like some of your pictures. Thanks for sharing these with us. Glad you are having better blooming weather.

Judy

Thanks Dee & Judy. Space Oddity was very vibrant today for some reason. Maybe it senses our first cool night coming tonight. I know there are pictures of my yard on the Hidden Valley Hibiscus website. I'm not familiar with their newsletter so I'm not sure if it's my yard or not. I'd have to see the pictures, I guess.

Jon

Those are just gorgeous! I love 'Pay Dirt' The colors are unusually and just stunning. Thanks for sharing.

Tina

Thanks Tina. Pay Dirt is a very unique one in my collection and today was the first time it bloomed. I've seen quite a few red/white and red/orange with similar coloration marks, but this lavender/white one is a bit different.

They are all beautiful, you are right about Pay Dirt being unique.

Tina

Dude, your garden is in their newsletter :-)

OMG I have never seen such beautifull flowers. Love pay dirt and space oddity.
I already looked for availability here in the Netherlands. But nowhere to be found.
So if you ever have any cuttings available I am happy taking them over from you!

I am goint to read de newsletter immediatly.

Jori

Can't find the article. Quamsorbit, can you please give me the link.

Jori

LOL. Thanks Dee:-) I'm assuming it's the same photos that are on their website? Thanks Jon. Space Oddity is from Hidden Valley Hibiscus and Pay Dirt was ordered this summer from Tried And True Hibiscus. I took cuttings and tried grafting 5 of my hibiscus plants this summer. I figured it would be good practice, and I definitely need more practice. Only 3 of the 5 grafts worked (Nightfire, Creme De La Creme, Toucan Tango) They took much longer for the grafts to "take" then I expected. It seemed like it was a good 6 or 7 weeks.

Just an "FYI". I'm assuming "Pay Dirt" is a "mini" as the first bloom was only 3-4 inches across. There are more buds getting close to open and they are small...which leads me to believe it's supposed to be a mini. If you don't currently have a mini in your collection, you should consider adding one. I doubt you'll be disappointed. They're unique and they add some more character/diversity to your collection. They also tend to set more buds and bloom more often, compared to larger flowered varieties. I never thought I'd like the minis and avoided them for the first two years. I'm glad someone talked me into trying one this past spring. They're cool.

Jon

wow jon, congrats on making the newsletter (now i need to go find it again so I can oooh & aaah with a whole new perspective!). Any further word on your photos being considered for the other deal? So exciting watching a fellow gardener, reap some pretty exciting rewards. Especially a gardener who's as good about giving help to others as you are. BTW, nice pics you shared.

Thanks Debbie. No, I never heard back from that newspaper. Either they changed their mind or it was a prank e mail. Who knows! Trust me, I have all the same issues everyone else has with their plants from time to time. It's just good to share your experiences and hope you can help others avoid the same problems I think I just killed my second "Black Dragon" plant from too much water. It's either that, or the Venus Fly Trap tried to eat it!!! LOL When Black Dragon goes down hill it's almost impossible to save.

Jon

Jon, everybody has trouble with Black Dragon at some point. It is such a superb bloomer and the color is so extraordinary but a strong plant it is not. :-)

Jon, is Black Dragon grafted?

Judy

I know. There are some "issues" with Black Dragon. Mine looked great until about a month ago and then quickly went down hill. My first Black Dragon was grafted, but this one appears to have been grown on it's own roots (can't see a grafting point).

OK Jon, where's the rest of them, don't try to hide them gorgeous hibs from us, we know you got more than four beauties, LOL! Even though you just posted four, they are so outstandingly beautiful, thanks for posting them for us.

Wilfred

Oh good! I'm waiting for that Toucan Tango to be available...hint hint Jon :-)

Jori,

I have an emailed HVH newsletter that I can send to you if you want to dmail me your email address. You can also sign up for their newletters at their website http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/index.htm

dee

You're right Wilfred. I could have posted a photo of "Dead Dragon"...oops I mean "Black Dragon". Funny you should mention "Toucan Tango". I just chopped it a couple of days ago and grafted 2 more. I hope the grafts "take".

Jon, I've been keeping my eyes open for that one...you do want it growing on both coasts don't you? If nothing else then for 'scientific studies' before it goes on sale :-)

Too funny. Now I see why it takes years evaluating these plants before they even get sold.

I'm just saying...I'm available to 'help' you out. What are friends for? :-)

LOL. You'll be the first to get a "Toucan Tango". I gotta make sure this one grows/branches well 'cause I don't want to send you a dud. I can't believe you remember it considering all the great blooms people post on here?

What's not to remember? It's that beautiful bloom with the catchy name; the epitome of you Jon :-)

Thanks Dee. I have to admit, I DO like the name.