Big Box Store Enlightenment

Hey, look what I found at Lowe's this weekend. It took me an hour to buy this Hib as I have been so worried about space in my GH. Y'all can see the outcome of the argument with myself. May have to sleep with it but I really loved it. It is Enlightenment, Barry Scheulter's hybrid from 2005 & I was shocked to see anything other than Christmas trees & ornaments in the garden center. Supposed to get down to 40 tonight so I have been out watering stuff, Jon. Will eventually get everything in the GH that has to go but just put my cuttings, good Hibs & a few more tender plants in the last 2 days. Probably be back to 80 later this week & I'll be running fans in there. Hope y'all stay warm & have a wonderful week.

Judy

That's a good find Judy. There are only a couple nurseries here that carry some hybrids. It's only a couple of times a year. One place has a few older varieties and the other place has ??? (none of them are ever labeled). Glad to hear you watered today before the cold sets in tonight. Your plants will make it through the night just fine.

Jon

Jon, you see a lot more of the common GV Hibs but occasionally Lowe's has something interesting. And, so much of the time you don't know what it is till it blooms but this one was marked on the pot with name, nursery & B. Schlueter's name. Also the flower looks like their web site picture. And, Jon, I could not resist this for a 2nd reason....I think it has 2 seed pods.!!!! Better believe I will baby this one. Tried to take a picture but it is not good enough to post & I don't want to tamper with the seed pods. Need to put this on plant files as the one there is so different.

Judy

wow the Lowe's here does't have anything that looks like those... Very pretty..

Thanks, Jen. I probably run in there a doz. times & leave empty handed before I find anything "good" so you have to check often. Just can't resist the temptation to "just look".
It's like getting a fix when you have an addiction. If I lived where they were plentiful & you can plant them in the ground, like Jon in Fla, I would probably get skinny cause I know I would spend my grocery money on Hibs. Keeps me out of the pool hall & off the streets!

Judy

heck i would trade you anyday i'm in 6b lol cant leave anything in the ground.. I spent 18 hours this fall digging and storing canna roots...

pool halls, eh? LOL

Judy your "Enlightenment" is beautiful! I love those vibrant colors, way to go, you little scavenger hunter! Ch- ching, pulled off another nice one!

Surprisingly, hybrid hibiscus are hard to find down here in nurseries. People don't want to pay the higher prices for them, I guess. Canna Lilies can also go right in the ground here. I used to have quite a few, but dug them up about 18 months ago. They are so "high maintenance" down here due to the "canna leaf roller" caterpillar. You have to spray them with insecticide every two weeks, or the foliage gets devoured. I also leave the nurseries empty handed most of the time Judy. Last Thursday I went to 6 different nurseries. I only bought one large container full of purple snapdragons.

Jon

ya true jon i guess thats one way of looking at it... I can have them cause we dont get many bugs on them just grasshoppers but they are pretty easy to get rid of... I dont drive so it makes it hard to go to them alot.. in the warmer months i stop in on my way to work walking by walmart, homedepot and lowes.. dont usually get much as i would be walking home after work and have to carry it lol

It's a bug battle down here all summer long, with just about everything. Luckily we get a break, from most of the bugs, from Oct-May. One thing, I'm sooooo glad, we don't have down here are deer. I've seen the damage they can do, very quickly, up North. I wouldn't be buying much either if I had to walk it home.

That will be pretty with your other flowers, Jon. You always have such pretty color combinations & I love seeing them. We can have cannas in the ground here but the leaf rollers get them. Caterpillars really got my Passion vines this year...big time. Its always something. I would have thought you could find hybrids there Jon. Where do you get yours? You always have such beautiful Hibs. I'm hoping we have a really good co-op next year. Haven't gotten in on one yet. :-(

Judy

Judy theres a seed co-op going on now, they have lots of hardy hibs, check it out!

well in the city where i am we dont have animals around.. Just my 3 dogs that love hibiscus I cant seem to keep the flowers on.. now there indoors so i have them up higher.. Hubby will take me if hes free, he likes to garden too so i lucked out...

Caterpillars are the number one problem for me. I only have one Passion Flower and its in a pot inside the pool screening....thus no bug problems with it. Most of my hibiscus were bought online Judy. I think I have 3 or 4 that I picked up at hibiscus shows or meetings. Not the first time I've heard of dogs eating the hibbie blooms.

Here are the purple snaps Judy. Just put them next to the "Reiger Carneval" Begonia until I decide what to do with them. Maybe just leave them in the pot perhaps?

Just beautiful, Jon.

Deb, I will do that. Thanks for telling me.

Judy

Judy you sure got yourself a gorgeous hib, hope the seed pod have plenty of seeds for you. seems like every time you find one it turns out to be gorgeous one at that, great job.

Wilfred

Thanks, Wilfred. Its not often that I find a really good Hib. Last time was July 5th....bought myself a 4th of July present!!! How's that for an excuse. But, I did pick up several I really liked at the same time. Not as exciting as some of the hybrids out today but ones I enjoy a lot & that's what is important. Sending you a dmail.

Judy

We need that bloom up here in Nebraska -- only colors here are grey and white.

Did you find the blue ROS you were hunting Snarly? Think of you every time I see a ROS.

Judy