My Morning Glories (Spring 2010)

Teresa,

Awesome beauties you have growing, and your 'George Strait', has some incredible blooms,
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7752741

All of the GS that you have posted are superb.

Emma

Thanks, EmmaGrace and Debra. After four tries, I finally have a Spanish Flag.

awsome! I am so happy for you.. I have several types sprouting and vining now, of spanish flagg lobata. I can't wait.

I did not know there were several types of Spanish Flag, but it certainly makes sense.

When mine go to seed, I will save you some.. I have a lemon citronella, an exoctic love, and a jungle queen.. they all have different coloured blooms and the leaves look different. I never even heard of spanish flag until a DGr here in my area gave me one. I also have Mina which is what yours looks like, it is the best for show I think.

Thanks, Debra. Yes, the Mina is beautiful, even as small as my blooms are at this point.

p

q

r

Oh my I love that blue with the white edge.. great photo!

gardenpom - Yay! You finally got some Spanish Flag blooms and vines! :-) Your bloom photos are truly stunning! Nice to see some beautiful blooms!

Theresa,
Wow!
Stunning Photo
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7798443

Emma

Emma, this beautiful bloom, that's the one you call BLUE George Strait ?

Hi Dany,
I'm not positive what this particular MG is - but it appears to be GS.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7798443

But, many photos that Theresa has posted is George Strait.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7752741
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7755430
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7793330
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7793348
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7793555
Plus several others on this Thread

Last year I isolated out and grew both PURPLE FORM and the BLUE FORM separately, however, each will still have the Blue or the Purple coloration as well on the blooms, but sometimes not.


Hey,
*The* George Strait now has a home right here in Jacksonville, Texas on Lake Jacksonville. So, does Patrick Dempsey 'Dr. McDreamy'. Guess my next MG name will be 'Patrick'.

Emma

Yes, I'm sure that's the same one. I just like taking shots from all sides. George Strait is sure a beauty...though I'm not sure how the performer would like hearing that.

Collage of todays' blooms.

gardenpom - Wonderful collage! So very pretty ... all of them!

Thanks, Becky. With the heat coming now, I don't think they will be lasting too much longer. I have to water just about every day.

I like your collage of pretty blooms Teresa!!

Thank you. Here's the Spanish Flag.

Emma, My George Strait (from your seeds) still doesn't have dried pods, I'm going nuts waiting for them. Ever since I posted pics I've had requests for seeds. I think this is the most popular I. Nil for me this season. I've attached a pic- definitely my fave JMG this year.


-Susan

Pretty bloom, Susan! I like the light purple colors and the white border edge.

Thanks also for reviving this old thread. I haven't seen Gardenpom post in quite some time. I miss seeing her beautiful blooms and great photography!

Becky, I was looking for "George Strait" and found this thread, then found Emma's which probably would have made more sense to post under. But thanks, I love her JMGs, and this was my favorite this year.

-Susan

Susan - Just curious ...how large are those blooms? I remember reading on another thread somewhere that the blooms on theirs were between 3 and 4 inches. Could you measure yours for me?

Becky, I would if I had one blooming today, but I'd say 3" is a pretty good guess. They are larger than the average purpurea, smaller than most tricolors- I guess about the size of my indicas.

-Susan

Thanks! I was wondering. I have never grown them, but the photo looked like about 3 1/2 - 4". The vine is an I. nil, right? Not a purpurea?

yes, I. Nil George Strait.

Thanks! :-)

Haven't had any Morning Glories since early summer. I don't think I will be starting more than a few plants anymore, just no room for them to grow.

Hi Teresa!!! I missed seeing your awesome photos over the past few months! Glad to see you are still around and hopefully all is well up there in Melbourne!

How do you like this cooler weather we've been having? I am loving it! Went for a walk tonight with my dog and is was so nice ... cool with a breeze! Yay! I think Fall has finally arrived ... at least at night! LOL!

I'm fine, and yes, so glad for the cooler weather. Here's a pic for you, Becky. My first Hummer of the fall today.

Ahhh! So sweet! Wonderful shot! I love those little birdies!

Mine hung around all summer and is still here. (I am assuming it is the same bird, but don't know for sure.) I have to keep the feeder cleaned and filled every few days! I have a feeder in the front of the house, too, where I had another hummer. I used to see them chasing each other around. You know how territorial they are ... but I haven't seen the front yard bird in quite some time. Though that doesn't mean it isn't still around. I am usually looking out the back french doors instead of the front window.

A member on another forum had one of her birds attacked and killed by a praying mantis recently. She shared a photo! She was so upset. Warning to all who feed the hummers to be on the lookout for any large praying mantis... but I was thinking ... not a problem here as I never see them in my yard.

Well, wouldn't you know ... a week later, I came home from work and saw something on my garage door ... I got out of my car and walked over to see what the heck it was ... it was the largest praying mantis I have ever seen personally. I got the broom out to smack it and it flew off. Grrrr .... now I am keeping my eyes peeled to see if it comes back or any new ones show up. I sure don't want them attacking my little hummers.

Seems like the more good things I attract to my yard, it also brings the bad things ...

Oh yes! One more thing ... I saw a painted bunting about 2 weeks ago at my feeder. It was sitting in the feeder with a cardinal. I thought of you and wondered if they have returned to your home, too! :-) :-) :-)

gardenpom, What beautiful and graceful photos you have on all of your flowers. Love your Spanish Flag too.

You know what? This afternoon we downloaded 3 bales of straw to use as cover for overwintering the box turtles, and what do I see? A huge fat green praying mantis eating out of the turtles food (fresh veggies and catfood mixture) yuck... anyway, I thought a morning glory seed germinated in the food even though I had just put the food out it didn't make sense, till I realized it was a praying mantis eating.. I didn't know they ate that type of food, I just thought they ate other bugs.

Now you say they attack hummingbirds? Who would have thought? We have praying mantis by the hundreds here and they are all with eggs now, carrying the egg basket/cases around with them. I've put some onto the mint. I can't believe they would be strong enough to kill a hummer.

Antoinette - Here are two internet links to photos of an actual kill of a hummer by a praying mantis. PLEASE NOTE: Do NOT view these photos if these kind of photos upset you. It really bothered me to see them, but they are PROOF that Praying Mantis are indeed capable of doing such a horrible deed:

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx
http://cubits.org/hummingbirdgardening/thread/view_post/389707/

I know that it is the law of nature, but I just love the little birdies and I wouldn't have thought it possible if I had not read the stories and seen the photos for myself. So sad.

Maybe I will start taking a broom and lightly "sweeping" through some of my hummer plants to make sure there are no Praying Mantis lying in wait to get my birdies! They blend in so well with the green plants. I feel like it's my job to keep the hummers safe that come to my yard to feed.

I saw a Praying Mantis for the first time ever here a few weeks ago, just about 3 inches long. Not exactly my favorite bug, but since I have not had them around, no worry. No Buntings yet, although I have had my feeder out for a couple of weeks. Last year was such a dissapoinment with the freezes and few birds, I am hoping they show up this year. I never even had Hummers last year because the freeze killed down my Firebushes and Firespike early,

Hummingbird Sage, Texas Sage, Scarlet Sage
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red'

This is Southeast US native that re-seeds around here. They grow knee-high and the hummers and bees like them.

John - I agree with your plant suggestion for hummers. I believe I have that very plant in my garden. Here is a photo of the hummer nectaring from it or another cultivar of salvia!

very nice colorful picture Becky. Good composition and depth. Do the hummers enjoy the large-flowered MG also?

John - I see Hummers at most all the MGs, but can never sneak over there close enough to get a good shot. They fly off if they see me. They hit the MG blooms first thing in the morning probably within an hour of dawn.

I just happened to be out there that morning and was actually behind a tall morning glory vine growing in one of the containers. It WAS on the MG vine and then moved over the salvia. I always hear them before I see them. So by the time I visually located it, it was nectaring from the salvia. Just a lucky shot. Those hummers move very fast and mine are skittish of humans.