NorCal blooms 9/3

Living Legend

Chartreuse Rose

Jack Mantell

a lopsided Jazzy Eye

Jamaican Blue

All your hibiscus blooms look great as alway

Patrick

Creole Darlin'

Sun Shower

Morning Glory

Rum Runner

Rojana

Mango Tango

Eye of Kali twins

Climax twins

Heart of My Heart

City Slicker

Aztec Sun

A group pic

and another

Tsunami

Oh how pretty! The group pics are awesome!

Thanks Karen, I found another use for that birdbath :-)

Thanks for sharing Dee! So beautiful!!!

Nice blooms Dee. I know I had looked at them before and realized I didn't post a "thanks for sharing". "Jazzy Eye" is quite similar to "Fifth Dimension" isn't it? I get the feeling there a couple slightly different versions of "Eye Of Kali" out there. The coloration is similar, but there's something about the coloration in the "eye" that's different where I compare mine to other photos I've seen of it.

You're right Jon, Jazzy Eye and Fifth Dimension are similar. That was my first bloom off the plant and I've only seen one other picture of it so I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with the size and the color variation...too bad the bloom was lopsided :-)

I checked out your photos of Eye of Kali in Plant Files and you're right. Your blooms do look different, plus you have those great spots on yours. I wonder if that is just due to the difference in temperature and humidity or if there really are two different versions. Do you ever run into the Dupont's down in your neck of the woods? Maybe you can ask them? :-)

We all get those lopsided blooms. I'm assuming we all occasionally get those very small blooms also from time to time. Does everyone occasionally get those blooms that are about 1/3 the size, compared to normal, that only open about half way?

I received my "Eye Of Kali" back in the summer or fall of 2008. "Eye Of Kali" didn't become more readily available until 2009 and I immediately noticed to blooms were different. My version blooms the same whether it's winter of summer. The difference seems to be solely related to the orange coloration in the bloom. On mine it's always confined to a circle around the magenta & red eye. All the other photos I've seen, the orange bleeds into the solid yellow outer portion of the bloom.

I've never seen any Dupont hibiscus available for sale at retailers in South Florida. Even finding hybrid tropical hibiscus available for sale at Lowes, Home Depot or privately owned nurseries is practically a "minor miracle". It only happens once or twice a year and it's always the same 5 - 10 cultivators. You just don't see them growing in peoples yards. They are very uncommon, which is sad.

Actually I didn't know if Bobby Dupont ever made his way to your AHS meetings in FL, that's what I meant by asking them. Go right to the source :-) Then again maybe yours is a sport of what the rest of us have, or we all have the sport and yours is 'special'. You should probably take cuttings to make sure you always have one.

I do get the smaller blooms and the occasional one that refuses to open all the way. As a matter of fact, I'm still waiting to see a fully open 'Dark of Night' which will hopefully happen in the next week. So far, every one of them has been shy; it's frustrating. It's been moved to three different locations around my home since I got it and I'm determined that one of these days it will be happy and bloom its little heart out.

I'm not sure if Bobby Dupont ever makes his way to Florida. I'm sure he has but, most likely, not on a regular basis. Central and South Florida are a long drive time from Louisiana. One of the parents of "Dark Of Night" is "Midnight Blue". I used to have "Midnight Blue" back in 2007 or 2008, but didn't keep it for long. I recall the blooms almost always facing downward and it did have some "opening all the way" issues down here. The I tried "Nightfire" which held its blooms up much better. "Nightfire" blooms don't last the entire day though. They begin closing mid to late afternoon. Now I'm trying "Bayou Irene" and waiting for blooms.

Wow, what gorgeous blooms. I love so so many of them. I want them all:-) I like the way you put all the blooms together for a group shot. What do you do with them after you pick them from the plant and take the pic,do you float them in water or something like that?

Thanks Maureen. Actually most of the blooms stayed right where they were on that green chair...floating in water doesn't help preserve them so I didn't bother moving them. Normally I will pick a bloom or two and bring them inside to display or, depending on the size of the plant, I'll bring the whole plant inside to enjoy it. Since these hibiscus blooms are short lived you have to appreciate them while you have them. That's one reason why I take photos...so I can enjoy them over and over again.

HI, i never thought to bring the whole plant in to enjoy the blooms. I don't like to bring my plants inside....because i usually only do that when the cold weather is here and that makes me sad :-( But I would like to display a flower or two. What do you put it in to display it? A bowl of water?

No water is involved...I use anything that will keep the bloom upright so I can see it from whatever angle I'm trying to view it. I use some small shot glasses a lot and a bud vase but I never put any water in them. I've seen where people attach blooms to their computer monitors or just lay them about where they are most likely to be viewed like on a desk top or table. Not having to be concerned with keeping blooms in water certainly frees you up to use your imagination.

I brought 'Persian Rug' with triplets inside so I could admire them. These blooms lasted 3 days so it was a treat.

I see, i guess i can empty the bowl of water i have my bloom in. A shot glass is a great idea.
I love that Persian rug blooms. Very beautiful and love the variations in color on the different blooms.

Very pretty nice collection! thanks for sharing

Great pictures of your blooms! I'll have to make more room on my wish list...

'Living Legend' and 'Morning Glory' are gorgeous.

Hey Dee, all are beautiful. Love your Persian Rug. Got one from Barry but it didn't make it & it made me sick. Your flowers look fantastic, as usual. Thanks for sharing with us.

Hugs,
Judy

Oh that PERSIAN RUG is so beautiful. I really want that one.