TROPICAL GARDEN # 82

Hello Everyone!!

mjsponies, that is a nice picture of your pea vine, you capture the vining habit of the plant.
The do-overs are never ending around my garden as well, I just finished painting the outside. I then started pulling out all of the St. Augustine grass in the back section of my circle driveway and replacing it with gravel.
I can't be of any help to you. This is my first year growing the Golden duranta , it has not bloomed but the foliage is very pretty.

This is my Abutilon Chinese lantern in the back side of my hoop house.


This message was edited Sep 15, 2010 6:45 PM

GAgirl1066, that is another winner, just beautiful!! I have both the Variegated Mostera and the Cheesecake and to my untrained eye, the one in your picture looks like Cheesecake. After the last rain, mine has taken off. I will definitely try to find the first two Philo. on my next trip to Florida. I feel the urge to visit my niece who lives in SaraSota. lol

Duranta Golden Eagle in a pot. Can you find the hummer in the picture?

Joeswife, thanks, Kaitlyn is a beauty!!
I have also brought up the topic of moving to Florida with DH, but he said If we did, I would want to plant peonies and pansies and other cold weather plants. I know that he is right. lol
I do have a little place in Belize that I go to whenever the cold gets me down. You are welcome to join me!!

Tina_A, I bet with this cool weather we are having, you will be seeing a lot more buds.

pensacolagarden, How pretty! I am glad that you are enjoying your blooms, thanks for showing and sharing them with us.

Happy_1, I can tell you are really enjoying life and Florida!!!

Gordonhawk, that is a very pretty color on your plumie.

ardesia, lets hope for a very mild, warm winter. We need a break!

Philo.

OK prita, fess up on the abutilon. How big is that thing? Photos can be deceptive, but it looks like it is at least 6-7 ft tall and the blooms look big. Do you leave it outside or is it in a pot? This is my first year growing them and I LOVE them.

We had a tornado about a mile of us here, I was waiting for the roof to blow off, I had to let down the umbrella for the first time this year and so all the vines climbing the umbrella pole had to be severed .. *sniff sniff* we only had small hail here but son had baseball size at his place up in Wichita, everything here got trimmed by the wind and hail, so I am glad that happened. Son has holes in his siding and roof, but his car is okay. he said his plants were all under water, I told him that is okay it will go down and then they will take off like rockets. He never waters anyway..
I feel my winter hibernation instinct kicking in, I can't seem to wake up on time now. I always "catch up" on sleep in the winter.. Cherubs blooms stems were broken off and since the tips had buds on them, I am going to try to root one. I really don't need another brug, so if it roots, I will send it off to someone. Picked up another clamp light at wally world on the way home, before the storm hit. Can't wait to get things in to the basement ..
Hap, if I could I would move back to Florida in a heartbeat.. Rita I see you mention Belize alot, I am clueless as to where it is. Gordon, that bloom is beautiful!
This is my baby sago palm I started from seed, from Lazlo. Or maybe sabo palm? I have no clue what to do with it now.

This message was edited Sep 15, 2010 7:45 PM

Oh and Rita, I would like to know the name of this plant.. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=8101234
I want to get one I love it.

Great pictures everyone.

Rita, you have a very beautiful place there in Texas and I admire your P. Ring of Fire along with the last Philodendron you posted a picture of. I seldom ever see Ring of Fire for sale anymore and the last one I viewed sold for quite a few dollars and do I ever celebrate a new leaf on my plants too!

Debra, you have such great success with starting plants from seeds and I like your container with the sago, ginger and hyacinth bean but your Brugs. are my favorite.

mjs. you have a great collection of Passiflora vines. I purchased another one the other day from Lowes and am anxious to see what the bloom's look like being none of them had one single bloom to show. Here is one that I bought a while back and I sure hope your knee's are feeling better. I know several horsemen who has had to have total knee replacements in the past but they seem to still have some pain from time to time when riding long hours.

GAgirl, you sure do have some nice Philodendrons and I especially like the darker leaves on the second one you showed and I agree with Rita on your cheesecake. It's a var. form of Monstera.

Happy_1, are there any jobs available in your part of Florida;o) I would move there in a heart beat if I could find a descent paying job due to I sure am not able to retire yet and I sure as heck would never miss the Winter months here in Virginia!

More great photos!

GAgirl's "Cheesecake" Aroid is Monstera deliciosa 'Variegata'.

Love those Passionflowers!

Is Monstera borsigiana as listed in plant files also correct? I thought that a var. form of Monstera deliciosa was only an accepted name for GAgirl's plant.?

Ludovia lancifolia

Halfway between an Aroid and a Palm.

Hi Rachel!

Monstera deliciosa 'Borsigiana' is a distinct cultivar which is a dwarf of the typical species. It looks like a young (plain green) juvenile of the plant that never gets a mature form.

Thanks for the tip, I will check the PlantFiles .

This message was edited Sep 15, 2010 4:48 PM

Thank you Dave.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/95705/.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/95706/.

Oh my! The Monstera entries contain about 6 or 7 entries that are the same plant and need to be combined.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher[common]=&searcher[family]=&searcher[genus]=Monstera&searcher[species]=&searcher[cultivar]=&searcher[hybridizer]=&searcher[grex]=&search_prefs[blank_cultivar]=&search_prefs[sort_by]=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

Looks like I have work to do.

You will get it all straightened out. I have faith in you!

Thanks Rachel!

That's beautiful!

Hakalau Coast!

Jobs are not plentiful here, especially the restaurant business. They are hurting. Botox is the business to be in. Lots of $$$ there.

Lots of home available too.

Hope to see you all.


Hap

Hello All!!

GAgirl1066, The Abutilon is planted in the ground and you have the size correct. You can easily tell the size of my plants by the framework of my hoophouse which is 9' tall. The flower is the same size as the one posted above, by mjsponies.
Usually, I have to take about a dozen shots of a plant to get one that is acceptable to post, the only deception, being that some of my close-ups are prettier than the subject. lol

This is another of my oldie but goodie ex- houseplant. Lucky bean plant.

This message was edited Sep 17, 2010 6:01 AM

RachelLF, thanks, I admit that the Philos are my favorite plants. I hate having to miss the Aroid show this year. I have never been to one but have seen photos. Now that I am retired, I will attend the next. I plan on saving to buy a few of their rare, new plants.
This is my smallest Philo.

Metrosideros, Awesome scenery!!
Your Ludovis Lancifolia would make a perfect understory plant for my mini jungle, if they will stay that size. It is a very handsome plant. thanks!

Joeswife, I am sorry to hear about your damages, I hope that your son's insurance covers everything at his place. We saw News coverage of the tornado and the destruction.

Your Sago plant can be trimmed to be a nice bonsai house plant.
I am calling dibs on your Cherub broken stem and will send you a nice start of the Philo.'69686'

Go Tropical!

Well finally beginning to bloom and it turns out to be double pink not salmon as I thought that it was.

Happy_1, I have viewed alot of tremendous deal's where pricing is concerned on realestate all over Florida. Hopefully a wider range of job availabilites will come open in the future. The job market is the same here as well. Alot of restaurants, business's etc. have closed but the medical field is strong and still growing.

Rita, I had my plans all made for the trip to the Aroid show in Miami but I will not be attending it this year either;-( I hope to make it back to Florida before long though. Here is a picture of the hibiscus I sent you some seeds of a while back. It looks like Abelmoschus manihot.

Cars are selling again everywhere.. have you thought about the car business Rachel? Women seem to make lots more than men in that field. The medical field is where I think I wish I could have been, there is about to be a shortage of caregivers for all of us baby boomers soon.
Rita, I have rooted a few cuttings of my rugs. I have lots of rooted cuttings. I need homes for the Salvias and Pentas that are just now getting going, if anyone wants some.

My moonflower I. turbina "alba" is blooming all over the place right now. This one is right outside the back door to the right..

I haven't been outside in the daylight yet, tonight I had to go help put tarp over my son's roof.. I am surprised he didn't lose the whole thing..
I feel really lucky.. there were cars coming in all day at the dealership with huge dents and broken out windows..

Here is another bloom on the patio.. this cane was sideways on the ground, but somehow everything hung on tight to it..
including the Rangoon Creeper, which is now to the top of it..

Kaitlyn's blooms were knocked off, so I am ready to bring her in to rest up for the rest of the year.. but these little
b. suavleons just opened and I have no idea why they hung on thru the storms..

I sure do love those tropicals, the ones I have brought inside seem to be happy so far.. they get to stay upstairs where I can keep an eye on them..
I have so many small plants to gather up and see where I can send them..that is what happens here when you plant from seed in late July..

Debra,
Although no direct hit here with tornado's we've had them come close too. And of course the hurricane's but at least you can "prepare" for them, and for the most part get things out of the way. Although with as many plants and most of us have that can be a challenge, and sometimes not as high on priority as securing your home. Roof's can be repaired, plants will recover, lost lives cannot be brought back. Glad that you and your family are ok.
If the salvia's you have are ones that can take southern climate I could give them homes.

Prita, do you leave your Flowering Maple in the ground year round. I plan on leaving mine in the ground. First time for growing them and they should be hardy, thou I hate to see the froze back, but as quickly as they grow it might be a good thing as long as they come back from the roots. I've only had that one for about 3 months and it's a bit over 5 feet tall. What zone are you in?

Rachel,
Is that passi as Pink as it looks in the pic or is it Red ? Looks like P. vitafolia, but it is RED..lol.
Please do send a pic of your new passi when it blooms. Did it have a "real" tag?...or true to form big box stores...a generic label that said "passion flower"..
Well, I've had surgeries, and the last one Dr. said at some point probably would need a knee replacement. One thing that will prolong having to do that is staying in shape. Muscles to help tendon's and ligaments do their job. I'm still icing the knee twice a day and wear a brace when teaching, and during some gardening. I'm not up to another surgery.........for a multitude of reasons.
We've been hot - windy - dry.....I don't water grass, but flowers yes, and it's keeping me extra busy !

Thanks MJ, will send you some of these Salvias.. They are those "splash" ones. I usually keep the others inside, but I have too many of the Yellow and green leaved ones. You sure get up early. I didn't know you taught school! Taking care of your knee like you do shows some good sense.

This is my new Plummie from Tropicman.. I hope I can keep it going thru winter.

Debra,
If you have others, salvia or pentas, that need a home, I can take some. Be glad to pay the postage, or can return the favor in the spring so you can get a head start on them.

Debra, LOL...I don't teach "school" as your thinking, I teach horseback riding...
I'm an early bird...gotta be !
Great on the salvia's..thank you...let me know on the postage, or I'm sure I'd have something you'd want later on too.

Rachel, if that hibiscus is a bit more yellow than it shows in that picture it might be H. Hamabo and that one is a native. .

Speaking of tornados,. let's hope Gordon and his plants are OK as yesterday they had one touch down in, of all places, New York city. It must have been pretty windy on his rooftop.

Thanks... pretty good considering... here's a link to a post I made about it in the brug forum..
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1129063/
one of the major touch downs was in the first part of the link there.. about 4 blocs away... the second link is a small blog on my corner park...
it did rip off a bunch of blooms.. wish it would dead head also... still lots blooming.. and the sun is out today.. so there will be growth galore today... everything that isn't ripped apart... likes the wind and fresh rain massage.. and it's the best time for foliar feeding now.. all the leaf pores are opened .. clean and receptive..

Thank goodness you and your plant babies are OK. What a freakish event.