Tropical Garden # 96

Homer: Thanks for the name of that site ... going to check it out right now. If by chance I do order something I will definitely tell them you directed me their way! ^_^

Plantladylin,

BAREFOOTERS UNITE !!!!!

Homer, that is a fantastic site, thanks for the info. Rita, she has some beautiful Ti's. :-)

Lin, we've had 3" of rain and lots of wind - most of last night until about 1 p.m. today. The sun has been shining the last hour and there are a few clouds. When you live as close to the ocean as we do (PCB), a lot of weather slides by us, because we are cut into the coast quite a bit. More bad weather/heat/cold hits Panama City, Fl., than our area gets. We are 5-10 degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than Panama City, Fl. I don't know where you are, but if you need rain, I hope it gets to you - if not, then I hope it skirts around you!

Homer: LOL ... I've been barefoot most of my life. I had a lady on another forum (she's a nurse), scold me for the bare feet ... she said I could pick up all sorts of bacteria and stuff, etc. by going barefoot. I've heard others say that being barefoot most of the time is a "southern" thing ... well, I've lived in the south my entire life and have stepped on and in a lot of "stuff" :) and I've survived to the age of 63 so far ...

Kay: I'm in Daytona Beach, about 1 1/2 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Being on the Gulf, y'all are much warmer in summer than we are down here. Whew, the bad weather passed through here rather quickly! It's been cloudy most of the day but about an hour ago it got really dark outside, the winds picked up and man was it raining ... thunder and lightning too. These storms are moving through really fast @ 50 MPH but leaving havoc in some places. Some area's have had winds of 74 MPH with trees blown down and 2" hail. There are 70,000 homes and businesses without electricity right now in parts of central Florida. The news reports that we are due for another round of the same stuff tomorrow! Rain we can use but not the winds and lightning.

Oh, my gosh! You stay indoors and be safe!

Thanks Prita, It is a couple of years old and I have successfully overwintered it a couple of times. I wouldn't say it is thriving but I have managed to keep it alive. This is the best it has looked coming out of winter storage so I am hoping for some serious growth this summer.
Lynn, Impressive plants and a big congrats on your picture. I just loved it.

Homer, I was bidding on one of those plants, but got beat out.. sorry thought it was you, the plant you showed looked like the one I was wanting. It is a great plant.
I can't keep the floors clean in the basement Garden cuz I keep making messes.. *sigh*

Lin, in the post number 8460142 there is a plant to the left, is that the fig leaf ficus? Mine is huge and I don't know what to do with it now..

Debra: Yes, it's the same plant, Ficus lyrata ("Fiddle Leaf Fig"): http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55346/ They do get pretty tall but you can chop off the top and root it. I pruned mine last fall, one of the rooted cuttings bit the dust over the winter but the other one is still alive and although looking a bit pitiful, it is recovering.

We are having horrible weather again ... severe thunderstorms, and tornado watches until this afternoon. :(

Stay safe, Lin

Holy %$&! it's been crazy here!
We've got some trees down in the back, I can't tell yet if one's actually on the fence or not but one is definitely on the back gate to the wildlife management area. Power on/off so this will be quick since I'm working off batteries. I left the horses out, if we have a tornado I'd rather they be able to run for cover than stuck in the barn. TONS of rain, wind...stuff all over the yard. I went out on the front porch while it was driving rain and couldn't believe a Hummer was on the feeder...swaying in the wind. He went up into the Crape Myrtle for cover for a bit then went to the feeder again....crazy little birds !
Lin, I hope your ok...radar looked really crazy your way too !.

MJ: Yikes, it's sure been scary weather hasn't it? There's a little lull right now but more to come across the state in the next couple of hours! I can't believe the amount of rain we've gotten just today and it's still coming down! We are still under tornado watches/warnings but hopefully they will expire soon. I was wondering how you fared over your way with all the trees and having the wildlife management area at your back door. I've been watching the news and there's been quite a bit of damage around the central part of the state ... yesterday evening there were reports that over 80,000 homes and businesses were without power, and some really large oak trees have been blown over/uprooted and falling onto vehicles and crashing through roofs.

The weather is coming from the west so it hits your area before it makes it over here to the coast ... you stay safe too! Hope the horses are okay.

Both of you girls just stay INSIDE - it sounds dangerous in your neck of the woods!

Hi Kay ... it's settled down quite a bit for now but I just had radar up on the laptop and there's still a ton of weather out there coming across the state, looks like south of me is getting hit hard with a lot of rain and we are still under "watches"/"warnings" until this evening. I'm real curious as to how much rain we've had ... forgot to sit my bucket out on the deck to catch rainwater but the pool has overflowed so I'm pretty sure we've had a couple of inches.

Well, I'm dog sitting for my niece and her husbands little dog until tomorrow afternoon ... she's driving up now so I need to go get some puppy love. One of these days I plan to have another canine or two in my household! ^_^

Good Evening everyone!

Hello All!!

plantladyin, besides having a tidy plant area, I noticed that all your pots are on rollers, another great idea.
Congratulations on being married for 42 years! I recieved a anniversary present a few days ago, a variegated plumeria. I will have another present comining in Sept. I married him twice, going on 36 years.
I hope that you do not get any more bad weather, I am so scared of tornados. However, we need a few inches of rain.
I am too embarassed to show my nuns orchid, that is a nice one. Love your big Hoyas, did you check for blooms?

This is a new little Amutilon 'Kentish Belle' that was recommended for hanging baskets.

Joeswife, it is amazing how much that Fig leaf ficus has grown! It would probably look very nice sitting next to your Big Philodendron in the Living Room.

Homer1958,thanks, good score on the Philo. I see you are a divider like I am. I have bought from neominnie before, and will again. I bought an orchid in the middle of winter, it came with each flower wrapped individually. The flower did not make it but I was impressed with the attention given to the packing and the size of plant.

This is a old Anthurium Brownii

mjsponies, I hope that everythng is calm now and that the tree did not fall on your new fence.


RachlLF, The Athurium 'Ace of Spades' unfurled a new leaf today, I heard myself say, out loud, "Thank you Rachel''. It is a thing of beauty.
You will have to find a Typhonodorum lindleyanum for your bog garden, I cannot find those anywhere.


This is a new Anthurium longipeltatum

ardesia, I have my eye on a few of those Ti plants, but will have to save my pennies for them.

Philo. Ring of Fire

Allamanda

Crossandra, from Joeswife.

Different type of variegation on this Alocasia Wentii; more of a spotting, but I love this plant. Possibly over 3' tall when mature. got it as a 1'' plug about 4 months ago. this picture a little over a foot tall with a 7''x 5'' largest leaf.

Nice pictures Rita; verrry nice!

Is that Crossandra RED, Rita? If so, I MUST have one - ya say ya got it from Debra, huh? DEEEEEEBRRRRA!!!!

Hi everyone, I got home in time to clear a few leaves, I always have a good time seeing what is up and getting the hiding snails in a jar to stomp on in ugly gory.. any way.. here is my bloom for the day..
I have no clue what KInd of Morning Glory this is, but boy, I sure do like it..

I thought tornadoes were only in my area, you guys be careful there.. I am glad I have a basement..
This shot is even better of this I. Nil..

KayJones, you are in luck, I have one small crossandra Flame left, it survived the winter, but I think it would be happier and grow stronger in your area..

Here is Maya, about to bloom, even after her spray of generic windex..

Homer, I can only hope that my babies end up looing like yours once they get outside in the fresh air..

I sure love those new Anthuriums, Rita..
Joe is esctatic over our basket ball team winning the title in the finals in Madison Square Gardens.. tommorrow the whole state will be celebrating..
YAY Shockers!
anyway, here is the Plumeria Tropicman gave me and I didn't kill it.. don't ask me how..

Lin, I love your plant roller idea also, and think I shall get some of those for my big potted plants.. would be easier on my poor back..

Your Hoyas are loverly, too..Can someone tell my hummers it is okay to come back home now? I miss them..
This area was well sprayed with windex, and it is thriving and waiting for the outdoors, and it smells like it is clean in there on top of that! LOL
Rita, your red firespike is in there, and Lin so is the Pandorea, and.. hmm.. I am sure someone elses' something is in there..

I sure am happy to know that my doctors office needs plants, I am going to cut a piece of the ficus off and root it, and give them the big part, since they have good lighting and lots of space in their new office..

Look at this Passion Vine going to the light.. isn't it cute? I have no clue where this one came from, it just appeared in a pot, so I brought it in.. I am hoping someone can ID it once it decides to bloom..It is everywhere on the leader wire it climbs..
*sigh* I keep thinking I am going to have to cut these things away from their journeys and take them outside soon..

I had cut stictocardia back to the bare bones, and now look at it.. it just wants to go again..

I really enjoy these tropicals, and have decided to make a little area to keep a few in down here.. I am going to surround a table with them and keep lights on during the day.. who cares about the bills, we might not get to enjoy them outside this summer, if it gets to dry or hot..
these are ready to go outside, these are gift pots that I have forced the bulbs up..

prita: Great show, you have some stunning plants! I really like that Aubutilon in the hanging basket! I've always loved the looks of those blooms but never see Abutilon for sale down this way ... probably don't like the heat and humidity.

We had our pool deck refinished a couple of years ago and they recommended that I use something like those rolling trays underneath the plants ... supposedly keeps the deck from getting stains when plants are watered. It does seem to keep the cement deck a bit cleaner since the pots aren't sitting right on the deck and it sure makes it easier to move plants around!

Debra: Your basement looks wonderful! I know what it's like to clean my little area, I can only imagine what you have to go through with so many plants! I'd never have more than probably two or three plants if I lived up north where I had to move them in and out, in and out ... I am one of very little patience sometimes, LOL. That MG is really pretty ... the seeds you sent me have sprouted and are growing fast. I can't wait for them to bloom!

Unfortunately we don't have basements down here to protect us from tornado's ... my city is only @ 9' above sea level so you can't dig too far before hitting water. :) I've been in Florida since 1967 and don't remember ever having threats of tornado's ... Hurricane's yes but never tornado's. For the past @ ten years we are having tornado threats more and more and it sure is scary. At least with canes' we have a few weeks warning and they can watch and more or less tell where it will make landfall giving everyone enough time to leave well in advance of the storm. With tornado's there isn't much warning sometimes. Space Shuttle Endeavor is on the launch pad preparing for the April 17th launch and on the news today there was a funnel cloud right at Kennedy Space Center but it apparently didn't touch down. One tornado ripped through a small airport in central florida today ... at least 40 small airplanes were destroyed ... luckily no one was seriously injured. Power has been knocked out in many areas and many, many huge trees uprooted or split in half.

Well, I'm dog sitting so I need to take the little guy outside one last time tonight.

... Nite' everyone!

Lin and Mjs, I sure hope the weather has settled down for you both and I am sorry to hear that there has been some damage to report due to Mother Natures fury. How are you and your horses Martha?

Rita, I am very glad you like the Ace of Spades and your A. brownii and longipeltatum are gorgeous. I've had my eye on a longipeltatum but have yet to bid on one. I would love to be able to grow a Typhonodorum or Cyrtosperma merkusii but my C. johnstonii has not proven itself to be a good candidate as a houseplant for an extended period of time. It's still alive though and trying its best to give me a new leaf.

Homer, great looking var. Wentii you have grown from only a 1" plug! You will enjoy growing that particular Alocasia.

Debra, you amaze me with how well you can grow so many plants and keep them all looking so healthy and thriving and that must be some special M.G being you do not know it's identity. It sure is a pretty one.

I use plant dollies for most of my larger plants. Makes it much easier to clean them and raises them up off the floor a little more.
Hope you all in Fl. are OK.

We are fine here...still have one fence line to check ( the new one ! ) but I couldn't get back there last night before dark.
Rachel - Horses were glad to come back up to their stalls in the afternoon to dry out and get out of the wind.

We got over 6 in. of MUCH needed rain - the rain gauge only holds 6 in. and it was overflowing.


Rita - I like your Aubutilon too !

Lin - I grow several both tiny and big. They did not even freeze to the ground, just lost their leaves. The little one Bella yellow only gets about 18 in. has already bloomed once and is setting seed pods and new buds on it.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62785/

The big one (gets about 10 feet tall) has buds/blooms.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/188205/

I have a 3rd on A. megapotamicum that I got in a trade last fall and is good for baskets or containers that I can't wait to see bloom.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59666/

You probably won't see them in nurseries around here, I can start one for you if you want.

Debra,
Maybe start unwinding your vines now, just take two stakes and wrap the vines around the outside till they are ready to go out. I do that when they start wandering around the greenhouse in the winter.

If that MG makes seeds for you will you keep me in mind ? Yummy !

Rita/Rachel ? My African mask is still not peeking up. It's in there and nice and solid but is still hiding.

White MG Bush Blooming

Oh, GOOD MORNING, everyone! Debra, I can't take your last red Crossandra!

Martha, I have the pink m.g. tree, but not the white - got any plants to trade?

Kay, I can send you a cutting they are super easy to root. I've got the pink already.

Well thanks! What can I send YOU?