GAgirl: I didn't even recognize your photo as Medinilla magnifica, it looks different than mine: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62134/ The leaves on yours look a lot larger than mine and they sure are pretty. I hope you will post another picture when the blooms open! I am going to mow the lawn and work outside tomorrow and I plan on getting my Medinilla magnifica from behind the shed and repotting it.
Rachel: Thanks! I love Croton's for the colorful rainbow foliage but they sure are temperamental when it comes to temperatures. I had a bunch of them, some that were 15 and 20 years old ... then the past two winters happened and every single one died except one that I found out in the yard a few days ago that is leafing out.
The Abutilon (Flowering Maple's) are gorgeous!
Tropical Garden #99
everyones blooms are gorgeous.. I hav'nt much to share as far as blooms go tropical..
I found these cool shrooms.. out in the nature preserve..
and this was blooming out there..
the native yellow baptisma was every where as well as the milkweeds of all kinds, but this old pencil cactus in the barn was his great great aunts, and he was challenged with it he said,,
These are deer antlers, from the rutting season every year he has collected.. I didn't know they shed them and then grew new ones, did you? I took a shot of a heard of deer running thru the fields, but the mist and lateness of the evening made it turn into a fuzzy blob, go figure. we were in these cool japan things with the steering wheel on the right and they held two people each and had a sort of trailer type bed in back, well anyway, I yelled STOP! a lot as I hopped out to see a plant I spied..
This am I had a bloom to make me smile..
GAgirl, That magnifica is really something.
Joeswife, Pretty wild flower, Ric could probably ID that Mushroom for you. We just lent our ID book to my son's girl, so I can't look it up. I do know that a picture of that mushroom or one very like it in on the front of the book. Just love those grey colored MG. I have several pkg of MG seeds to start.
Well most of them came as very small plugs and we transplanted them into larger cells. Did I post a pic of the flats bench Ric built for me? Most of them are on that . I have about 500 marigolds and 300 asylum. My drive way is filling up fast with those and other plants I have started from seeds. I have started potting up perennials from my yard to take to plant swaps so now those are stacking up there as well as a few small shrubs that I haven't decided where to plant. . The Caladiums are coming this week.
So after I filled up the flats bench he built me. He put together this one from extra bricks and metal slats. I have this one filled now with a couple of flats upstairs and in the garage under lights.
Good morning! Deb, those mushrooms look like the native Morels - I LOVE them, rinsed in salt water, allowed to air dry and fried in bacon grease - YUM!
Thanks Rachel, I hope to have a "miniature" bunch of bananas the end of July!
HollyAnnS, You "flat" out Rock!
I don't know the name of that Orchid. When Sis was ill she asked me to go to her house and get all the plants and take them home to care for them till she was better....unfortunately she never got to go home. I've got several more, some very nice different and some fairly common. I will keep them all tho and when ever they are blooming I feel like she's still here.
My little Nong Nooch Vine is making flowers...can't wait to see them !
Doggone it! I had typed a long post and lost it again! Grrrr. I don't think it was the new laptop this time but rather me clicking on the wrong button.
Debra: Nice pic's from the nature preserve! Those mushrooms do indeed look like Morel's and are edible. Do you know the name of the pretty blue wildflower pictured here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=8520607 It sure looks familiar ... very pretty! Love your MG ... mine (from seeds you sent) has buds so I can't wait to see what the flowers look like! Wow, that guy has a nice collection of Antler's ... what does he do with them? I can envision orchid and bromeliads mounted to them, LOL. Oh, that "Pencil Cactus" in your photo looks like one I have, either a Rhipsalis or Hatiora, can't remember which.
HollyAnn: Your Ric did a fabulous job on that bench, really nice! Looks like you are going to be a busy gal with all those trays of plants! I forgot to order Caladiums in the co-op this year but did notice a few ears popping up in one flower bed and containers from last year so I guess the cold winter didn't do them all in!
I just noticed the Bloom of the Day ... Wow, a beautiful MG Bloom: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/botd.php
Homer, LOL
Lynn, It is all built from scrap wood he has collected. Some of those plants will go to the 2 DG Plant Swaps we will attend and some will go to the HGHA picnic. Some will go to my parents and children's yards. There will be plenty to plant here as well.
Debra, I think the blue wildflower might be native blue flax - Linum Perenne - it has that lovely fine feathery foliage, and what a beautiful color! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/260/
My daughter scored a bunch of those in her garden in Salt Lake - she broadcast a packet of 'wildflower mix' in a dry corner, and the flax was all that made it. They are popping up all over her garden now, though.
dyzzy: Good eye in identifying Debra's wildflower as being Flax. I had no clue but I sure do like that flower! I found a site for Kansas Wildflowers with some really beautiful photo's! Under the blue flowers I only found one Flax listed - Norton's flax, Linum pratense: http://www.kswildflower.org/flower_details.php?flowerID=200 and Plant Files has it as "Meadow Flax: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/137534/
Debra: Just in case you want to bookmark this site, here's the link: http://www.kswildflower.org/
I wish every state had a website like that ... great for identifying native wildflowers but also fun to just browse through all the beautiful photo's!
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is in Austin, Texas. Their website is super.
LouC: I can't find their website ... it seems to take me to another location, but Texas sure does have some Amazing wildflowers: http://www.google.com/search?q=texas+wildflowers&hl=en&prmd=ivnsb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=s-K2Tb8-zaC3B5qevZwB&sqi=2&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1414&bih=786
http://texaswildflowerpictures.com/wf_index.htm
LouC: Were you able to get Iphoto to cooperate with uploading to DG?
Lin, google found Lady Bird's wildflower site - would you believe they are www.wildflower.org ??
Seems there are lots of different Blue Flax-es. Debra's might be Linum lewisii according to wildflower.org http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LILE3
dyzzy: That's the one I tried but when I click on the link this is what I get, a list of stuff with message in tiny print that says wildflower.org expired 4/19/11 and is pending renewal or deletion ... weird. I tried to take a screenshot to show what I'm getting, let's see if this works:
/www.wildflower.org/
I have forgotten how to format so it makes a link. If you "google" Lady Bird Johnson wildflower center it is the first in the list. Recently it was put under the umbrella of The University of Texas to give it more financial stability. Can't remember the name but there is also a wildflower farm in Fredericksburg, Texas where they grow fields to harvest seed. It is sold all over the world.
We have much to thank Lady Bird. It was her initiative that stopped more billboards and junkyards along the highways. Instead she was instrumental in developing the plans to plant wildflowers. At this time our roads are arrayed with bluebonnets, buttercups (evening primrose) Indian paint brush, and two mixes of yellow. A short drive into East Texas will take your breathe away.
I did know that elk and deer shed their antlers. They make great dog chews. Much safer than bones or rawhide.
I googled Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center earlier today and got the same page as above. It's really strange, I don't know what's going on ... may be a glitch with this new laptop of mine.
LouC, my favorite saying is one from Lady Bird Johnson: "Where Flowers Bloom, So Does Hope."
I remember 42 years ago when my husband had to report to San Diego for school with the Navy. We made the drive cross country in February and returned to Florida in April ... the roadways through Texas were an Amazing sight with beautiful blues and yellows as far as the eye could see!
The farm in Fredericksburg is wildseed farms. www.wildseedfarms.com
It really is beautiful there too.
the kansas native wild flower site is on my favorites all the time and I use it all the time, it is a great site and Mike Haddock takes excellant pictures. I am pleased I was able to be given a handfull of those seeds and they are already scattered.
I have invited mike Haddock to come to Daves and help us with plant files , but he refuses.. something about plagarism .. i have no clue.. LOL
It is still rainey and cold, ( to me) but most of the plants seem to be enjoying it.
I took a few pic's this afternoon.
Begonia 'My Special Angel':
Macro shot of the blooms of Begonia 'Torch':
Begonia 'Louis Burke':
"Yellow Bells" - Tecoma stans has just one bloom:
Ok ... last one. Have a great night everyone!
Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender':
Lin,
I remember my mom planting those Torch begonias every year in Mobile, Al.
She loved those, Zinnias and Chrysanthemums.
Homer: The Torch Begonia is a popular one. Mine is in a hanging basket but I should put it in the ground where it could take off and grow large.
your begonias are beautiful, Lin. I can't wait for all of mine to bloom again, as well as my Mona pleckanthrus.
Tina, that is an awsome link, thank you.
Welcome to the Tropical Forum and Daves Garden, Sharon! Glad you are okay! Do you have any tropicals ?
Debra: That is a gorgeous bloom!!
Try the wildflower site again today. When I went to it yesterday they mentioned that the site had been down several hours.
Thanks, Debra -- I have a little bit of everything! I'm always on the lookout for abutilons and lantanas -- although up here in zone 7, lugging the posts in an out each year is a killer!
Sharon