Blooming & Growing in August

One of my prized gingers, Cucuma alismatifolia bloomed! It's a beauty! Don't know the cultivar - been trying to compare it to other pictures in PlantFiles. The actual flower it's producing doesn't really match anything in there.

My Ceropegia woodii went from seed to flower in about 6 months! I was amazed .. this flower is 1.25 inches long!!!

I bought a few Curcuma alismatifolias back in June and I put them in my perennial garden. I left them in their containers, because I was afraid they wouldn't be cold hardy. Did you mulch this ginger? I placed some of mine in full sun, and they're a much deeper pink than those in part shade. Will be moving them all to more shade soon. Beautiful pics - that closeup of the C. woodi is so exotic. I love your penchant for growing small, exotic flowers.

This message was edited Aug 5, 2011 10:14 AM

NOID canna

I received the alismatifolia whatevers (bulb? rhizome?) last fall .. I don't really know what to call them because they were round and white, not really looking like the regular hidden ginger rhizomes. I potted them up and kept them in the greenhouse .. would dig them up ever few months and there was absolutely no change in them - I was beginning to wonder if someone had mistaken nitrogen nodules for bulbs .. In late march they started coming up! I had totally given up on them .. just glad I didn't toss them. They are in full sun and seem to be doing well .. I'm definitely going to be overwintering them in the greenhouse this year - way too dear to risk .. once they multiply a bit I may leave one out during the winter to see how they fare. The label on this one was Choco Top but it's definitely not Choco Top .. the other plant, which hasn't bloomed yet is suppose to be the Candy Cane.

Love your canna, but quit growing them a few years ago because I just got tired of fighting the leaf rollers which are so bad here. Hedychium gingers have taken their place.

Without realizing it, I've started collecting Ceropegia .. I never realize the Rosary Vine was a Ceropegia .. I've now got the woodii, sandersoniae and ampliata. Would dearly love to find a haygarthii and stapeliiformis.

This message was edited Aug 5, 2011 1:14 PM

I just realized I misidentified my ginger. It's Siam Tulip (curcuma alisnatifloria), and the tag said cold hardy to 10f. Still, I have my doubts and will probably bring it indoors this winter.
So far, my leaf roller problem isn't as bad as last year. Just wish I could remember the names of the cannas I'm growing.

This message was edited Aug 5, 2011 4:46 PM

Woodlanders Red bottlebrush.

love both of your pics!!! Jeanne - I know I've got the curcuma you gave me potted and ready to come in for fall - not taking a chance again this year as the ones Tropicana grew for years in NC and me for 4 yrs after that in Newberry bit the dust this year..I was hopeful the one I dug and split would do something but alas it has not - but it's not mush yet either so I'm bringing that pot in also...can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on the Siam you gave me...it's in full bloom right now with 8 info's showing...I even picked up two light pink ones at home depot two weeks ago I was so taken with what you gave me...I split one and it all sold in one day at the market :)~

Thanks, Deanna. I think I'm going to to leave one curcuma inground and heavily mulch it. I'm hoping this winter doesn't have prolonged cold as last winter winter did. Do you know the proper way to overwinter ginger rhizomes? I'm asking because I've noticed ginger I use for cooking shrivels up on me, regardless of whether I store it in the fridge or counter top. I find it interesting and counter intuitive that the color of this ginger is much deeper in full sun than shade. My mom and I dropped by the farmer's market one day last week, and she was quite impressed with your beautiful selection of plants for sale.

Another NOID canna

Ack! You're almost making me miss the canna! Almost. I had a large L shaped canna bed. After I got tired of fighting leaf rollers I offered it up on Craigs list for free. I placed the ad around 8 am and within 1 hour had about 15 requests for it .. by 11 am it was totally gone! Gotta love Craigs List!

aww I'm sorry I missed you! did you notice I put a few shrimp plants out? I had several requests for them so I'm thinking we really need to put our heads together this winter and grow out some plants to make some mad money with next spring (mad meaning spring florence show LOL)

and the butterfly ginger starts... :)

milkweed awaits company...

Palmate Hib blooms continue but no seeds yet...argghh

They did look pretty, MmeX! The leaf rollers are at their worst in late August. I need to get out there and cut away those leaves that are harboring leaf rollers. But it's so hot and tomorrow is another (hot) day:-)
Yet another NOID canna.

We were sorry to miss you, too, Deanna, but we'll be back. We're both impressed by your entrepreneurship and your ability to handle the heat. I have lots of ideas concerning plants we could easily root or grow from seed - we must get together. I know Cassia Alata would also sell like hotcakes. My butterfly gingers are large, but no blooms yet. I think they need a little more sun. Love your palmate hibiscus - it's my favorite perennial hibiscus. And milkweed is so pretty - another plant we could grow to sell. V. tapioca would also be a hit. Can you tell my mind is racing? LOL

This message was edited Aug 7, 2011 8:55 AM

This message was edited Aug 7, 2011 8:59 AM

My hedychiums are just starting to put on buds .. you're way ahead of me on those! The Curcuma Hidden Gingers have been blooming as well as the Spiral Costus.

I love the Yellow/Red of the milkweed. My Luna Pink Swirl is doing better this year with giving me seeds .. probably because I help them have sex.

And if anyone needs more Cassia seeds, I have elebenty hundred of them - be happy to send half for postage.

glad I could get your mind racing Jeanne... :) Anne - if Jeanne doesn't have a lot of seeds of it I will be glad to take u up on your offer! off to do school shopping...

Just say the word .. btw .. these guys will stay viable beyond 10 years! I had harvested some from my parents yard in Lauderdale in 2000 and didn't start planting any until 2 years ago and every last one of them came up! I planted a 20 from that same batch this year to sell on craigs list (and you're right .. people gobble them up fast) and every one came up. But the seeds I'll send to you were harvest in 2009.

I should have lots of seeds, Deanna. I have 6 or 7 plants growing, and the largest is over 6' tall and growing long branches. I had to shore up several that were toppling over. I also have one that I didn't plant, but it sprung up next to a 'neglected' area in my yard - I must have dropped a seed. Anyway, although it's small, it's already beginning to bloom. I have pics, but I can't find them. Did find a pic of my saucer magnolia that's blooming again. This young tree was under ground vole attack, while another, vole free, is lush and full of leaves, but has no flowers.

That's good to know,MmeX. As you know, I ordered seeds from a seller in S Fl last spring. They all sprouted, but became limp, flopped over, and died. I came upon a cassia that I overwintered on my crowded backporch, and it had produced a couple nice seed pods, from which I sprouted a dozen seeds. I think it was too cool at night when I started my first batch of seeds.

This message was edited Aug 7, 2011 12:03 PM

Unknown hydrangea. Used Carl Pool fertilizer on this in the spring, and it's blooming better than ever.

Picked this morning, now in the fridge waiting for a sandwich!

Entlie - your hydrangea reminds me of my 'limelight' hydrangea..

Red, good to know. I always save the tags for my garden file, but somehow I failed to keep any information, and I have three of them!

Entlie, we need that recipe! Pleeeeze

Jeanne, if that magnolia came back from the dead it probably thought it was coming out of dormancy again. Poor plants are so confused by everything these days.

Pickled Peppers: (You might want to try a small batch to see if you like them first)
Pick peppers. Wash them and slice them. I get rid of most of the seeds, but keep some.
Pack into clean jars, but not smashed down hard
Heat white vinegar (2 parts) to water (1 part)
Add some sugar to your taste (I use 1/3 cup Splenda loose to 4 cups vinegar and 2 cups water)
Add a little kosher salt (you don't need much). You can add herbs but I don't usually.
Taste the brine as it heats up and make adjustments. If you like it bring it to a boil.
Pour over peppers and seal.
Will keep in fridge several months at this point, or you can use canning jars and lids and
process for about 30 minutes in a water bath.
I used a combination of peppers (sweet banana, hot banana and a few jalapenos thrown in)
Be sure to use new vinegar from the grocery store. My daughter tried this with vinegar she'd had in her cupboard for a while and the taste wasn't right.
Enjoy!
Entlie

Yum .. sounds good!

Another case of a stressed plant blooming, Alice. I'm enjoying the flower's encore performance, and I've stomped all around the small tree to destroy vole tunnels and release frustration:-)

Your pickled peppers are so pretty and colorful, Entlie. Got me thinking about field peas and rice.

There is an organic grower at our Farmers Market that always has so many beautiful peppers. I know what I am going to buy next market day. Thanks!

budding Turtlehead

Evergreen Wisteria - Love those intense colors.

NOID canna. Was told it was 'bird of paradise' canna, but can only find info about other cannas when I google it.

All of these are beautiful! I love the turtlehead. My daughter (sstateham on this forum) gave me one last year - I planted it by the pond but it didn't survive the winter.
Entlie

Thanks, Entlie. Sorry you lost your turtlehead. When I lose perennials, the first thing I do is check for ground voles. I had some that were under vole attack last year, so I didn't water this year and they seem to be spreading. They're very cold hardy - I think to 20 below. I'd consider giving them another try:-)

I think the problem with turtleheads is the heat, they can't take it. I am surprised yours are doing so well in the midlands. I have always admired the large turtleheads that grow in the mountains.

I'm also not watering mine, ardesia, even though they like it wet. Anybody else successfully growing turtleheads out there?

Every August this big mushroom pays us a visit, in the same place, in deep, dry shade.

Oh my! That's incredible! I wonder what it's feeding off of .. might have been a long gone tree there.