Tropical Garden #114

It took me forever to skim the #113 thread so I'm starting a new one. We came from here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1228189/

phughes, what is that gorgeous plant?

Yes, I think me and Alice may need one...right Alice? That's beautiful!

I agree - I need one, too! How about some cuttings, Patty?

Drew, your pics from the last thread are just gorgeous! Almost unbelievable how huge your AeAe grew in one year, isn't it. I like how the unfurling leaf looks like it has spiral variegation.

I have all my big brugs in bloom but can't get a picture of them because it gets dark so early and I keep forgetting to jump out there right at dusk when the flowers are opening. It sure smells good out there, and when we're sleeping with the windows open the scent wafts in.

Here's the old noid pink one, at least.

Thanks Elaine, Keeping fingers crossed for a flower next year ( keeping in mind that I need to get it through the winter) along with some "babies". I have some winterization pictures that I will post today!

Lovely picture Phughes!

Since TG is family time, here's my little family of begonia babies I am nurturing for next year.

Clockwise from the top - Looking Glass, Alba odora, Lucerne, Sophie Cecile, Don Miller and Gryphon.

dyzzy, I love the Begonia's you sent, but Don Miller is my favorite ! I'm thinking I'll need to be looking for the Gryphon also.
Here's a new one for me
Corey Corwin...

Well after posting a bunch of pics on the last thread I'm catching up to this thread !!
Hoya lacunosa...necter dripping looks like it's blowing bubbles.

Wow, that's a really 'sweet' lookin Hoya, Mj.

Here's my Monster White blooming wonderfully.

And Charles Grimaldi. The brugs don't bloom as often once the days are shorter and nights get cool. But the flowers last almost twice as long, which is wonderful.

But here's what's really great about gardening in subtropical Florida. Cherry tomatoes - this is just two plants in an Earth Box, and I swear they've been growing a foot a day since we've had this warm weather. Flowers and fruit on there already, too. If I can keep them setting fruit through Dec. and January I'll have these plants producing until May (but I'll have to prune them, obviously) I've got broccoli heading up already and cauliflower getting ready to. Yum. The Earth Box with the red cover is just about to be planted with more broccoli.

That is a dombeya seminole or a tropical hydrangea bush I got it at Zone 9 Tropicals. I have never tried to do cuttings on it. I have to ask Wayne (zone 9 owner) how hard they are to take cuttings on.

Here's the link:

http://www.zone9tropicals.com/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=30194dd946155f1d6858cf90f238aa06&search_in_description=1&keywords=dombeya&osCsid=30194dd946155f1d6858cf90f238aa06&x=0&y=0

Thanks for that information, Patty - I might just order one!

Hello Everyone!!
I have been a little under the weather lately but wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving to EVERYONE - we have SO MUCH to be thankful for! Rita, I hope you're feeling well again soon!

I echo what KayJones says.. feel better soon, Rita, and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone ..

Deb, do you have Mexican Flame vine?

KayJones, I have a tag, but can't tell if it is alive or not.. do they go dormant?

I miss everyone,
I'm still preparing to move...I hope for something good...
Fern is now 5ft with trunk and mutating in to a dual top.

the mutation-
not sure what is going to happen. Don't have the heart to even talk about it. If there is a higher being, let me stay.

Given to a good home...you all must imagine ..parceling out your heart....
anyway..enough dramatics..but it was good..right?!!

This message was edited Nov 23, 2011 11:05 PM

I'm in pain and have indecision.
I'm 51, love this house and garden, place and time.
Older folks will tell me it will work out...and it will,
but.....I feel like I'm following a dollar to fulfillment of things unfulfilled.
My soul is screaming mistake...My moods dream of wonderful memories, and rebel to future folly.
Just say no, seems a phrase to listen too, and not for the plants that it may have been intended.
I need comfort..help.

RJ...to feel such sorrow at leaving a place you love, and have spent so much time, heart and energy in is to be understood. It is your HOME..which to me is so much more than a piece of land with a house on it.
Good Luck with your new venture, and hopefully you'll find a new place to build a wonderful garden in.

Oh RJ, I wish I could say something to make it feel better, but knowing how hard it is to leave what you love, I will Pray for you, as I know how you love your Gardens and your Haven...
Just take it with you, make it work.. I know you can.

RJ, my heart goes out to you also, such a big decision but I know you will come to the right one. Sadly, in these economic times job security is a precious commodity. It will allow you to maintain your gardening lifestyle wherever you land and you will always have a fabulous garden.

RJ, I'm sorry for what you are going through, but I can help - come and live at my house! I just know you will be Blessed with an even BETTER place to grow your gorgeous plants - keep the faith, my Friend!

RJ,
I completely understand what you are going through. I lived in Okinawa for 5 years and wanted to be an expat there. My husband decided that he wanted to live in the states again. We moved to Minot North Dakota which is a complete opposite of Okinawa. I cried the entire flight to North Dakota. Although it took me a year or so, I was able to appreciate the North Dakota for its beauty, the difficulty growing the plants that I wanted to have, but especially the wonderful people who I came to know and love. Regardless of whether you stay or go, you do have the love of the people on DG. We will help you any way that we possible can, down to having a place for you to visit, raising your babies for you, keeping your plants for you until you are able to take them back, or/and sending you plants and seeds from our gardens. You are a wonderful person who has helped many of us on here, so please let us help you too. Don't despair we are here for you.

Listen to your heart, RJ! Nuff said

Well said, Tina and Homer! I agree - we are here for you, Randy!!! TALK to us!!!

Does anyone know what kind of palm this is? I grew it from seeds I picked up at the Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens in Port Orange, FL a few years ago. That is not too far from Martha's home, I don't think. The seeds were bright red and I found them in late November.

Hm, looks like an Adonidia or 'Christmas Palm' to me. They're called Christmas Palm because of the pretty red seeds they carry in Nov. and December.

Those are what we had at the end of our driveway before the last two bad winters. They died from the cold, despite my efforts to revive them. So keep those babies warm!

Here's my Hibiscus Acetocella in bloom

Thanks, I'll look them up. I have two, one in the ground and this one in the container. They have been outside for the past 5 years but they have been slow growers, the cold probably retards their growth.

Still on my tryptophan high! Good morning; my neighbors!

Wow some catching up to do...love love love the pictures and mjsponies that is one neat looking Hoya. I have a Princess Hoya I bought this past spring but has never bloomed, no sign of flowers.

I have to agree with the warm weather, my bell, chili and jalapeño peppers are busting out with blooms...I just hope it stays this nice.


Someone asked about Mexican flame vine...mine is just now busting out with flowers...it does seem to go into dormancy or just freezes down, but comes back in spring and completely covers the trellis by now, each day I swear it grows another five inches. Here is a photo of the flower cluster...

This is a very nice tropical that has been in my garden for many years. I bought this lonely plant at Lukas gardens and have never seen another quite like it. Freezes to the ground but comes back fuller each year. It starts blooming in the late spring and gets more blossoms as the summer goes on and is the most beautiful in December...this photo taken Nov. 18th..

Red firecracker plant... Russelia sarmentosa http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59718/

close up of the blooms

That's a lovely thing, Sherri. Any chance you've tried propagating it? Looks like something that might start from cuttings or a little root division.

My funny little coral Barleria is blooming now. It's a sort of shrubby groundcover that has spread itself around in the front yard, under my lychee tree. Seems to be self-seeding.

Right, Sherri - any cuttings to trade? I have Russelia equisetiformis, in red and also yellow, but it looks crappy year around - I'd toss mine for yours any day! LOL

beautiful tropicals and a welcome sight for sickies like me atm..