Patty, I will say to you what I said to my future husband, while we were apart and he was dating 'the other woman' LOL! I told him to just write out the pros and cons for each of us and see who wins - OF COURSE, I did. You do have a half a climate zone better than me, so may the best 'gardener' win!!! Rita, I want you - Patty NEEDS you - which is better?!!! Love ya, Patty!!!
Tropical Garden #114
Candela, I feel your angst. In late August the microwave, dishwasher, and the washer and dryer all went within 2 weeks, it was painful. I do not have a tankless HW heater - yet - but we suspect that appliance will go any day now also. We have a neighborhood intranet and folks are always putting that same question about the tankless heaters out to the community. The neighbors who have them love them and I have not heard any real complaints other than the fact that those who have the Rinnai (?) brand seem to be the most satisfied.
I can assure you, buying plants is far more pleasurable than buying appliances. Good luck.
Cassie, we put in a tankless hot water heater at our other house,and just loved it! My DH the engineer researched it thoroughly before we did it, and the ones that operate on gas are 'way more energy-efficient than electric ones, too. So if you already have gas supply to your house, definitely go that route. We sadly moved from that house to one that does not have gas even on the street here, so we are back to a tank, but we got the fancy heat-exchanger tank and it works well too.
Your white begonia is lovely, does it have a fragrance?
I hope everyone will forgive me for the next few days. I try to never post without a picture, but can't post pictures right now. My big computer blew a razzberry this morning when i started it up, and my son the other computer geek said "turn it offf or it's toast!" So I am communicating on my tiny little notebook until DH gets home from Singapore.
The evil computer gods know when my support guy is halfway around the world,it seems.
Oh, yeah, and I hope Rita is thinking of moving closer to me, too. I have lots of her plants already going here . . . houses are still dirt cheap, too!
LOL, Ladies!!!!! Rita finds herself a wanted woman!!!!
I just read about a new Musa called 'Mekong Giant' that is said to be as hardy as the M. Basjoo, zone 6. It was developed by Brian Williams and Plant Delights has some young ones growing out. It has reddish purple stems. Sounds interesting and it looks like the window of where bananas will grow is opening up a bit.
did someone say it was Patties birthday? HAPPY BIRTHDAY! some thing is blooming downstairs, can't tell if it is a bromliad from KayJones or something from Elaine, will post pics tonight have to run off to work, keep posting pretty pics.
I keep going to tropiflora to look at stuff during breaks at work, at least that site is not blocked!
Cassie, your Mom looks great under that huge leaf, I have never had one get THAT big before..
wow, I have wanted a Ipomoea horsfalliae, too, did you grow that from seed? how cool!
okay, ya' all stay warmer than me today..
Rita won't let me sneak by without a birthday; I keep hoping that if I don't acknowledge it; I don't have to add another year to my age count.
Kay I had to laugh when I read your post; I'm hoping that since Ken (Rita's DH) is a big fisherman and likes the Rockport area, I might win by his vote too.
Happy Birthday Patty, was hoping I'd have some new blooms open but some things are keeping me in suspense...Hoya's, and Hawaiian Sunset Vine are being little Scrouges...and just teasing me !
I'm sure you'll be happy, wherever you move!
Elaine, That's about the going rate on the AeAe
Alice, With mulch, I believe you could grow most bananas over there, don't you?
Thanks Cassie! It's hell when you have to fly 2 hours on your B'day to a funeral for your two best friends father that you have known close to 50 yrs.!!! Made the best of it though! Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Drew, I believe you. I figure the $16 I save on shipping plus supporting my local grower, getting my pick of the litter, and saving the plant the trauma of packaging and travel is worth the wait. Plus by spring maybe DH will have helped me clear out the space where I want to plant it.
Still have Salvia 'Coral Nymph" blooming plus brugs putting out buds! Yeah! Florida winter rocks (at least so far . . ).
Yes Drew, I can overwinter many bananas and I have a banana research facility nearby in Savannah that evaluates cold hardiness.
With the exception of the M. Velutina, the bananas I grow are strictly for fruit. Last winter was so bad I did not get any. I also need to grow the shorter varieties like Gold Finger, Sweetheart and the dwarfs. When I grow the taller varieties I have a neighbor that complains about the shredded leaves, it is very windy here and nana leaves shred easily.
If anyone is still looking for an AeAe I have a friend who may still have one or two. His plants are top notch and his prices are better than that eBay listing.
Drew, so sorry for your friends, and your, loss.
Do the shredded leaves fall in his yard Alice? Does he not like the look of them?
No, it is a woman and she says they look messy. They do not even live next door to us but she has to pass the house coming and going, she is just a witch with a B. When we had 12'+ towering basjoos I admit they did look unkempt, There was no way I could get up there to trim the shredded leaves off and I do not use a landscaper, DH and I do it all and we are both getting too old for the big stuff so shorter bananas work for us, the ones where the trunk stays around 6' or 7'.
Alice, just ignore her or tell her if she wants to pay for a landscaper to 'clean up your yard', bring him on!
Funny part is that the bananas are not in my garden proper, they are growing on a vacant lot we own adjacent to our home. We keep it clean and mulched so no weeds take over and all my fruit trees are over there. Most of the neighbors love it because they enjoy the bounty and the other two vacant lots on our street are weedy, brushy places where the deer and the snakes hang out.
As I said, ignore her - some people aren't happy unless they're unhappy!
That woman sounds like one who would volunteer for your HOA Board, Alice. Nuff said, you all know my feelings on that.
I'm having Coleus Confusion! I bought a little start of a hybrid coleus "Florida Sun Rose' this spring. It had pretty leaf markings and purple, pink and yellow in various splashy combos with green serrated edges.
It grew into a humungous plant and toppled over one day breaking off a few branches. Of course I rooted the broken pieces and started a bunch of new plants in pots, and also in the flower borders. As the weather heated up they all reverted (I thought) to green leaves with dark purple in the middle.
Now I have at least a dozen plants around and as the temps cooled, the colors have come back, so that no two are the same, it seems. I'm not complaining as they're supplying lots of pretty color right now. It's just curious. Anybody else have this happen with a hybrid coleus?
All these different color forms came from one little start.
They are in different light levels, and various soilswhich might account for the wild variations. I have not fertilized any of them since the end of May.
One more
Oh and did I say anyone wanting starts of this wild thing? It's prolific and easy care.
Hello Everyone!!
I am sorry for my tardiness but Christmas is getting in the way of my gardening. I hate shopping!!
dyzzy, your pictures make me want to take a carribean trip, my dh is the diver/ snorkler in the family, maybe after the holidays. I have the coleus that you sent me, still going in the GH. If it does not survive the winter, I will take you up on your offer, I love growing them!
candela, love that picture of your mom under the EE. I too, took my mom to Mary Shelby in Sarasota. She was like a little kid in a candy store.
homer, you are correct, that is a Gloriosum.
I am sure that your friends appreciate your presence and will remember your kindness for a long time. I wish you lots of very Happy Birthdays in the future.
Kay Jones, Patty, you're a hoot . This moving thing has been going on for quite a while now. We are taking our time making sure that we get it right the first time. Ken's, #1 priority is access to good fishing and diving. Mine is a small house because I hate housework and a Great Big GH.
mjsponies, I thoroughly enjoyed the Hoya link!! I will be refering to it often. I saw quite a few "must have" Hoyas.
ardesia, this is a new plant from Tropiflora.
Rita, have him do a google search for fishing and diving in the Florida Panhandle - we have a Navy base here and they taught the guys special unit that killed ole what's his name! We have tons of small houses, selling for a song - you had BETTER do your homework!!!!!
Well, the next week is going to be beyond Crazy for me. So now, to everyone of every faith and demoniation, I wish you good luck, Happy New Year, Merry , Merry Christmas, and Happy Holiday of your choice. All I can sat us that the Powers that be are good to you, That Love Comes your way, and may you ever grow the perfect plant in your garden. I cannot say how much I look forward to each and every day of the many/few posts there might be. I CAN say that most certainly appreciate any/all info passed on to me. Thank you again and a Happy and Merry New Year to You..No matter WHAT it means to You !!
Ahhh, Martha - THANK YOU, and the same wish goes out to you!
I absolutely love lurking on this thread. I live but a few miles from Rita and cannot grow anything she does. I still like to listen to all of you and "look at the pictures". Like a kid in a candy store.
Christi
Now Kay--you quit giving Rita ideas. I've told you. She's moving to South Texas, not Florida. LOL I've already decided; besides Ken is familiar with the fishing in our area. hahahahaha
Ok - I surrender!
I beginning to wonder if she is going to move at all . . . come on Rita . . .what's the status . . . is Kenneth still talking about moving or have you guys put it on hold.
They're probably googling 'NW Florida fishing and diving' - can't play a fair game without all the cards on the table!!!! ROFLMAO!!!!!
Hey boy am i behind...
LOL, James - I never catch up either!
LOL guess were alike in that way.....
Thanks to Elaine for getting me to the correct thread, somehow I got lost and the old thread was popping up on my Home page. Anyway I sure had a lot to catch up on and love all the pictures of the blooms that the warm weather has been giving to the plants. The hoya bloom is especially interesting.
As I said in the old thread, my dad started two Brug rootings for me from his neighbors plant. He gave them to me for Christmas and they are only five inches tall, I'm excited to get some. Says they are a pink or peach color. I did bring the little babies in last night since wasn't sure how cold it was going to get, but only dipped to 43 and no frost. How low of temps can I leave them outside? Next week I'm going to be gone and one night shows 38°, and most in the low 40's.
Anyway glad to find ya all again...hope everyone had a great Christmas. Today my mom and pop have been married 55 years...how bout that?
Sherri
Congratulations to your Mom and Pop, Sherri!
Sherri, what a nice gift from your Dad! I would keep the baby brugs indoors if the nights are below about 55. That way they will keep growing and making roots so they'll really take off when you plant them outside in the spring. Little plants are much more tender than big ones. Do you have somebody coming in to water plants while you are away?
My big ones survive the low temps just fine, but they are in big huge pots or in the ground, so have more insulation. I do throw something (like a sheet or frost cloth) over them if the temps are going below 40. Mulch the heck out of the bases of the two in the ground. They will slow down, but two out of four that are in the garden are still blooming, somewhat slower than usual, but . . I'm not complaining. We just barely dipped below 50 last night, so I didn't have to cover any but the brug babies that are out in my raised veggie bed.
btw you still have one more thread to catch up - this is #114 and we're well into #115 . . Elaine
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This message was edited Dec 29, 2011 12:14 PM
