Tropical garden #121

Drew,
Mine are nowhere near yours, but I am quite proud of my mickey mouse

Second - Philo. gloriosum

Third - Drew, one of yours, can you ID...lost tag

Fourth - Can you ID this?

Mystery philo with red stems from Cassie. It looks to be a runner, like the Gloriosas. It has crawled across this pot and now is looking for something to climb, maybe?

This might be The Answer to what will cover up the big, ugly stump. IF it will live in mostly shade, and climb up the nice rough bark.

Paula, Third... Variegated Macrorrhizos
Fourth... Looks like Philo. pastazanum. With the way Philos. morph, there really is no telling. Rachel or Rita probably know.

Mickey is jamming. P. gloriosum?...is rocking also.


Elaine, Definitely looks like it wants to climb. Looks to me like Philo. 'Painted Lady', it should do well.

Hikaro, Thankfully they usually come in threes!

This message was edited Jun 28, 2012 12:02 PM

Thanks Drew!!

Wow, Ben that's a lot of disasters to come along all at once. You've earned a reprieve.

Drew I don't think that philo's going to be variegated, see the mature leaves are solid, very rich green. New leaves are anemic because all the fert has been washed away. It certainly has the red stems like 'Painted Lady' though.

Anyway, I'm going to plant it by the stump and see what happens.

Thanks for the support, guys! BTW, I forgot to mention that one of my relatives from out of town was also in last week. Sunday afternoon, we went on an evening walk and it was dark by the time we got back, so I actually got to see our Yucca filamentosa flowers fully open for a change, and I even spotted a Yucca Moth!

Anyways, I had to water all the plants I have potted up because it's been hot and dry here the past few days... My poor hardy banana was looking rather sad when I got home from work. I forgot to take a pic of the recently discovered Rose of Sharon, so I'll try to do that tomorrow....

Nice zinger Elaine..... time will tell on the Philo.

Hello gardening friends!
Awesome pictures everyone!!!!

Jeri11, love your fish pot and your fountain is just beautiful, that is a great idea.
What is the name of your hibiscus from logee? It's not one you see everyday, if the grasshoppers would leave my buds alone, I would have a few blooms to show.

GAgirl1066, thanks for the show, the Begonia listada is one I will try to find. They are my new obsession this year. Love your plant stands as well.

dyzzy, I am getting jealous of your variegated ginger it is nice, the brutal sun here in Texas has cooked the leaves on mine.
Your Philo. could be a Andersons Red.
http://www.briansbotanicals.net/product.html?id=21

1.Tibouchina grandifolia, even without flowers this plant is interesting with big velvety round leaves.
2.Papaya from Rj.
3.Red Hot cattail

Joeswife, a girl has to do what must be done to protect her plants, you should see my yard with shadecloth everywhere. My fingers are crossed that your chalice vine will give you tons of bloooms this year.

ardesia, the scent of hedychiums through the bedrooom window reminds me of my childhood days. Love your favorite coleus, did your hibiscus tillaceus ever bloom for you?

The Stephanotis and the Nong Noch vines are starting to bloom.

homer,I enjoy viewing your nice big healthy plants, I went back to check on the Borneo Giant and saw a new Alocasia Archetype Paisley that you bought from Botanical growers. What a beauty!! I tried to purchase one but their site seems to be down.

Ben, it seems as if it is going to be smooth sailing from now on with all the disasters out of the way.
Congratulations on your new home and wedding!!
Good job on saving the Rose of Sharon, I have other colors if you would like a few for your new garden.

This message was edited Jun 29, 2012 7:43 PM

TAlK about healthy... Very nice Rita! 104 here today... 100's till Tuesday... Brutal! Water twice a day for 2-21/2 hours in addition to misting 4-5 times a day.

Rita, such lovely pictures - that one of the Stephanotis is really sublime. You may be right about the red philo, but as Drew says, time will tell. Everybody gets a dose of fert tomorrow, so I'm thinking that may green up those new leaves.

I am so happy with the variegated spiral ginger you gave me, but still waiting on a bloom. Has yours bloomed? The one with the red/yellow striped flowers has almost finished and it is 4ft. away inside the pool cage, same light, same treatment.

First time in 4 years my Lobster Claw heliconias have one bloom. I'm thinking the mild winter and extra water made it work.

you are all such great Gardeners. I love all the flowers andplants posted here. Jeri, that hibiscus is beautiful. a 2 inch plug? your green thumb must go up to your arm.. good job!
Alice, I love the plants you show, I guess In My Mind you are in Flrida, and for some reason, I see all of you in Florida. LOL oh well, it is all a zone thing in my head. one state, one zone. duh. sorry.
Rita as always , your plants give me joy, and that Tibouchina grandifolia is beautiufl all grown and bloomed, because I saw one last month in real life!
I even have a small one and hope I can get it to be big. Fighting the triple digits with no rain, watering every night and keeping food in the water is a chore. I am still after that mister, but today I saw a FAN with a mister for 80.00. If I make bonus, I am getting that one.

Elaine, I finally have some buds on a couple brugs, but it has been hard getting them to a spot they don't fry in. I am making the last moves tommorrow evening when my Son comes over, no date night this Saturday. Just moving the things that stress themost in the short amount of time that they do in the sun sends me into moving action. I am sure you all do that.
Paula, I am glad to see you posting., We all miss you. I hope all your plants are doing well. Hope to see your new place someday.

Ben, your future is looking bright I can just see it. I bet you are ready for a lot of changes, right?
I miss my south shrub line they chopped down. it was over 11 ft tall and was great for shade and wind break and privacy.

plumeria is finaly outside south front garden. under the mimosa tree and the purple red self heading philo ( rubber tree?) cuttings from Esthers plant is thriving along with the gingers. I cut down all the wild honey suckle and sweet autumn clematis, and still need to trim the bamboo and start training it to run west.
mimosa came back from their chopping, and I keep it trimmed to the two yards at the fence line. the 4 trees they cut down at back keeps it sunny enough for the sunlovers, but too much sun for the tropicals. cleared out some space under the pear tree, we are looking at triple digits ofr the rest of summer. cannas on north fence are starting to bloom., kopper king hibiscus is three times bigger this year and loaded.
my A"s and C's and E's do not look anything like any of ya'alls this year. everything went dormant when they went out and are just now starting to come out of it. Can't wait to see if I still have half of what I started with . Caladiums are popping up in the oddest places, again.
new arbor on south fence..

This heat is getting to me already and it has only been bad for one day so far. We are supposed to go into triple digits tomorrow, not looking forward to that.

Debra, you continue to amaze me with your dedication to the plants in spite of your winter nad summer weather challenges - you are a true gardener. I am ready to move to FL too, I bet it will be cooler at Elaine's home this week than it will be here.

Rita, I have gone bonkers for begonias this year too. Forty years ago I had a small GH business and I specialized in ferns and begonias then I sort of got away from them as we moved here and there. All of a sudden they are fascinating me again and I am compiling a nice collection. It will be too hot to ship plants and cuttings for a while but let's get together in the fall and we can compare notes.

Sounds like everything is finally coming together for you Ben. Closing on your new home will be a wonderful wedding present.

Begonia Lois Burks and Musa Velutina this week.

Yes, despite our blazing sun, it is cooler here. We will have 90 or 91 at most this weekend. When the normal summer pattern gets established, the breeze comes in off the Gulf in the afternoons, and often it clouds over in the hottest afternoon hours. Saved by geography! All summer, the evenings are lovely especially out on the beaches with the breeze. Nights are hot, though.

Deb, my brugs are not doing well this year either. They were badly set back by the spider mite invasion while I was away in May, and are just now showing a few blooms. Charles Grimaldi had two flowers that were half the normal size. Cherub has been struggling all spring and has one flower open now. Even the Monster Whites (I have 3 going, 2 in pots) are still pouting. Still no sign of a bud on Damien although he has the healthiest leaves of them all. I am blaming the solar storm we had last month . . . for lack of a better excuse.

How about a picture of Esther's philo?

1. little flowers on Monster White
2. supposed to be royal purple Achimenes - magenta at best in my book!
3. now this is what I call royal purple - vinca from Lowe's in a color I've never seen before
4. shot of the whole plant of Rita's variegated spiral ginger - I potted it up last month and it needs a bigger pot already.

Elaine, I bought that new deep purple Vinca, too - it's a hardy perennial in my yard - it's gorgeous!

I was just gifted 6 med size African Elephant Ears. Met the Mother & she is huge. Luckily I have the perfect place for these and also a smathering of smalled palnts to go under them.
But, that planting will wait till evening after it cools off some.

Can you say 'HOT' dam! It's so humid outdoors the gnats and skeeters are doing the back stroke!

Rita I think that hibiscus is Purple Magic. It has really grown this year.

These are from a cutting of DonnaB's Monster White/Pink. It was white yesterday and pink today. It's over 12' tall and each bloom is about a ft. long. That is a Sarian Elephant Ear in front.

And an E. Ventricosum 'Maurelii' to the right there jeri? Awesome job with the Brug and Alocasia Sarian.

I agree! I have monster white from Donna, mine has always been white. Brugs will take off again, Elaine, wait and see. Thanks Alice, I feel for you if you aren't used to the heat. I used to be, but now, I find myself extremely uncomfortable. It may be the 20 pounds the doctor said I gained since this time last year. and that sarian is awsome, mine is still downtairs , but perky and growing. Havn't had a chance to take pictures, but I will in the morning, since i am not working.
I did bring in the brug and the philo Rita sent me, they are happy up off the floor and in front of the south dining room window. lots of light there,all day. it has already perked up. Son comes over tommorrow to eat his free bbq meal here, and then move some big pots and tubs for me.
KayJones, we seem to have inhereted a few florida critters, a small bright green frog that makes noise and a small bright green lizard. they stay out front with the things I came home with. I was telling my sister I bet we bring home critters without meaning too.. LOL
I am happy , but worried they will perish in winter. Hopefully their homes are in those pots, and when they come in so will the critters?
I made a lasagna bed out by the back fence north side, and Joe noticed right off I stole another 6 inches of lawn. I soaked heavy newspapers and laid them down, then compost, and then soil, and then the bricks. I will plant impatiens that are waiting out front to that back area under the shade.
( hopefully in the am while it is still cool) 103 today, no rain yet.

Great Idea Deb!

103 with a 105 index. Never seen this kind of heat, for so long, anywhere I have ever lived. No rain since the last flood! Just wanted to vent... knew you guys could appreciate the situation with all my "water hogging" plants. It's ok if you want me to "SHUT THE FRONT DOOR"!


Everyone have a nice 5th on the 4th.

This message was edited Jul 1, 2012 4:06 PM

That is right Homer!! I have the hummingbird bush there too but you can't even see them b/c everything else has grown up so much around them. Here is a shot of the same brugs above a couple of days before.

These are some more EE

nice bed of EE's Jeri.
it was too hot to do anything except sleep today. ugh.

That is a gorgeous bed of EE's, Jeri.

Couple of big pink blooms on Stardancer x pod2. Also my pinecone gingers have really come on strong this year. Usually I have 2 or 3 cones, this year there are 7 huge ones.

Thanks Deb & Elaine!

Elaine, do you know if the pinecone ginger is the same as siam tulip ginger? I received some of the siam tulip ginger last year and it looks very similar to the pc ginger.

This is Snow Queen Hibiscus in front of a split leaf philodendra that is close to 10' tall.

This is my watermelon crepe myrtle with caladiums Aaron or Grey Ghost.

Do the Pinecones come up out of the ground in lieu of the top of the flower Elaine?

Great pictures jeri, reminds me of growing up in Mobile!

Me to Deb. I would run outside about every hour and mist everything under the trees. I would have a sweat going coming inside 10 minutes later.


Reprieve yesterday evening and early this morning as we got a 1/2'' and it is cloudy right now. we will pay for it later when the sun comes out and steam baths us.

The tulip gingers are curcumas and the pine cones (AKA shampoo gingers) are zingiber zerumbets.

Thanks Alice I will look all of that up. I've heard of the shampoo gingers. I got a grape ginger at the New Orleans Botanical Plant sale in the spring but no flowers so far.

Homer your plants look so healthy! I love the split leaf. Is it a philo or EE? I have an aunt & uncle that live in Mobile and it is truly one beautiful city. They live on Gill Rd. off Dalphne Island Pkway. He raises and grafts camellias. The ones with the hugh flowers.

You got it, Alice. Jeri, your Siam tulip gingers will have bigger flowers, usually pink, mauve or white, than the pinecones which only get those little ivory flowers. The Siams do look a bit like tulips when they're in bloom, too.

Drew, yes they put up separate stems for the flowers, about 18in. tall. Leaf stems are 4 or 5ft tall. After the flowers are done, the pinecone turns bright red, and lasts for a couple of months. They are juicy, and the common name "Shampoo Ginger" comes from the juice you can squeeze from the cones that is gingery smelling. I put it on my legs to keep the skeeters away. Works for an hour or so at best, but I'm never outside that long when it's so muggy anyway.

I'll have a whole summer's worth of 'shampoo' from my 7 big fat cones this year - Thank you, TS Debby! Funny, we think we're watering enough, then a deluge happens and all these fabulous extras pop up because of the wealth of water!

Gorgeous gardens, everyone. I have been working on cleaning the basement garden areas, getting ready.

Elaine, you may be on to something with your theory about excess water and blooming. My pinecones are growing much slower than they would normally do and we have not had any rain to speak of. I do remember them being much larger and blooming earlier in wetter years.

Some pics from previous years. The mass planting of curcumas was at Longwood gardens.

jeri, It is actually a Monstera.

96 yesterday and it felt wonderful.

I think we all have some very nice gardens this year also!

Alice beautiful collection! I have always said that God in an instant does more for my garden with good clean rain than I do in a month of Sunday's with a watering hose and sprinklers. Things just pop after a good rain.

Thanks Homer for that info. I always thought they were Philos.

Or even a "bad" rain, like we had from TS Debby.

There's sometimes nitrogen in the rain, that's released from the air by lightning according to one of our guest lecturers. So rain can actually fertilize your plants, if it comes from a thunderstorm with lightning. And all the weeds as well, of course.

However do you tell the difference between a philo & monstera, Homer?

That is interesting Elaine about the rain but makes perfect sense. I know what the acid rains we some time get can do to the pool. I wish we could hardest that survival & growth hormones from weeds. Can you imagine vegetables on them.

jeri, check this site out and it will answer any questions you probably have.

www.aroid.org.

Hello Everyone!! As usual, I am late to the party again. I totally agree that there are some top notch gardeners on this thread.
I wish that I could be counted along with all those lucky people that received measurable rain. It sure would lift my gardening spirit.

dyzzy, I am too embarassed to show my variegated costus, you have done wonders with that little cutting. I have not seen it bloom. A friend once told me to give my Heliconia lots of water if I wanted it to bloom . Congrats. on your first flower!

The hibiscus and ginger are the plants from you.

Joeswife, nice pictures! Take good care of that yellow honeysuckle, I have looked everywhere for a replacement for mine that died from the drouth last year without any luck. Your arbor on the south fence looks nice. What are you planning to plant on it?
Remember that little stick you sent me a few years back, it has taken over.



This message was edited Jul 3, 2012 7:58 PM