Mid Atlantic Tropicals

It bloomed once, under lights last winter, on a tip that must have had a bud. I think it was a lighter color, which looked nice with dark leaves, Unless it could be lighter due to being inside at the time.

Boy I saw the most amazing tropicals all over Hersheypark the other day. Coleus, caladiums, begonias and more in planters and hanging baskets, I o wonder who kept all those things watered in the heat this summer, whew. And yes I sure wanted top grab some low hanging coleus branches in the parking area but we didn't pass them on the way out...

Now THIS I do not find attractive
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/165801/

I'll grant unusual, but in a 'genetically disturbed' way. Like it's messed up. sheesh.

Sally, My neighbor that you met at the Plant Swap. The one that came over later in the day. Think he was the one you called Hunky. He works for Hershey Gardens. They do have an amazing amount of Tropicals that they use at the park I have often wondered what they do with them at the end of the season. I will have to ask him if he has any idea.

Dream Job (for a dreamy guy LOL) !

Boy if he can just score you a FEW of the caladiums and ees they are surely going to trash...And those huge planters, just a couple would supply me with slightly used potting soil for a year. I'm willing to bet it all goes to a dump.

ROAD TRIP to Hershey Park on Dump Day! Yes yes, please see what Hunky can find out. I bet they have a good set of greenhouses behind the scenes, but I'm sure there's a lot of stuff they don't bother to rescue & overwinter... and it sure would be easy to store caladium & EE bulbs!

LOL those 'Stingray' Alocasia were in quite a few exhibits at the Philly show this year... fitting, as the theme was Hawaii... Holly & I thought they were pretty cool, but maybe they had to "fit in" with their surroundings... they'd look quite natural swarming around a tiki statue or a coral reef styled planting!

When you think about the side issues that corporates types see. - I think Hunky is lucky if he can sneak out a box for 'personal use' Anyhoo.


Stingray Alocasia--Well, maybe they don't photograph well!
I looked again today and till think they're just -- whatchacallit--- Deformed! lol
I can see where they WOULD look better with Tiki guys and other weird primitive art. DH and I liked the Tiki guys that sang in the Polynesian thing at Disneyworld. They probably haven't changed that in the 20plus years since.

Wow coleus and C H O C O L A T E. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2007/08/hersheys_secret_gardens.html

Dream job!!! I could get paid in chocolate!!

Coleup, what a fun article! I haven't been to Hershey Park in ages -- not since I became interested in gardening. Next time I go, I'll definitely be paying attention to the plants!

I can't imagine they overwinter all those aroids. Man, I'd love to get my hands on them...

Behnkes had caladiums priced at $1 and $2 a few weeks ago. I had to grab a few...can't beat that deal.

Gracye - late responding but just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in (course that leaves me with zero sense...LOL). I have down sized my tropicals quite a bit but the ones that I do have simply get brought into my living room and bathroom and get thrown water on when I think about it. There are some that require VERY little care and are so rewarding with their fragrances i.e. Maid of Orleans jasmine. All of mine are in pots

ALL: there seems to be mixed thoughts on the hardiness of Tuberoses. I've not had any come back that were put in the ground although I've been told they 'can' be hardy to 7A. For those of you that don't mind pulling up and storing of their clusters I wanted to let you know that the double Tuberose clusters I purchased from ebay seller caladium_bulbs_for_less (depsite my planting them very late) already have 3 bud shoots up. I'm extremely happy about this!!!

I just love the Tuberose, I got some a few years ago from Bill. I just love his plants I would encourage anyone that hasn't visited the site to do so. Well, I was careless with the ones I tried to overwinter but John & Ruby gave me some this year so I once again have them. I did put them in a mixed pot near the bathtub pond and the smell is just so wonderful I do need to get more for next year so I can once again have some in the sitting area buy the Gazebo. I will have to check out Bill's site to see the double Tuberose.
Here is one of my Tuberose, I also have this really pretty grass. I was thinking I would collect seed heads to sow next year but so far they haven't put up any seed heads. I might end up trying to dig up the plant cutting it back and dividing it into several small pots and see if I can keep it going over the winter. It's a PW Graceful Grasses® Vertigo® a Pennisetum purpureum hardy to Zone 8.

I've been sniffing my Tuberoses every night for few weeks. thanks again John! And I will store them for winter.

See what happens when I procrastinate? Y'all get to enjoy yours sooner...LOL. That grass has a gorgeous color, Holly!! Can you give me the link if Bill has a site outside of his ebay store, please? You and Sally both were lucky to score the single tuberoses. I diligently looked for singles after the swap but when I did find one or two sellers the prices were beyong (incl shipping) what I'd pay for them. I was happy for these big clusters of the doubles though. I'm hoping to get some singles next year. A pot of 'fragrance' was my mom's day gift to my mom! DD was sweet enough to take it down and plant them up for her. Dug up one of my white butterfly gingers and sent down the tuberoses. I would think she'd have an amazing scent filling the air between Aug and Sept. Ahhhhhh!!!

I can't remember from last year, Bill either posted a Classified Add on DG or sent me an Email telling me he wasn't doing an add but as a past buyer he would give me a special discount. When / if I get something like that again this year I will let you know. He is a really nice person and you can always email him with questions and things. Since my LapTop crashed I lost a lot of old emails and other things I had saved in there.

So I'm out of the loop or missed something, we have a good source for Tuberoses?

John and Ruby brought some to the Spring Swap. Not sure where they got them or how many they might have. For years I have been getting some very nice plants at good prices from Bill at Caladium Bulbs For Less.
My Caladium, Portadora and first Tuberose came from him.

I'm not sharing mine==yet anyway LOL!

Ha ha..

Fine Sally be that way!!! LOL Holly - I believe John knows a vendor at the marketplace he sells plants at locally and managed to score a few single clusters. Terp I've purchased various tuberose clusters through the years and the ones I purchased from 'Bill' aka caladium_bulbs_for_less on ebay this year were if not the biggest - tied for the biggest clusters I've rec'd to date.

This message was edited Aug 29, 2012 12:32 PM

Great thanks for the help everyone

I really need to get my camera outside instead of the cell...but for now...let me share the heaven like fragrance of my deck (you'll have to use your imagination)
1. Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno' - Sally's new baby in a couple of weeks
2. Lakeview Jasmine - covered in blooms...ahhhhh
3. Double Tuberose - getting ready to fill the air
4. Sweet Almond - with her subtle sweet scent
5. NBC - given by Gita - wait for it....I love these night scented beauties
5. NBJ - couldn't get a pic of the ones fully open...one of my all time favorite scents

Least we forget the wonderful Bouvardia longiflora with its amazing fragrance. I might be able to bring a few cuttings to the swap for those that want to give this baby a try.
And the dear Datura providing probably the last flush and then seeds for the season...love the scent that fills the air at night!!

Wow it must smell wonderful there!!!

It does Sally...very therapeutic...and here's Gita's NBC...my counting skills need fine tuned, I believe

Interesting they are all white. So do you think nature gives white flowers more scent to make up for lack of color?

Maybe they are pollinated by night time pollinators and so white would definitely be the best color to be seen at night.? They sure do glow on a moon light night!

I remember 'Doc" posting a series of comments and photos of when his Night Blooming Ceresis bloomed. How exciting Chantell.

All of my night scented blooms are white except for the old fashion deep purple petunia which I adore!! The jasmines (except NBJ) smell yummy regardless of time of day. The 'Flore Pleno' Tab I'm bring Sally is day scented as well but a much more subtle scent than the others.

Chantelle---

How long ago did I give you that NBC?

Nice bud! Now--keep looking at it--when it curls upward in a fish-hook matter--
it is going to bloom very soon. Good job!

BTW--I know you did not ask, but i will be bringing you a potted, in bloom August Lily Hosta.
I had to dig it up from a doomed bed. yes! It is very fragrant...close up.
Do you have one already? Gita

Nite owl? Me? LOL Funny how that works out for me, eh? Chloe found the beginnings of a 2nd bud on that same plant, Gita! How exciting! I had a HUGE pot of 2-3 different NBC...it simply got too big as much as I enjoyed those blooms. Had to find a home for it - a previous neighbor has my old one in an even bigger pot now!! Gita this was what you'd brought for the gift table at Holly's and Ric's. I saw it still sitting there and thought....I really miss those wonderful blooms...both for photographing as well as fragrance - so I snatched it up!! As for that Hosta...wow! Thank you. I actually do not have a single hosta. I tried to find ones everyone mentioned as being fragrant a couple of years ago and simply gave up the search!! If she needs shade - I shall put her to the side of my Daphne!! Add on: I just looked that hosta up, Gita....WAAAAAWHOOOOO....THAT sounds PERFECT

This message was edited Sep 5, 2012 7:02 PM

Coming YOUR way--very soon.......Gita

Nice pic, Gita...I'm gonna love that plant!!!

Gita - stepped out on my deck last night to let the dogs out and was welcomed with that beautiful lily-like scent I remembered - turned my head and YUP your baby's bud had bloomed - waaaaawhoooooo!!! Took Doc's advice and snapped some pics with my cell phone this am (last night with actual camera) - see below...

Very nice! Is it an EPI?

Yes, Terp - a Night Blooming Cereus. I used to have this and 1-2 other night blooming ones. THIS is the one I remember having that beautiful scent. The other(s) which had thinner 'petals' didn't have much scent if any as I recall.

Chantelle----

Congrats! It is just breathtaking!!!

Now--If I would have kept that pot--it would have just sat there....
What's your secret????

Same as I gave Bec my really big one--had had it for 6 years or something.
Never did anything but grow those long, skinny strms.

Bec took it out of mercy---and it bloomed for her that same summer.
I guess I am "jinxed" with some plants.......:o)
Gita

I've seen your plants Gita - you're far from 'jinxed' - LOL. This one was just ready to bloom this summer, I bet. I put her where the other huge pot had been. They seem to like that bright filtered light there. She got watered when the jasmines got their drink. I didn't even repot her - figured she liked where she was.

Talking about Tropicals-----------------

A fellow gardener at HD brought me 2 fruit-pods for Passion Flowers.
One is white--the other purple.
The "fruit/seedpods are the size and color of a lime.

I am asking for any advice from anyone on this plant.

1--How and when should I attempt to seed these fruit? The fruits have slight softness to the feel.
Like when a Peach starts to ripen.
2--What should i do with the seeds? Will take pictures--of the "process"
3--How should I attempt to germinate these seeds?
4--When should I plant them? I do not think that I will want any in my garden--but I need to look
in PF to see what they look like and how they grow. May just be the next "craze" from me. Figs are IT this year...

She also brought me two "seed capsules" from a Bald Cypress. She had never seen her's seed...
I have no clue either. These "pods" are the size of a grape and quite hard.

Think I better take a picture....YIKES! Looks like a sinister Smiley Face . Kind of eerie....

Gita

I was told (don't remember by who) when I picked mine at that stage that I picked them prematurely...that I should've left them on the vine (I gather like we would a Datura) till they turn a brown-ish color; other wise the seeds might mold. Gita if no one knows here on MAG, I'd try the Passi forum http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/passifloras/all/ I have Passis that have grown from seed in my yard but that was via Mother Nature's hands not mine. Interested to know what type those smaller seed pods are. You do realize that Sally and I would love to share unlimited rooted passis with you...then you wouldn't even have to bother with the seeds...LOL ^_^