My infamous Dr. Moy hedychium sport with the super-variegated leaves has opened its flower. Same as its siblings, but still . . .
Sorry the first shot is a bit blurred, the camera lens fogs up when I first take it outside, SO humid!!
This message was edited Jul 24, 2012 8:20 PM
Here are a few shots of the east side pathway this year. It is so much more interesting since all of you encouraged me with the interesting foliage plants! Coleus, caladium, alocasia, begonias, philos with orange leaves! Couple of heliconias faithfully pop up in this border each year from what must have been an extensive planting before we moved in. Guess I should pot up one of those plants and make a big clump, they sure add a nice touch of color in there. There are orchids hiding in the mix, too.
Prita - thanks for the tip on my Rangoon Creeper. This is a new one for me this year, after my furkid dug up my passion vine. . . Your morning glory looks like it runs on batteries! The color is so vibrant. I had looked at this one a couple of times and now it looks like I'll have to add it to my list. Everyone's amazing pictures keep me adding more and more to my wish list. My husband would die for your habeneros! I tried to plant some outside this year, but it has just been too wet for them to do very well. We had a bumper crop one year but it was hot and dry.
Dyzzy - I have been to Tropiflora a few times myself, especially during their plant sales - they have such unique things. Your garden path looks so nice, especially the volunteer heliconias. I planted a tuber of one a few years ago and it never did anything. This year all of the sudden it appeared. I moved it to a better spot and am very anxious for it to bloom.
My plumbago is going crazy this year. I think the more I trim it the more it blooms.
My recent purchase from Top Tropicals - Crepe Jasmine (I have a thing for jasmine)
Clerodendrum paniculatum - pagoda flower
As per norm, all your flowers are beautiful! I'm wondering where Deb is!
Hope all is well with Deb's sister, it is a worry.
Elaine, how much sun do the heliconias get? I have a hardy one (according to Tony Avant) but it has never bloomed for me. I think it is in too much shade.
goodmorning all, sister has had her lung inflated and fluids drawn off and sent to labs, pet scan today to lok at hot spots. All i know for now.
been watering for hours every day. these dry triple digits are killing me!
Please keep the beautiful flower pictures going. Rita, your rebecca is beautiful. Mine all all over the north west corner fence.
Hope my pagoda flower looks like that some day.
will post pics later of the varigated bougie ( thanks KayJones) I havn't killed it yet it is in full bloom.
Oh, Debra - we MISS YOU! When your C. pagoda gets big enough, please root me a cutting. I love you, Lady Bug!
Ooh, hang in there Debra! We're with you in spirit at least.
Bunnie, you're right about the plumbago, they do love to be pruned, and bloom more, the more you cut at them. That Clero pagoda flower is really gorgeous.
Alice, those heliconias are in shifting shade under my huge oak tree all day. I think they would bloom better out in more light, but they seem to come along in the shade every year. We have had the oak tree thinned a couple of times because it's near the house, so there are peeks of sun all along there. I'm recalling that they bloom in some shade over at Selby, too. They do love lots of water, though. The well water I was irrigating with all this spring is very alkaline, and they've been looking a bit chlorotic, but with all this rain that is correcting.
Another huge panicle of flowers on B. odorata alba. It smells so great in the mornings!
This message was edited Jul 25, 2012 10:00 AM
Believe it or not, I only purchased one pagoda flower a couple of years ago - I think I have about 10 in the bed and around the corner now. It must have found a spot it liked and invited it's friends - LOL. It is such an easy care plant that I don't mind though, and it hasn't gotten out of control.
Kay, I have several little volunteer pagodas, if you would like one send me a d-mail with your address and I will send you one.
Dyzzy - as always, I'm oohing and ahhing your plants!
Good Morning All!!
dyzzy,Thanks for sharing your own little tropical escape. It seems to be well planned with those nice big Philos and Fern tree. The occasional color of begonias and Heliconia makes it perfect.
floridabunnie, Outstanding shot of your Pagoda flowers, mine had a bad bout with scale and is just now recovering. Good luck with your Crepe Jasamine, they are a favorite of mine as well. I am having a good harvest of hot peppers this year. I love growing then but can not eat them.
ardesia, thanks, I water in the mornings and evenings, dreading the water bill.
Joeswife, Hoping that your sister's test results are all good.
pictures from a few days ago.
Ruellia fron Mj
Basket plant
Plumeria Sweet syrup
Philo. Giganteum
candela, I hope the Sancheza blooms this year, thanks for the id!
Drew I found some AeAe for sale at J. D. Anderson and I thought you might be interested. They have the AeAe for $100.00 and a green AeAe for $25.00 I wonder what the difference is?
http://www.jdandersen.com/files/jdandersenbananas.htm
Pretty proud to show off this cute little pineapple I grew from the top of a grocery store fruit. It was just the right size for the two of us to have for dessert last night, and oh, so sweet and yummy! Only took me 3 years to grow it, too .. . . cold winters set it back a year, I think.
Usually the raccoons get to them before I can pick them, but I must have scared them off pretty well for now! I'll plant the top of this baby, to make another new plant and hold out hopes for another pineapple in 2 years or so. I have one more plant coming along for next year's "crop" and the mama plant will very likely make pups, too. I'll have a nice little pineapple patch in a few more years.
Jeri, the Green AeAe for $25 wouldn't have any variegation I'm thinking. There might be an outside chance for it to make a variegated pup down the road, but it would be hit or miss.
Good going there on the pineapple. I bought one that already had the fruit on it last year and it ripened and was delicious. I also replanted the top but nothing so far. I have to bring mine in for the winter.
Thanks Elaine!!! I kinda thought that was it, but didn't realise there was a possiblity of it reverting.
Prita - I really like your basket plant. Has yours bloomed yet? I saw the blooms in plant files and they are very interesting. Good luck with your pagoda, I hope it gets better for you. Jasmine is a favorite of mine and I get a little crazy with them. I have a large round flowerbed in the backyard full of jasmine and white bird of paradise.
Dzyyz - nice pineapple! Fresh Florida Pineapple is the best. When we moved into our house the landscaping had a lot to be desired. The previous owner had planted pineapple tops in numerous locations around the yard. We used to joke about finding a pineapple when we least expected it.
Good evening, folks!
I am bumming tonite - I went into the greenhouse and found that one of my Epi's had bloomed last night and I MISSED IT! Dam it!!!!!
Kay - that is a bummer. I have one in the back and am assuming that I will probably miss it too - just my luck :)
I hope I get to see an Epi bloom some day. I tried a pineapple.. it rotted. I love pineapple. Only 98 today whoppee. Rained all around us last night, totally missed my town. I had to bring in Milk n Honey.. now she can fiish budding out downstairs. I also had to bring in the patchouli plant. The yellow shrimp plat went south in this heat this year. Oh well, it lasted two years. That is good, right?
Right there with you, Kay. I had a bud for the first time on my Pitaya, dragon fruit cactus. Similar huge fragrant flowers that bloom for one night only. I faithfully went out with a flashlight for a week, it grew and grew then it went all brown and mushy before it was able to open. This was thanks, I'm thinking, to all the rainy weather. Ah well, they will bloom again for both of us.
well, i went out to check all mine.. no buds or blooms or anything that I could see.
Sad my I plantesis caudex morning glory seemed to lose it's umpf and started going soft, so I soaked it in soapy water, let it dry , kept it cool for a few days, and replanted it after I broke a part off. Planted them both. here is hoping.
I await the beauty of this every summer:
Edited to add names:
1. Buddah hand citron
2. Noid Hydrangea
3. Plumeria 'Devine'
4. Cactus bloom - forgot the botanical name
This message was edited Jul 28, 2012 6:27 AM
Rita, your plants are not only beautiful but you have arranged the incredible variety so nicely. Wish I could hire you to come and do my mish mash landscape.
Deb, I loved that you photographed the reverse of the hibiscus. They are one plant that I think looks just as pretty from behind.
Elaine, the bloom on my Curley orchid cactus blasted too...after we got a ton of rain, which we could use more of now..
Kay my Plummies bloom very rarely, I don't think I fertilize them enough.
Deb my I plantesis is "somewhere" out there, I need to go locate it.
Nong Nooch Vine gearing up, King Anthurium, Mermaids Tail Fern, Hoya
KayJones that buddahs hands is awsome. Love your hydrangeas.. all the ones around here are not blooming.
I love your hibiscus, Alice. I agree, Rita should come and display my plants too. What is the last hibiscus you posted?
okay Martha, now I have to see what the Mermaids fern is all about. dang it. LOL
Martha, have you any Nong Nooch rooted vines to trade?
Kay I don't have any rooted... I haven't even tried that one yet. I'll take a cutting as see if I can get it to root for you.
mj
Martha, try rooting it in damp, straight peat moss - I found my rooting successes increased dramatically when I started doing my rooting this way.
Deb, that is a noid double rose of sharon. Are the doubles hardy in Kansas?
Alice, they should be - I grew them in Missouri, about 3 hours east of Deb.
Oh Alice that's really pretty. I don't have much luck with Rose of Sharon here. Have one down at the bottom of the yard and it bloomed this spring the best it's done in the 3 yrs it's been there...and nadda since.
String of Hearts.....should call her Rapunzel and Ant Plant to the Right.
Rasta Lipstick plant
Crocodile Fern - it outgrew it's Colander Planter I had it in last year....not sure what I'll put it in next....LOL...
Good morning, everyone - lovely plants!
Speaking of ant plants, does anyone have a cutting of the one that has the little 'purses' on it and little red blooms? I had one a couple of years ago, but it died for some reason - would love to find another one.
Hello Everyone!!!!
I hope you all are having a pleasant Sunday. Mine isn't, as I got stung and chased by wasps this morning to my dh's amusiment.
dyzzy, good growing on the pineapple!! 3yrs. is a long time to wait, glad it was sweet and not sooo sour like the few I have grown. Do you know what variety you are growing?
floridabunnie, the basket plant has bloomed, and is a very easy plant to grow. Let me know if you would like to have a plant.
Kay Jones, Good to see what made you happy!! I bet you had everyone checking their Epi's for blooms, I did. The Citron has caught my attention. I have a tangarine plant which has fruit that are splitting open. Perhaps overwatered?
tangarine tree
Senna alata
Philo.
Caladium Florida beauty
Crinum lily
ardesia, Love that Rose-of Sharon as well, thanks for the comments. I would like to say how much I appreciate everyone on this thread. My mom always refers to me as a willy nilly gardener.
Joeswife, I am learning new gardening tips and remedies from you. Jerry Baker would be proud. dh wanted to know what the windex was doing in my hh. Sorry about your shrimp plants, I will check the markdown tables for them. I am still enjoying the Crossandra plant.
Mjsponies. those plants are Awesome!! The string of hearts needs to be in my Hoop House where there is enough room for it to stretch out in comfort. lol
A few old reliables
Rattlebox
Erythrina bidwillii
Cestrum
Crossandra
Rita, those are stunning!
I agree!
Hi All - everyone's plants look so great! I love looking at everyones pictures.
Prita - I would love to have a basket plant if you have one to part with. I will send you a d-mail.
Do you see the rattlebox moth often. I googled and saw the moth that feeds on this plant. The moth is so bright and colorful.
MJS - your crocodile fern is very interesting, such a unique pattern to the leaves.
I had a visitor on my pipevine today and was actually able to get a picture.
One of my hibiscus blooms
White Bird of Paradise
Purslane
Rita, I just did an extensive search for the red Crossandra and couldn't find it for sale - where did you buy yours?
Nice butterfly pic, floridabunnie! I have zebra longwings in my yard every day, but they never seem to land, and I can't get a picture of them in motion. They're too fast. My husband caught me chasing after one with the camera the other day, now he really thinks I'm nuts.
Love all those red flowers, Rita. All I have that's looking good right now are my red pentas. The pic doesn't do the color justice, they are the rich dark red of the ones in the top right corner. They're getting big and sassy, though. They're interplanted with Easy Does It roses, which are struggling valiantly in the heat and humidity, but do have a few vary-colored blooms. No fungus problems as yet, surprisingly!
beautiful.. all of them.. i don't have pentas anymore.
miss them, but maybe nextyear..
sister is in the hospital, the fluid on her lungs caused by the cancer was making it hard to breathe for her. they have called in a specialsit and he is going to go in two tiny holes to drain the fluid and clse the pleural lining, which will cause the fluid to asorb in her body. then the port gets put in and her chemo starts next week. She is in good spirits and thinks the chemo will give her more life. It has spread thru a single cell to her bones, her lymph nodes, her stomach , lungs and pelvic hip bone joint. She plans on coming home as soon as she gets her chemo started for a few days. I will go to get her.
That is what I have been doing .. phone calls while watering. got up to 110 here yesterday, I kept water going in all shade areas all day. today you can't even tell I watered.
bringing in the rest of plants in pots. I have buds on the brugs already that have been in for a few days, go figure.
love you all, keep Sherry in your thoughts in a positive manner for me.
here are some vine leaves..
Debra, we will continue to pray for Sherry, you and all the family - GOD BLESS you!
Did you get my card?
This question is for ANYONE:
I have huge morning glory vines but not a SINGLE bloom - any idea why?
