Love that bubbler! I always wanted on of those, the mosquitoes do not breed in moving water.
Thanks for the beans idea too,easy enough to have a can on hand. We are so grateful to have a good dog sitter I'll happily feed her. There are no places to board dogs here that have an attendant at night and Boolie gets wild seizures and needs someone around so we always have to find someone to stay here.
Tropical garden #125
too bad that my youngest doesn't live closer, Alice.. she dog sits for all kinds of people, sometimes 4 at a time for a week!
Send her down!
nice pictures everyone as always. it is nice to be able to put a face to a name.
i have been busy at work and visiting my mother in law in puerto rico. everytime we go there we buy her plants, soon her yard will be a jungle like mine. lol.
homer when are you coming to miami? hopefully you are driving a truck so you can bring plants back! send me a dmail of you would like to come by my garden you are always welcome. let me know if you need any help with suggestions as where to go, stay, or eat while in miami.
i took a few pictures today.
1. blue ginger still flowering
2. doc moy from dyzzy
3. heliconia
4. bird's nest anthurium flower
5. a red philo in the morning light
i have been digging up and cleaning up the yard so i can put new mulch and coral down. the work is never done!
a few bromeliads.
anthurium, begonias (from mjsponies), croton, voodoo lily, last me and carlos. (20 years)
Beautiful plants and beautiful couple!!!! We've sure missed you, Lady Bug!!!!
OMG Cassie, you are so young and pretty . Sigh, what a beautiful couple.
I just heard back from Nellie Neal and she apologized for the picture. Apparently there were several other errors on the page too. Her editors mixed up the pictures and captions and she appreciated the heads up.
Kay, I saw a lady that looked just like you on a TV piece that took place at an event in Panama City the other day. Were you on TV?
LOL, Alice - not that I know about. If so, I want COMPENSATION!
It was just a face in the crowd but obviously you have a twin hiding in your own town. :-)
Pink bottle brush is blooming again.
Where was the show shot - I may not even go into that area of town - some areas are pretty 'rough'. If it was an event, I know it wasn't me, because the only place I go where there's a crowd is to church.
aww cassie, your plants rival your beauty. Great couple! I am jealous of your beautiful blue ginger. Love the voodoo lily too. I loved Miami when I lived there.. what a party town!
LOL KayJones, there is a twin for everyone somewhere I have heard.. when I was younger and Cher Bono was "normal" I was told we could be twins, both of us being Armenian and all. Some radio guy talked me into a look alike contest, and I won a hamburger fries and a coke in a town far away from Wichita, kansas, while some busty blonde won the prize of look alike? ( Cher was flat chested, nose not fixed, lips normal and not a blonde at that time)
oh well..
After seeing KayJones beautiful milkweed plant while I was there, I just had to go out and get me one..
native pink lady thumb
specles and stripes mg
broken colors 4 o clock
common datura
lots of color on the north fence, need a bottle brush there.. LOL
Debra - I like how you have several different flowers blooming together. I'm a fan of color so these caught my eye. I also envy your 4 o'clocks. I had the opportunity to purchase a plant that someone had trained as a standard and it had a caudex at the base - it was very cool. Of course, I thought that I would go back and get it next time - well, when next time came it was already gone!
Alice - I know what you mean about the dog sitter. We have 3 (yes, really) Jack Russell's. Not only would it cost a fortune to take them somewhere, but I always worry more about them catching something from other dogs. You never know how well other owners take care of their furkids. We lucked out and also have a wonderful sitter. She comes to our house and stays with the dogs and they absolutely love her. She even lets them sleep on the bed with her!
Cassie - your plants are amazing. My husband just got another snake plant (vodoo lily), I went out today and it's growing another stem. I recently got into bromeliads, so I really like the ones you have pictured.
Thank you, you guys are too kind. It was hard to find a picture of myself, all I have are of plants!
I am lucky living in Miami because so many plants you just break a piece off and it grows, most all of my bromeliads I got from a guy at work. Every year he thins them out and throws them away! So of course i rescue them. My problem now is where to put everything!
Well Cassie, some of us would be more than willing to adopt some for postage, if he just throws them away. Yikes! I'm the person that as I'm riding around town...I'm looking in the yard trash piles to see whats there. I have actually found 3 very nice houseplants that people threw away because they looked scraggly. But I repotted and fertilized and they look great now. I love bromeliads!
Paula, I am EXACTLY that way - I can't believe what people toss on the brush pile - too much money, I'd guess!
I'm sure we would all love to adopt toss-away plants or cuttings, but sometimes folks forget the amount of TIME involved for the person having to i.d. the plants, label them, wrap the roots/cuttings, wrap a package and actually get it to the post office in a timely manner - I spend an average of 30 minutes on EACH package I mail out. Time is so valuable these days.
A few new things today, finally some Monster White brugs that are a more normal size.
More variegated costus, sorry for the repeats, I just think they're so pretty.
Big new orchid today, with 3 more buds coming.
This is a tiny orchid that's been blooming for over 3 months.
Hello Everyone!!
The city has been doing construction on my street for over a week now, with 3 more weeks to go. My yard is under a thick layer of dust, fortunately we got 1/4" of rain this afternoon to wash some of it off my foliage.
dyzzy, I found the Heliconia at a nursery in North Dallas, it was 3 times what you paid for yours at HD but I wanted it. They are great plants, always in bloom. There is a Christmas Heliconia that I am looking for now.
Your Begonias are so pretty, I will never get tired of seeing your successes, it makes me want to try harder.
KayJones, thanks. Being retired, I enjoy all aspects of trading, especially with folks on this thread!!
ardesia, your pictures are so perfect, I will vote for them if you enter them in the photo contest. I have never seen a pink bottlebrush plant, cool plant!
New Plant, Sesbania grandiflora, hummingbird tree.
Maya cutting and Super Nova blooming sparingly
GAgirl1066, glad to see that you are getting your yard and gh organized. I love the arrangement on the porch. That is also a nice size poneytail palm, she said jealously. lol
candela, what beautiful green eyes you have, they match your thumbs! Nice looking couple!! It seems as if you are in the peek blooming season. Your garden is Awesome!!
floridabunnie, I will have to agree with everyone and compliment you on a job well done. Great bubbler! I see your Pagoda is still blooming.
joeswife, I got you babe, you do look like Cher.
Lovely shots of your garden, I enjoy them all, especially your butterflies.
Papyrus plant, Variegated Heliconia, Dwarf coconut leaf Plumeria,
Where did you find that gorgeous v. Heliconia?!!!!!
dear tropical gurus... it is getting down to 50 tonight.. last night we ran the A/C tonight we may use blankets.. my question is:
do I need to bring in the desert rose, the staghorn, the queen emma, and the other stuff?
I have brought in a lot just because of the bugs and heat ( my precious brugs) , not ready to bring it all in, but Joe says if you all said to start bringing in the sheep, we will.
Beautiful plants, really love the red coleus with the shrimp plant, and your Maya is awsome, Rita. Also love the Sebaunia, I planted a sed of that, now I have a young baby seedling, what to do what to do? LOL Sheese so many babies growing here and there, I think I will bring those in this weekend.
KayJones, Sister won't know anything about the chemo making the tumors shrink until the 20th, and I am going to go get her to bring her here for about 10 days on the 22nd. She must feel okay, she keeps telling me "I ain't dying yet" so that is a good sign, lil brat. She has called me twice to ask about her plants, silly girl. She knows what to do..
I am ready to try an Orchid after seeing Elaines beutiful display.
Paula, no one here has plants to toss, the sun fried most of the stuff at the lowes, so I didn't get anything that is for sure..
Alice, I agree with you, Cassie and her man are very beautiful together,,, can I sigh along with you? Her gardens kick.. well you know ..
Where is Drew? I miss his giants. I did bring in my little frydek and mayan mask and the little polys, don't want them dissapearing on me now..
Getting the brugs I am sending away ready.. Floridabunnie, are you ready to try a brug? Did you want the Sweet Autumn Clenatis to give it a go? I have one already potted up.
been collecting seeds, and I am going to have to cut my vines away from their foot holds soon, so they better get to blooming! ( passies, coral vine, and thunbergias. ) Lobata is finally blooming.. love it.
desert rose - bring in when temps get to 50 degrees - don't take any chances.
the staghorn - mine stays out all year, covered in below-30 weather with a towel.
the queen emma - she grows in the ground year around - we get down to 28 for a few hours - smiles the whole time.
Thanks so much,, she is in.. sorry about my spelling, can't see to type..
Deb, I would think some of the tougher tropicals could stay out for a few more weeks. Surely you get Indian Summer weather off and on during October? In Utah (where we lived before) sometimes it lasted into early December!
My passion vines are all in the ground here, and I never cover them up either. So they survive well into the 30's without even losing leaves. The fruiting one seems to get inspired to bloom like crazy when the weather changes, too. All the gingers are in the ground, too. They go on blooming through several cold fronts before they finally pack it in. Tops die, I throw mulch on them . . done deal.
I'm sure you could grow orchids in your sleep in that wonderful tropical basement of yours. Just be sure they get good air circulation and they will love living at your house. Here's my big purple Catt with 3 more buds getting ready to open. btw, the Orchid Disease that is the big problem is what infects the people who grow them - it is incurable, once you start you'll never stop wanting to try all the different kinds .
Last thing, if you see orchids for sale at big box stores with a sign that reads "Easy care, 3 ice cubes each week . . " run away! It's a conspiracy to sell more orchids - they want you to kill them off quickly.
Rita - Your hummingbird tree is awesome! How big will it get? I am planting our back fence with bushes and small trees so that I can block to view. I was so frustrated this weekend. My husband has gone over and spoken with the people behind us and have asked them to not blow their clippings in our yard (they have tons of weeds and don't care what their landscaping looks like). I have started ripping out by our back fence and planting bushes and vines. When I walked out there this weekend, they had blown clippings into my flower bed!! Ugh! So I guess our solution is either mow part of their yard or find something to put in the chain link to block them from blowing the clippings.
Debra - Your Lobata is very cool, almost looks like a fire spike. I would love to try the Sweet Autumn Clenatis - thanks so much! 50 degrees already - brrr! I guess living here I forget that it's almost October. We're still having 90+ degree days.
Dyzzy - I have yet to have very good luck with the orchids I've purchased at the box stores. I've killed them all! If that is the goal of their conspiracy, I can say that I've been hoodwinked twice - LOL!
One thing we southerners need to remember is that when it gets cold at night it is generally only for an hour or two, usually around 5 am. In other parts of the country the cold settles in earlier in the evening.
I am in NJ right now and it gets cool in the late afternoon, so different from home.
Rita that pink bottle brush is not a very showy plant at all, the "brushes" are only about 1 1/2" long.
So sorry to hear they "got" you with those death row orchids, bunnie. They sure do look nice, and the prices are tempting. Most of those at HD and Lowe's are Phalaenopsis, which are touted as the "beginner" orchid. Just my opinion, but there are lots of other orchids that are way easier to keep healthy. Dendrobiums (which you also see at the box stores) and Cattleyas are much more sturdy in my experience.
If you see one you just must have, (or must rescue . . ) take it home and re-pot it immediately. The trick is to get one that's not already on the way out. The leaves should feel firm and (if it is a Phal) quite stiff and look shiny. The plant should have buds that have not opened yet. IF the one you buy is out in the nursery, (outdoors) then don't take it home and keep it in the a/c. The temp change and dry air indoors will make it drop its buds for sure. Outdoors here is perfect for orchids most of the year. Only if we have cold nights in the winter should you need to bring them in or cover them up. Mine stay out all year, and I cover them when it's cold.
They have them in plastic pots, usually stuffed with sphagnum moss all around their roots, then slipped into a clay pot to look nicer (and it helps them stand up). Buy a bag of "orchid mix" before you leave the store. Take the plant out of the plastic pot and throw that pot away. Orchids have roots that need to breathe, and not stay wet. So after getting rid of the plastic pot, loosen up the soggy wad of moss you will find under there. Chop sticks or tweezers work great. Throw away most if not all of it without damaging the roots of the plant. Put the plant back in the clay pot with orchid mix (it is bark, perlite, charcoal and other chunky stuff that looks nothing like soil, but it works!). There are good directions on the bag of mix. Keep the orchid in the shade, mist the leaves daily with a spray bottle (or I have a pump sprayer for my 70-odd orchids) dunk it in a bucket or bowl of water once a week, and when the last flowers are gone, put it somewhere it will not get direct sun. I use soluble orchid fert in my sprayer to fertilize, but if you only have one or two, putting a tiny bit (about 1/4 the strength the package says) in the dunk water every second week will be plenty.
Here's my Phal Phamily. Two of these came from IKEA for $10 a year ago. Only one has re-bloomed but I think the other will maybe bloom next spring. Most Phals only bloom once a year, usually in the spring for me, but the flowers last for over 2 months so they're worth the wait. The big one lower right is one of the $10 plants, and bloomed for 3 months last fall, then re-bloomed in the spring!
Dyzzy - thanks for the tips. Like I said, I haven't had much luck but I didn't remove them from the pots either. I do have an orchid in one of my trees that is doing well. It is in a pot with multiple holes (kind of looks like mesh). I may try my hand again using your suggestions. Your's look fabulous! I had no idea that IKEA sold plants, I learn something new every day!
LoL, they will sell anything, I think. Those orchids from IKEA were on a big table right at the exit. A decor feature - for $10 they're cheaper than cut flowers and last a lot longer! That was a year ago, no guarantee they will still have them, but they might. Also they were indoors in very cool a/c so when I brought them home, I kept them indoors until they finished blooming. That was Labor Day last year. It was October for one and December for the other before the blooms were done so by then the windows were open in the house, and they were used to outdoor conditions. They've been outside ever since.
Hi Everyone!!
ardesia, have a good trip!
Kay Jones, the Heliconia is from our Rj Rudd.
dyzzy, you are so funny. "Death Row Orchids". You have the midas touch with those orchids. They are looking so healthy.
I have saved a few death row bromeliads through the years, myself. I transplanted 4 babies from a plant I paid less than a dollor for today, no color yet but for that much, I got a morning of pleasure!
Joeswife, Sorry to hear about the cold temps, too early for that. I want to enjoy a few more months of good gardening weather, it has been perfect weather here except that we did not get the rain that was predicted. The plants that I repotted and transplanted today could use a good drenching.
floridabunnie, from what I read so far on the hummingbird tree, the limbs will break easily and can get up to 30 ft, but on the positive side the leaves and flowers have culinary value. I have enjoyed this Firebush (Hamelia patens) immensely and it might be perfect to include in your fence line plantings. It is a butterfly and hummers dream plant.
Firebush
Senna
bromeliad
Fence line
Fruits on my Carambola tree YEA, I have never tried this fruit before, I hope that they ripen before winter.
All the fruit from the Papaya fell off, it's sad to go through a summer without any fresh papaya.
Amazing Heliconia, Rita. I just did a google search for vendors, but didn't find any that aren't international.
Lovely pics, Rita. I agree on the Firebush, the birds like the fruits, too! It's a wildlife magnet. Plus, it will bloom in shade as well as sun, although it gets a little leggier.
Carambola are such pretty trees and yummy fruits, trouble is (as with most fruit trees) once the tree starts bearing you get SO many! I think they taste across between apple and orange, and of course they're so pretty in a salad. Make a nice cobbler, too.
1. pretty color combo in a pot at my brother's condo
2. a cutting from Cassie that I thought was Chalice vine - it has a tall shoot but it doesn't look much like a vine. Anybody?
3. enjoying the brugs back to normal. Lots of flowers coming.
I am pretty sure that second one is a chalice vine, mine hasn't t flowered yet.
Drew has been here in Miami, we had a good afternoon at Fairchild yesterday, then he just left my yard with a few goodies. It was nice to meet up with him and show him around Miami.
Thanks, Cassie. As you can see, it's going great!
Good to hear you and Drew had a nice time, there. I'm sure he's excited to get home now, and plant the treasures you gave him.
Here is an interesting tropical compostion.
The camera really doesn't catch the color well, but, you get the picture....
looks like a huge stand of mexican ruella and clerodendrum of some sort.. just thining.. Dale.
Glad you all got to meet up, I bet it was fun. your papaya looks like our elderberry here, sorta, Rita.
Gee, I gotta get me one of those hamela patens, it is beautiful!
It looks like purple Ruella and white Lantana to me - lovely!
Deb, I can send you cuttings of Hamela patens, if you want some.
Do you have firespike aka Odontonema strictum? I have swarms of
Hummingbirds on mine and the cuttings root readily.
Dmail and let me know if you want some.