Blooms October 9th - 12th

Cajun Blue twins.

A new Thursday pretty on Erin Rachael.

A single but huge Pina Colada.

Here's a Thursday So Cal version of Dragon's Breath.

OMG nice!! I want them ALLL!!!!!! You think I could take over my neighbor's backyard, too?

Four pretties on Rum Runner. Since this is infusion day, DD Alyssa took this shot :-)

Two on Rosalind - another DD shot.

Amanda, you and me both - I'd like to take over the neighbors' yards on both sides, and maybe behind us too ;-)

Gabriel had a pretty colored bloom with a totally bizarre shape.

I had to repot Molten Lava this weekend due to our severe wind, and the leaves don't look great to me. Apparently it's okay, since it put out four new blooms today! Go figure...

Another new one today on Strawberry Fields Forever.

Electric Blue twins.

I've had a bloom a day from Night Fire, here is today's.

And my last Thursday bloom - Tsunami - I see it's not a very focused picture though...

Have a beautiful night :-)

karen

Your DB looks better than mine--my bud sat around forever waiting to open and the buggies chewed on it a bit!

I really like Tsunami, I saw the pic on Robert's website and I'm very tempted to order it. But I really need to get things in the greenhouse first and make sure everything's going to fit, I don't want to have to leave any of them out in the cold to fend for themselves, and I really think I'm not going to have enough room in there this winter.

I SO wish I had a greenhouse - I'm still trying to decide what to do over the winter. My non-plant-loving DH says I'm bound to have some attrition, but I firmly disagree. Solutions are still under negotiations ;-)

I think your winters are probably a bit warmer than mine, so you probably don't have to worry too much. Honestly I could keep mine outside too and most years they would probably make it, I had 'Kona' outside for several years (it used to be my only hibiscus, before I got hooked on them!) Last year's freeze was too much for it though, and I'm afraid what would happen if we had a cold snap like that again! I've got much prettier ones than Kona now and I'd be really upset if anything happened to them.

Geesum, It is really difficult to pick favs today, but here goes:
ode to joy, allure, donna lyn, merci bocou, hot bikini, space oddity, erin rachel and black voodoo.

I woke up this morning to the muddiest mess on my patio, I had ever seen. It will be explained on a seperate thread. I was also laughing so hard my stomach hurt!

Anyway, only new bloom for today was Plum Crazy.

Basement blooms last weekend. Pic. by my friend Deb.

Cherry Appaloosa

All four pics are by Deb. This is Pele's Fountain or maybe just Pele'.

Last one...Smokey Mountain. All hibs are in the basement doing well except June's Dragon who is losing leaves fast. I guess I do have two in the bay window upstairs.

This message was edited Oct 12, 2007 12:29 PM

Hey brugie,
I wish you had our mild fronts. you would really enjoy them as would your babies. I know mine love the cooler weather we are having now!!! Very pretty!!!

This message was edited Oct 12, 2007 2:32 PM

What a neat basement, Brugie. I love your Pele's Fountain. I'm hoping my very first Cherry Appaloosa bloom opens today :-)

Everyone's blooms are so awesome. That Cinnamon Girl is quite a producer!!! Congrats! Brugie, do they bloom all winter down there under the lights? I've put up a couple 4-bulb units and hope to keep them growing.... usually I give them an occasional water, just to keep them alive, but I wanted to let them be more alive this winter so I added more lighting.. maybe I can have blooms all winter, too??? (hmmm, shopping spree again....maybe.......before Spring?) If yours bloom in winter, then I COULD justify one more hibiscus purchase before winter.......... (fingers crossed she says yes!)
I've noticed, Nightfire reminds me of Electric Blue sometimes...

AuntB, I'm pretty sure you NEED more hibiscus before winter ;-)

Not to try and enable or anything...

Thanks everyone. Bonnie, I have no idea what will happen this winter. This is my first year to have hibiscus in the basement. It's always been brugs before. I'm expecting to see aphids and mites, but I'm prepared. I hope they will bloom, but I doubt the light is strong enough. I have only two shop lights running right now. My goal is to just keep them alive and cut them back in Feb. or March and hope they grow well. If anyone has better instructions for growing them in a basement, I'd love to hear about how to do it with success.

Robert, I think our cooler weather might be just a bit too cool for them. It's been in the forties at night and only fifties in the day until today. It's 63 right now. Next week is to be 60's with 50's at night, but I'm sure not going to haul them up steps and outside again. I'll sacrifice the blooms. LOL!

I dont blame you. It's in the 60's and 80's here but next week looks to be hot again. I am getting my small GH ready to move mine to in november and there they will reside for the winter all warm and cozy!!! I just think I need a bigger house now. LOL

I have had a perfect spot for mine outdoors. Plenty of light, protection from the wind and cold and under an eave so they stayed dry. This fall we will be remodeling that part of the house. Agghhhhh, guess I'll be wintering some of the young ones in the bathtub. LOL The good part is that I'll have an even larger place for them next winter.

Oh I know, Robert - isn't this weather wonderful? It's the only week of the year I bet we can officialy claim Fall!! And at these temps! Lol!!

Here are a couple of pics of old faithfuls that I took this morning. First up is a set of Brilliant twins ...

Second up is a pair of Cairo Peach twins

Third shot is of what appears to be a pollinated Brilliant (which what, I don't know) with some Cairo Peach in the background

Lastly, what the walkway to my front door looks like. Gets a little crowded but soooooo lovely. ;) And the reds and peaches really stand out from the street.

All lovely. I like the water droplets on the Cairo pair, Amanda. I didn't get home till after dark and I really missed looking at my blooms, today. What a nice welcome for company and enjoyable to just drive by. Brugie, I've wintered them over for about 5 or 6 years now. I've had more success than loss, but they lose all their leaves and I had cut them back before bringing in... the basement offered a bit of light from a small high window. I watered a little more often than for dormant brugs. I'm not trimming as much on them this year, some not at all and hope to adjust them without total leaf drop. I'll feed them 1/2 strength and not nearly as often as in summer. With the natural light from the window and 2 4-bulb light units, it's really pretty bright down there... I'm hoping for a few blooms occasionally. Guess we'll see. The brugs will just have to stay more awake this year. Hope I'm not "opening a can of worms" with the bugs by growing things down there, but whatever happens, I'll get an education. It's kind of fun trying something different.

Beautiful pictures, Amanda. I really like your Cairo Peach twins shot, and what a lovely way to get to your front door!

I've got a couple new ones from Friday too. First is a lighter than usual Voodoo Magic. Funny, it looks like it has a little succulent growth at the bottom - some of my plants are still not in their final homes after last weekend's falling of the trellis....

The Big Easy.

Electric Blue.

I think Tsunami's colors are even prettier on this, her 2nd day.

Simple Pleasures had twins.

Oh, no, you guys are getting me hooked on the tropicals......!!!!!!!!!!
I posted a question about hardies on another thread. Looking around at what's available, hardies come in white, pink, red, and- um, that's about it!
WHY do I see my cellar filling up with pots of over-wintering tropicals in my future? I must by pyschic. Make that pyscho. Last year I collected 200+ dahlia tubers and got caught short with too many tubers and not enough sun.
But, if I don't get 'Night Fire', I'll just die! 'Simple Pleasures' blows me away, too!
I'm a goner!!!

LOL, Jax!!! Join the club!! You too WILL become addicted to Tropical Hibiscus and have to join our happy group of enablers ;)

This is the end of my Friday blooms - Two on Gator Pride Friday too - opposite sides of the plant though. I love this color!