Hibiscus 10/28/07 to 11/03/07

Voodoo Magic

First time ever, for this bloom to be publicly shown. Per Matt, she will be ready for sale, very, very soon!

Introducing:

YODA

in her fall colors.

Can't wait until Yoda's available--that one's definitely on my wish list!

I've been looking at the thumbnails as best as I could. My server isn't working properly and hasn't been for some time now, so I'm changing next week. When up and running I'll take a good look, but I can tell, there are some awesome hibiscus there. Congrats to you all.

Here's Lost Treasure from earlier this week...my lone bloom for the week! I've got several more with buds, but things are opening really slow.

Liz, she is beautiful. Really, really beautiful!

Karen,
Looked at your pics again. I know I already told you Fireworks is stunning. But, she is really stunning. Also like Love Story, Envie, Voodoo Queen and Simple Pleasures. For some reason, Simple Pleasures has not bloomed since the spring :( So, I am really enjoying yours.
PS....did you ever notice that we have alot of the same pots? Even the same grill, except mine is red, lol.

First bloom for Peppermint Star; it is a young plant but it is covered with buds. I took this photo early this morning when it was about 5" wide; the flower is now almost 7" wide. I think I like this one.

Ooooh, cat, how nice!!! I LOVE Yoda and Susan Schlueter THE MOST!!!!

Thank you Amanda. I'm partial to Yoda, also, lol.
Ardesia, Peppermint Star really does remind me of Peppermint Candy. It's making me hungry!

It is 57 degrees outside and I am freezing off my patooties! This is Winter weather for us Floridians, lol. Actually, I am loving this weather, and apparently, so are the flowers. Every single one in my front and back yard, butterfly garden included, are so darn perky. I love it!

Blooms for today:
First ever appearance by AMERICAN MAID. She was bright red this morning, but, not fully bloomed when I left for work. This is her at midnight this evening. Love the change in colors. And, she is huge!

A very, very different Black Dragon. She is definately showing her "purple" colors. Didn't even know Black Dragon's were purple!

Now, here is the interesting thing. Here is one bloom of Dragons lair. She looks like all the rest of the pics I have taken, but this time, it is perfectly clear.

Here is another bloom, on the same bush, just a little lower than the other bloom. They are totally different shapes, sizes, patterns and colors. As they used to say on Hogan's Heroes "Bery Interesting".

Key Lime's showing her greener side.

A majestic Plum Crazy's turning a little darker, with the cooler weather.

And, finally, Topaz Glory's true colors. This is why she was one of the first plants I ever bought.

I love American Maid!

These cooler nights (56 here) have been a blessing for the plants. Now they have the opportunity to store up some energy at night so they can shine during the day. My hibiscus are all covered with buds, in far greater numbers than during our hot months.

American Maid may be my personal favorite among our hundreds of hibiscus varieties out there in commerce. It is now competing for Hibiscus of the Year and I'm delighted that Matt is selling it. So many fine qualities and always in bud and bloom here, always interesting colors, always BIG, always fine form . . and I even like the plant. Here are some variations we see in Houston area.
peace,
Barry

another flavor

version 3 of American Maid

Um . . that may be the same jpg or a version of it. Here's a distinctive one. I hope.

American Maid (Jeanette Elliff x Persimmon Wax) gets its colors from its parents in a way I thought you might find interesting. Here's the mama, named for a hibiscus friend . .

Oh dear, I knew I loved that one. I am so fickle, I have another favorite every week but this one may be a necessity for me to have. All my favorite colors wrapped up in one beautiful package.

Here's a better photo of JE, sent by Francoise in Nice, France. She grows my babies better than I do. Could it be that the Mediterranean coast has a nicer climate than Houston?
;-)
Naaaahh. She's just a great grower.

Barry

And here is the glossy, intensely orange Persimmon Wax, now extinct . . but you can see how orange came to dominate AMaid thru this one's pollen, and it donated the form, pretty much. But all those interesting flavor notes seasonally and as the bloom ages came from Jeanette Elliff, as did floriferousness. I work hard at making the right crosses, but it doesn't hurt to be lucky, too.
;-)
peace to all,
Barry

How sad that Persimmon Wax is extinct.

Good to know AM is not a Hines plant since I can't find them (at least the hibs) on the east coast.

Gorgeous, Barry!

Superflurous! Hope that really is a word, if not....supercalifragalisticexpealadoshis! I am so glad to have his one. PS, I wasn't allowed to buy it, because of it's status for Hibiscus of the Year. If it was "sold" it would not be eligible, from what I understand, so Matt gave it to me :)

American Maid is awesome. Added it to my spring order list.

Back on the 3rd I posted a photo of my first bllom on Peppermint Star. This was taken yesterday, the 6th, of the same flower - it was open for 4 days! Today it has started to close up but if I didn't know better I would think it was just opening. I guess these flowers love the cooler weather we have been having.

WOW!! Yeah, I've noticed mine are staying open longer now, too. LOVE this weather.

Very nice Ring of Fire, Cat, and Liz, don't worry about the colors of yours. The solid red/orange look is typical for California at this time of year. When it warms up next summer you will get many variations of color from it, with many vivid yellows.

Also that Lady In Waiting bloom looks really big and beautiful. I've wondered just how big it could get in climates warmer and more humid than mine. Here it has great texture, very substantial petals that are stiff. In your photo the bloom looks big and fluffy but I bet the petals still have good substance to them.

Cat, the 'Liz' bloom looks more like the rare 'Eva Paoloni' - I had a few last year, maybe you have one, too. Attached is a photo of Liz.

Ardesia, by picking and displaying hibiscus indoors you are following in a long and grand tradition. When the Tahitian flower lovers went nuts over the new hibiscus several years ago (imported about 40,000 plants in one year!) I was told that by mid morning each day you can find very few hibiscus flowers on the hibiscus bushes in Tahiti. That's because they are all picked and used for displays in homes, shops, restaurants, and in the hair of local ladies. Great tradition, though we love the blooms on our plants, too!

Continuing down the messages, Cat, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. My brave little female was snatched right off the deck of this house by a wily coyote when I first moved here 2 years ago. At first I wanted to hunt down the predator but after awhile I accepted that coyotes are just following their nature, same as most creatures here. On the positive side this opened up my house for Cindy's two 14 year old cats, something mine would never have stood for if she were still with us. Losing a pet is always sad, you have our heartfelt sympathies.

Karen, it's neat that your Voodoo Magic survived the unexpected translocation across the yard! Was that one of those big 2 gallon plants we had for awhile? It was a tough break that the fires (wind and smoke) got to your plants just before the fall blooming season. Next year will be better!

Cat, if your Simple Pleasures isn't blooming something is wrong with it since it blooms a lot normally. I suspect midge or thrip infestation and even if you can't see any you should spray the plant with a suitable insecticide a couple of times a few days apart, and perhaps treat it with potassium nitrate sprays and/or Synergy if you have some. I did all this in our garden a few weeks ago and the buds and blooms we're seeing now are the payoff. Even though we usually recommend treating all hibiscus in an area at the same time, it is possible for just one or a few among many plants to get infested or stay infested and maybe the Simple Pleasures has such a problem.

All in all, great blooms and photos in this thread!

Charles

Cat - so sorry to hear about your kitty - but you're right it better that he's not suffering anymore. I once had a cat while I was growing up that was VERY protective of me and whenever another dog or cat would come to me to pet she'd run between us and growl!! I've never had another like her bless her heart!

Sorry I see cat4gp had already posted this picture but I'm learning.Another is Grand Prix and one of Barrys this is one of my favorites.

This message was edited Nov 9, 2007 8:09 AM

Geneatkatytx... - those blooms are beautiful - nice touch with the bee having his lunch too! :)

Love that Peppermint Star!!!!!!!!!!