Ah, now I learned something else - the common name for Strobilanthes dyerianus.
Tropical Garden #7
this morning's view of the azure sky and my vanilla orchid again
lots of these gingers in the garden
This message was edited Mar 30, 2008 12:08 PM
heloconias too
and looking back to 1998-99 when I landscaped my RV lot at Pelican Lake RV Resort here in Naples I now see huge trees when I planted young things. It's amazing how fast things grow here. I had 60 some palms trees on my property. The new owners have culled some but most of my babies remain. Those Bismarks were in a 3 gal pot.
This was were I went crazy planting Florida things during the winter months when we lived there.
this Bismark was bigger and brought in by a landscaper. The new owners don't know about the need for manganese for the Phoenix canariensis. I used to spread a bag full around the tree and it was green. My gardenias around the lamp pole are now like a stupid hedge instead of an aromatic oasis.
This message was edited Mar 30, 2008 12:34 PM
and this was in March 2002
a four year old bismark surrounded by impatients back in 2002
fred do the flowers smell like vanilla?
this vanda is getting ready to open.
i love the color on these
one more picture of the heliconias
Candela,
I can't smell any vanilla scent but then I'm not a good smeller anyway. But I did smell an aroma this morning and went looking for it. It was my first gardenia and a giant blossom. I love the smell of gardenias and butterfly gingers. My other gardenias should follow soon and then my whole place will smell like perfume. :-)
Your plants look so nice and well kept. Like they have protection from the weather. That wanda will have some bloom.
Fred
delecie
I've been on vacation this week, and been lost in the garden!
My brunsfelsia is about 5 feet tall, although I've seen them taller at my friends garden. Mine is in a pot. I've grown several plants from seed, and must say they are the slowest growing plants (from seed) I've ever seen!
I am so happy to see you posting again, RJ. We have missed you!
I've missed everyone too.
The computer is in the guest bedroom (not my choice) and between my folks and Brian - I couldn't get to it..and when I could..I was too tired!
anybody want to smell this? It's only the second one that opened up but there are hundreds to go.
We may need to take up a collection and get you your own lap top so you can keep us updated all the time with your yard and greenhouse. Keep the pictures coming. We love them!!......and you, too!
gail
I love the fragrance of gardenias, but I do a lousy job of growing them!
Once they have plenty of flowers we pick one and take it into the house in a plate of water. The fragrance is breathtaking.
It is one of my favorite plants and they seem to like me too. They get an acid based food and are luscious and green for it. Full sun is great.
fred
Recognize this Gail!!? I nearly tripped over myself this morning when I saw the bloom. It's amazing, and rather large too. Thanks.
Hi RJudd, thanks for that great information! If I buy the Brunfelsia, it'll be a 3 gal. size and I'll plant it in the ground. I have a very objectionable view (my neighbors yard) that I'm working to screen out.
delecie, I can not get the thought of you removing the big red brazilian cloak from your yard, out of my mind while I am nursing a cutting here. It might help to prune it a little, and plant fast growing plants like bananas or castor bean for shade. If you wanted to keep it , they are so lovely.
RJ, your pictures are outstanding, your YTT is so tall. I feel rather silly for making a fuss over my few blooms now. I will plant mine in the ground this spring, maybe it might get as big as yours.
So far I harvested two ripe papayas from the tree, but they did not have a single seed in them. I still have a few more to try, they were very sweet.
Candela, love your powder puff pink blooms, they are texasbigleaves favorite blooming tropical. The shaving brush tree is unusual too .
There's not much blooming here right now for me. Everything is still in the greenhouses.
The YTT plant is in a pot on a stand, so that can be deceiving. I had 2 in pots, put the other one in front..and it doesn't seem to be doing as well. I'm wondering if they like being root bound. Don't feel silly, I make a fuss over all the blooms!
I had a papaya too earlier that didn't have any seeds...too green. The other tree has plenty of papayas getting fat. They should be ready soon.
The Beaumontia Grandiflora continues to bloom...Looks like they will be in clusters.
I would never had dreamed that a mere 200+ miles could make such a climate difference. We are still mostly winter. Rita has something that I don't have and we are sooooo close.
LouC
It does make a huge difference...the closer you are to water it seems..the more temperate.
Oddly though..this vine requires a preceding cold period in order to bloom according to a Thai botanist.
Placenciarita:
My mother feels the same way that you do about the Red Brazilian Cloak. :-) I also love it so I will let it stay for now. It was one of my first plants when I began gardening and I started it from a cutting. Here is a photograph of it 10 months before Hurricane Wilma, growing in the shade of my neighbor's former trees:
Should they be in the shade? I had heard a helper at the Jerrys Jungle saying the same thing to a customer...I have mine in the sun..they seem fine..
It will take the ytt forever to grow large enough to block views..!
I wanted to send a message to Rita but I figured maybe she'd see it here faster, and I wanted to share my gratititude because I am truly amazed
Rita
Thank you so much, I am completely overwhelmed by your generosity. I wish that the world was filled with people like you! Please, if you ever need a single thing...
Tropicanna, you are very welcome. Most of my plants were given to me by Texasbigleaves, Truetropical, and several other friends. I'm just passing it along. I hope that they grow and make you smile.
this orchid is starting to open
and this little brom so cute. i think it turns red.
this is my husbands plant.
Aww, well then Rita, texasbigleaves and TruTropical, etc, thank you all :)
I bought this Neomarica gracilis (Walking Blue Iris) in October, 2007. It bloomed on 29 March. This is my first bloom:
Tropicanna, Rita and I say you are WELCOME and THANK YOU. And be sure to keep coming back to the tropical plant forum. Send pictures when you can! Jerry
RJ, your Beaumontia Grandiflora is a beauty. I bet you go straight to see it when you get home from work . I can see three different vines in your picture.
candela , you are getting so creative with your coconut pots, my mother loves them.
delecie, I am always impressed with someone who knows the correct name of their plant. and you also remembered the date it was purchased.
congratulation on your first bloom.
Candela could I trouble you for an ID of the hanging basket behind your cute little bromeliad?
i hear you're feeling better jeri! it's funny that you ask that because I think everytime it sneaks in a picture, someone asks...i know i have! LOL (and can't for the life of me remember the name.) it's awesome....just love it!
ms. rita, do you know the name of the dark colored foliage plant on the right in your picture? i saw it combined with another plant the other day and it was so pretty!