After almost two years, I'm beginning to see signs of a jungle.....just the way I like my backyard to be.
a peek into my garden and the hoyas the are the main attract
hoya cv. optamistic doing well under the ariaca palm
this hoya fungi bloom almost forms a whole sphere about 5 inches in diameter
this is some sort of ornamental pineapple.
this plant i bought was labled diversefolia...i don't think it is. awesome leaves some large 5 x 6. the new growth is copper colored. I love it. please let me know your thoughts on what it might be.
got this about 3 years ago labeled sp. India. Not sure what it is but some nice mottled budds on this umble. The flower looks like an acuta and its reall fragrant.
try to spot the adriana.......the past winter was mild here in st pete. with mostly above normal temps. but one night it dropped to 30 degrees and the hoyas took a big hit. didn't think the adriana was going to make it but its putting out new growth.
hoya shade area
hoya acuta variagata
Ric,
An outstanding garden paradise.
Doug
Ric - very inspiring! I love the tropical look of your garden - wish I could achieve that here....guess I'll just enjoy your pics! Thanks for sharing.
Karen
ooooo- I love it! Lucky you to live where you can do that- jungle-y is my favorite way to grow plants. The way they were intended to grow!
another back yard pic
Thanks Diane, Karen and Doug......the back yard is where I go to decompress. Nothing calms me down more than a walk tru the garden.
Looks like paradise to me, Ric.
Thanks for sharing,
Dee
Yes, Ric....your paradise is wonderful and shows your love of plants well.
Good to see all is back and doing well again. You as well.
Marcy
Ric, thanks for the update!! I really look forward to pictures of your garden, and how everything is growing and changing.
It is an absolute paradise. Do you have a hammock? I don't think I would ever want to leave. I have to settle for trying to create that same environment indoors...
S
Ric, my man! You got the green thumb going on as usual. How nice to see you and your new paradise. (Hello also to all my other Hoya friends)
Send me an e-mail when you have the chance. I am delighted to see you are still collecting Hoyas.
Mel
This is all I'm able to accomplish here in cold Illinois.........ok, just joking...I was looking at pictures from our Hawaiian trip, and saw this one - reminded me of Rick's garden....or Mel's.....sigh....I need to move south!!
Karen
I'm so jealous! I keep telling my husband I want to move to Florida from cold San Francisco, but he refuses, saying that's where people go to die. I can't imagine being able to grow hoyas outdoors. Glad you've recovered your garden since the hurricane.
Julia
That could be your garden, Karen! Beautiful picture. When did you go to Hawaii?
I am with you, Julia. It would be heaven to be able to play in the garden all year. All the spring trees, shrubs, and flowers are in full bloom in east Tennessee. There is something to be said about watching the regrowth and renewal of spring. It sure does my heart good!
Mel
I miss seasons! California is a time continuum. Sun or cold fog & wind. Those are our seasons. I loved Spring when I grew up in Indiana (probably because the winters were so dark and dreadful).
Julia
I'm with Sara,all it needs is a hammock!!!
True on the hammock.......and a nice glass of wine.
Ric, have you seen those misting tubes being sold for patios? They are quite inexpensive and would work famously in you shade area. I saw a 30' system at Sams for under $30.00. It would easily hook to the top of your canopy.
Hook one of those to a timer and you can not only hang that hammock, but have time to lay back and enjoy your paradise!
Mel
Beautiful and tranquil photo's Rick. You have done a wonderful job.
Hammock and misters ???? I'm still covering my peach tree's. :(
Tami dont feel .it's been in the 70-80's here for almost 2 weeks now and we are supposed to have frost tonight.
Sounds like our crazy weather. A couple weeks ago it was in the 70's for a couple days and then the next day it was 40? It has been warming up nicely during the day, but our spring winds have started in and it still dips down into the 30's at night. I have about an hour in the morning to sit downstairs and listen to the ducks and creek befor the winds pick up to about 30 mile per hour. Oh well, in about a month I can start complaining about how stinking hot it is :) Woo Hoo...... Bring it on !!!!
Thank you all for the nice compliments. As much as I complain about all the work that goes into maintaining the yard, I still enjoy it very much.......a hammock would be a good idea. I saw one at big lots for under 100 bucks and you don't need mature trees.....it has its own support machanism.
Mel, I might have to go and investigate the misting tubes. That would be the solution to my watering problems when I'm out of town.
As far as the weather........its been cold here!! burr Its been in the 80's for the last couple of months....and today it only made it to the mid 60's. Floridians are very sensitive to the cold. Downtown St Pete looked like a ghost town.
ric
Hey Ric....Your number 5 'could' be H. pentaphlebia if there are 5 veins...(don't have my glasses on) or could be glabra?????
Nice garden...really nice.
Carol,
It could be pentaphlebia....I don't have one to compare. I have a glabra and It is very different. Its a mature plant so maybe the flowers will solve the mystery. Thanks Carol!!
You might find a pentaphlebia on www.myhoyas.com to compare.....
Wow Ric, that is really well done!
What are the palms in your yard that look like miniature King Palms? I saw a lot of these (or what I think are these) in Hawaii and I never could figure out what they were.
Carol.......I think that is what it is. A pentaphlebia!! Christina has some great pics and discriptions. Thanks so much for keen eye!
Mark......the palms in the middle of the garden in clusters of three......the common name around here for them is "the christmas palm" ( Adonidia merrillii) around xmas it puts out its seed pods that turn scarlett red.....that look like ornaments. They don't get much higher then 15 feet.
Mel....I got a 50 foot misting system at lowes for 30 bucks.....without the timer which sells seperately for 30 more. Haven't installed it yet......but I will give and update. I'm excited about it!
GREAT Ric! I promise you will love it as will your Hoyas and their offspring. It is also a great way for you to cool off after breaking a good sweat in the garden. Keep us updated on the development of "Rics Rain Forest."
Mel
Ric...I find that just turning on the mist for about 5 mins at noon or in the top heat of the day, calls for less watering and the plants really respond.
Good growing!!
Ric, could you give some info on the misting system you found at Lowe's, please? I looked on the website and couldn't find anything. If you don't have the box for the product # or name, what dept did you find it in? Thanks for the help.
Barb
Hi Barb.........I got the 50 foot mister kit, you can added on to it if you need more area covered. Here is the website to the product manufacturer www.misterlandscaper.com. You will find it at lowes in the irrigation area.
ric
Thanks a bunch, ric! On my way to check it out asap. I'm lovin' mel's idea of a tropical rain forest in sunny 'ol FL.
Barb