November Flower Photos of the Day

[davidwood]

Valantines Day today, with a Rainbow Sherbet in the back ground.

[Charlie]

David, I don't know what that beetle is but I do know that they talk about fighting some sort of beetle that goes after hibiscus in Australia. Fortunately, it does not live around us. I think they trap them mostly but maybe they spray, too.

Kristen, if you do move to southern CA you will find plenty of horse properties. Not along the coastal strip so much - too developed - but 10 miles inland there are horses all over the place. I am more like 20 miles inland now and there are horses all around us. Of course it is not as balmy as Farmer D has in Hollywood but still nice weather for the most part.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Charlie, I would love it, if not just for a few years...  Keep our house here and rent it out.  Then we can move back at some point.  A change is always nice.  And horse property would be awesome!

[Nievesgirl]

Charlie, I would love it, if not just for a few years...  Keep our house here and rent it out.  Then we can move back at some point.  A change is always nice.  And horse property would be awesome!

There are some nice areas that allow you to have horses.
Palos Verdes comes to mind this city is really close to the beach but its expensive there. I like the area a lot though.

In the valley there are so many horse communities as well. I was driving with bf through sylmar and I was so amazed at how they have trails right in front of some homes. They have all these trails leading to  Los Angeles national forest and Hansen Dam.  The property in Sylmar is not expensive either you can find some nice homes with stables.  There are a few nice cities surrounding Sylmar also that have horse property.

[Doll]

Darren, the temps here are bouncing all over the place also. After 3 days in the low 80s it is supposed to get down to 36 Thursday night.

[Denise]

Doll- I'm loving your ruffly, colorful High Voltage. How big is Saffron Moon? I have a "garden variety" that looks very similar but is quite small.

[Doll]

Denise, Saffron Moon is in the 6-8 inch range. It is a prolific bloomer, but the branches can't seem to support the heavy blooms. I usually just pick them and enjoy them inside. It is very heavy textured and always last 2-3 days.

The garden variety you have is probably Full Moon.

If you like bright yellow blooms, check out Heaven Scent.
http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/heavenscentinfo.html

[Denise]

Doll- Heaven Scent is heavenly Now I see why you all have 50+ hibiscus! It's too easy to add one the the "have to have" list!!

Below is my tiny double yellow (hope it's ok to post that here )

Also a Simple Pleasures taking it's sweet time to open. Looks like it will have some interesting cold weather colors.

[Doll]

Yes, it is easy to become addicted. LOL
I have a Black Dream and Cindy's Heart that tried to open today, but couldn't quite make it due to cool temps. They'll finally open tomorrow.

[farmer d]

There are some nice areas that allow you to have horses.
Palos Verdes comes to mind this city is really close to the beach but its expensive there. I like the area a lot though.

In the valley there are so many horse communities as well. I was driving with bf through sylmar and I was so amazed at how they have trails right in front of some homes. They have all these trails leading to  Los Angeles national forest and Hansen Dam.  The property in Sylmar is not expensive either you can find some nice homes with stables.  There are a few nice cities surrounding Sylmar also that have horse property.

Yeah Kerry is right on with Palos Verdes - exceptional location but man that is the high rent district for sure.  Imagine high bluffs overlooking the ocean with winding hilly streets with lots of gate guarded mansions and such...

I think the one thing you totally lack in So Cal with horses is the ability to have those quiet, beautiful rides in the forest.  The closest I can think of is some of the horse trails by Griffith Park and the LA Zoo that hug the side of the Santa Monica Mountains.  Lots of oak trees and sage brush, that is the closest to forest in LA basin and surrounding valleys.  You could always find a place in the mountains just outside of LA, plenty of locations there...with forests and quiet.  Boy I miss the quiet!

Life in Hollyweird!  Best part of vacation in Hawaii is the quiet with only the sound of the trade winds ruffling the palm tree fronds.


Farmer D

[farmer d]

David your blooms are awesome.  Again all that hard work really pays off - great blooms and bushes.  A joy to look at.

John this time of year is crazy with the temps.  Normally for us it is warm and dry with a few spells of Santa Ana winds but this year it is already winter.  Today was 78 which is pretty typical but by Sat cold & rainy.  I've got buds just sitting there waiting and waiting.

Farmer D

[roadrunner]

David,

 Your beetle looks like some type of scarab beetle. Obviously destructive.

[Denise]

Darren, That Ay Carumba is stunning. How does it look out in the yard from a distance? I bet it pops right out! Nice!!!

[Louis]

Hi everyone, you all have fantastic photos and plants, Daren, the size of your bushes are truly a delight to see.

What I have here is my very first hybrid hibiscus. It is a cross between Moonstruck and Black Dream. Its going to be a vigorous plant but I am a bit disappointed in the color of the bloom. To me it looks just like a Moonstruck only more intense. Here is the history of the plant.

Moonstruck was pollinated by Black Dream on October 5th 2010, seed pod harvested on November 10th and planted the same day. This bloom opened just one day short of one full year. Thats a long time to be patient.

Bloom opened today on November 9 at 10 am.  The bush is loaded with buds, lets see if anything changes on other blooms. Bloom measures a full 8 inches.

I have numerous other crosses that are the same age as this one, with no buds on it yet. I have been pinching them back to make their bushes fuller. . Some of the crosses are:

Wild Grape x Purple Magic
Moonstruck x Tigerama
Tigerama x Black Dream
Stolen Kiss x Tigerama
Tigerama x Howard Hine (a nice red)
And others that I cannot remember now.

Louis

[helixturnhelix]

Darren I agree with you there, it's hard to get away from people when your in LA.  Your Hawaiian vacation sounds like paradise.   My dream is study Environmental Science and live in Hawaii

Louis, that's a nice Moonstruck look a like. It has a bigger eyezone which is nice and a good bush, and at 8 inches that's pretty nice for your first seedling!  Rainbow Christie passes on that large dark eye to its offspring very often, since moonstruck is a Rainbow Christie self cross I would not be surprised if you see more seedlings from your crosses with those traits.  I am looking forward to seeing how the blooms change and mature!