March Photos of the Day 2011

[davidwood]

Magnifique in its new pot and a Think Pink bloom. I have only showed the Think Pink bloom as the bush is not so nice yet, then again Magnifique is a bush that has taken me nearly 2 years to get a decent shape [it seems to branch all over the place], I think its starting to look really nice now though.

[Charlie]

Doll, the text shows up kind of small, but looking at the original I see that it is Too Pretty rather than Tea Party (nice name though). Too Pretty is a single yellow from Simple Pleasures and is still available on the Yellow Page of the online store.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Charlie, by mowers you mean those cows? Thats awesome!  Can you keep them?

[helixturnhelix]

Beautiful land in the country!  Perhaps you will be planting more than just hibiscus on that five acres,  starting the hidden valley vineyards would be a good idea

[Charlie]

There are vineyards in this area, Chris, but I have a feeling they can become as all encompassing as hibiscus once you get started. We do plan to landscape around the house and are looking into trees and shrubs that suit this climate zone. Water is the big issue in southern CA - very expensive these days. The water company here allows a set amount for household use at a reasonable price but if you go over that amount it gets progressively more expensive the more you use. Fortunately I can get a variance for the greenhouse that allows only a slightly more expensive water to be used in it. We are also looking into using recycled water for the landscaping. This is very cheap water that they sell to golf courses, parks, farms, and other large users that is not for drinking. They tell me if I jump through the hoops required we may qualify to get this very cheap water for use on plants.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

If you could get reclaimed water, that would be awesome.  Pretty scary the water issues in Southern California, so using reclaimed water on landscape plants makes alot of sense.  We really need to get past the stigma of reusing water, as all the bad pathogens, etc are removed.  What is left is water with a slightly elevated nutrient load maybe some other goodies (that are still present in your drinking water), which is great for plants!  More landscape use of reclaimed water imo

This needs to become a field of hibiscus in the near future  

[Louis]

Miserable snow/rain today, but it did not deter a showing of blooms.

Here we have a great Electric Orange, a close up of Black dragon, 8 inch Twin Dragons and a very nice Illuminati.

Enjoy,

Louis

[Louis]

Magnifique in its new pot and a Think Pink bloom. I have only showed the Think Pink bloom as the bush is not so nice yet, then again Magnifique is a bush that has taken me nearly 2 years to get a decent shape [it seems to branch all over the place], I think its starting to look really nice now though.

hello david, magnifique is a great looking bush and the flower is outstanding. i am in awe of your patio/garden.

louis

[blupit007]

Working on some photos to show of my blooms that I have had lately now that I got my new programs to make my photos smaller... but for now, this was my view while away for 2 weeks, but don't worry, I still stayed connected to you while in paradise. 

[davidwood]

hello David, magnifique is a great looking bush and the flower is outstanding. i am in awe of your patio/garden.

louis

Thanks Louis, allways nice to hear, in fact I am in awe of your magnificent blooms but strangely enough and I will try to explain how one of them is giving me a big problem. I have designed my garden sort of like a theater, so when I am on the stage i look out and can see as many cv's as possible, Cindy calls it a formal garden, I did not know this but I have steps and everything is tiered to give the best possible view, I do go to some extremes, for example Pochanontos and Samba Dancer where in a spot that I did not want to move prune or change the pot size, being of equal height I laid concrete so Samba Dancer would be 8 inches higher. The idea is there is no focal point, and then you keep posting ELECTRIC ORANGE ha ha, how can I possibly show that [and I love it] without it grabbing all the attention. Hopefully I will have come up with an idea by the time its next in the store.

[Louis]

how can I possibly show that [and I love it] without it grabbing all the attention. Hopefully I will have come up with an idea by the time its next in the store.

hello david,

no matter where you put EO in your garden, it will cause many a twisted neck where guests will do a double take.

you might want to make friends with a local chiropractor for your guests

louis

[helixturnhelix]

EO, looks great, I understand it is more compact that Saffron?

[blupit007]

Im back and posting photos.  I am staying up late to finish making my files small enough for you to enjoy.  My camera files are HUGE!  New set up, needed new Photoshop.  Here is my very first & second bloom off of 5th Dimension.  They are from the day before I left for vacation.... 2/25.  I had 3 blooms this week, none of which were as brilliant as this one.  I didn't even bother taking my camera out for them.  In fact, the second bloom to open (which is in these photos) is no where near the color as the very first.  I hope it wasn't just a tease.

[blupit007]

I forgot to post the second bloom I was talking about.  The first is loaded with color.  The second, not so much. 

Now this week, almost all yellow.  I think that maybe not getting their weekly dose of HVH fert while I was gone may be the culprit??  I duno.

Here is the second bloom anyway.

[blupit007]

My first bloom from The Path.  With this one, the same results... The first bloom was spectacular.  But this week that I have been home, the 2 blooms it gave me were almost all yellow.  I really wonder if just watering them with water for 2 weeks is what did it???