Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

Happy November!  Here is a Thanksgiving bloom to start it off!  It has many different looks.

An all star favorite, Cindy's Heart.  And an extreme Belle du Jour at opening, and after it chilled out for a bit.

Here is some Space Oddity for ya!  Opening colors and faded colors.  Great big bush.  And a 24 hour progression of the freak noreaster that rocked CT this weekend.  Oh and a little creepy itsy bitsy friend for a Halloween spook.  And that he did when I was moving my plant when he dropped out of nowhere!

Kristen- Beautiful as always :) Thanksgiving is a perfect bloom to start out the November thread. That spider is NASTY!

hi kristen,

love thanksgiving and of course the plant also :)

you call that snow  ;D

lou

No lou, I dont....  ;) I hear it is like a war zone up there.  It is back to autumn for us, like nothing ever happened.  The last 2 days have been beautiful weather, and supposed to be all week.  Not to rub it in.  We have so many people staying in our hotels here on the shoreline.  They all are booked solid from everyone w/o power.  Its like Irene all over again.  We were one of the towns that was hit the hardest for Irene, so I feel your pain. :'(

Some more blooms:
Cherry Appaloosa
Confection Perfection
City Slicker opening & closing colors

Kristen I'm in love with your Space Oddity.  Just amazing colors!!!  City Slicker is creeping up on my list as well.

And that Cindy's Heart is something special.  Just magnificent...

Today's blooms...really impressed with Exuberance day 3 and looking great

Farmer D

a few more....

Farmer D

Awesome Pics Darren, those bright tropical colors are what southern Californian falls are all about.  Probably my favorite time of year there :)

Space Oddity is a great one, love that plant a very consistent bloomer and the colors are never disappointing.

Seems like you keep acquiring more and more plants Kristen, so much for getting rid of some ;)  Must be all the wood you've been getting. 

Darren, thanks for the compliment.  As always yours are never a disappointment.  Really love your COF.  City Slicker is a great bloom, the bush grows outward rather then upward.  Maybe something that would not suit your yard, and it fades a ton, but as pictured above, both opening and later in the day blooms are great.  In the sun it can fade to almost pale pink / white.  Space Oddity is exactly like Chris described.

Chris, I actually got rid of almost 20 of my plants.  Hows your Love Story?

Its doing well :)  Get rid of twenty and end up with 40 more, thats all our stories

Today's blooms...

VD (The Metropolis) has 14 open blooms today - a budding machine.
All That Jazz looking great with 5 at once too and Rise and Shine went triplets for the first time.

Farmer D

more from today....
Interesting observation today - now that my Rainbow Sherbet is a total monster of a bush all the blooms only appear in clusters at the top of all the branches.  It's great that it doesn't present blooms deep within the bush anymore, they're all on top and easy to open without obstruction.

Farmer D

and a few more...

Farmer D

Simple Pleasures  :D

Denise that SP is just perfect.

Picante

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/Picante11-2.jpg)

Farmer D

The awesome Heavy Metal

I want to add that Heavy Metal is LOADED with pollen.  I put it everywhere, so far I think the only one that took is with Saffron...

Thanks David! I am really enjoying my Simple Pleasures plant!

Kristen- That Heavy Metal is so bright! Nice!

I've been enjoying all the wonderful pictures everyone has been posting. I had to start moving some of my plants inside today. It's supposed to get down to 38 tonight.

Not sure what is happening with my camera at the moment, its taking some pictures a bit weird, which is a shame as I am getting great blooms at the moment, today I have a nice Cranberry Muffin and a heap of Dragons Breath.

David, check the settings.  It may have one of those weird infrared settings that nobody would ever use.  Or your card may be messed up.  Save all your photos that are on your card to your computer so you dont loose them.  Then go to menu on your camera (with your card in the camera) and find something that says format.  it will ask you if you are sure you want to format your card.  (THIS WILL DELETE ALL YOUR PHOTOS) select yes.  If it is a problem with your card this may help.  You should be in the habit of formatting your cards from time to time.  Cleans them up, and erases glitches.  Hope it helps.  Let me know.  What camera are you using?

A few from me today...  another mantis, this time a grey one on Heartbreak Hotel.  It actually turned its head to look at me after I took the picture.

Creme de la Creme with cooler weather colors.

Kristen, awesome Heavy Metal!  And David, I see your hibiscus even bloom well inside The Matrix.  ;)

Today's blooms...

Here comes winter early for us too, so much for the long range La Nina forecast

My camera is not showing the amazing fuchsia eye of Picante...really pretty
Great The Path and Palm Springs blooms today too

Farmer D

Thanks Kristen, I have had a check and for some reason[maybe battery low] its switching to fluorescent. I tried again and after 3 pics it did it again so I will charge it up and see what happens, maybe I need a new card. Very nice Heavy Metal.
 I did get a nice picture of Pepermint Drop mind before it went funny again.

David, your Dragons Breath is a blooming machine.
It ended up getting down to 35 last night.

Two second day Cindy's Heart out in the cold and my Hot Pepper bush inside with a second day bloom.

David that is really awesome to see so many blooms from a potted plant.  I'm telling you if they can just be able to get really big the results are breath-taking like that.  Great job David!!!

John that Cindy's Heart from 11-3 is the best I've seen.  Sooooo much color on it!  

Jordan your Creme de la creme is really something.  That pink just bolts out of the brown so well.  I'm impressed and love the praying mantis.  Once in a while I'll find one of their egg sacks built around a stem of a plant in the yard.  Pretty neat.

Today's blooms...and some from 2nd & 3rd day blooms.  This weather is good for long duration blooms so that keeps the color going...

I must say Splash has been really interesting, much darker and without much of that bubble gum pink.  Instead these really dark eyes with some white streaking in the throat.  Very different and kind of hard to get on the camera but very nice.  Reminds me of a play on Flickering Flame colors somewhat.

Farmer D

Some more...

Farmer D

Creme de la Creme looks great!

John 35 !!!, that's colder than my fridge. So here is an open invitation to you and all my friends on the Forum to visit me here in Nha Trang,  of course they will be expected to have at least 2 four inch cv's in there suitcase and a care product haha. Not a bad deal and I treat them to a week here   http://www.carpedmhotel.com/?mod=home  , its right across the street from me,  win win all around.

I have never had a second day Hot Pepper and yours looks nice, one really good thing about HP is that its easy to grow cuttings from and the really hot sun is never a problem.

One advantage of only getting 1 day blooms is you have no worries about cutting them, then placing them somewhere else for better viewing, I do that all the time.

Had a bloom from my High Voltage cutting today, the plant is only 4 inches tall so was suprised.

David, your November 3rd photos still look like your camera was being funny.  It shows on the highlights and in the greens.  But the photos you have from the 4th look back to normal.  What did you do?

Jordan,  That CDLC is out of this world.  Can't wait for mine to show me some of those!

Darren, that Acapulco Gold is the nicest one yet.

David, my blooms usually only last 1 day, but with this cold weather they are lasting 3 days.

Cindy's Heart and a 3rd day Hot Pepper

Kristen I did what you said and did that format thingy, like you said it cleared all the pics, they where very very clear for a few but keeps slipping back to the funny ways, so I have just been clearing the format again and now its been fine for a while, well it seems at least to be now staying on the Daylight setting which I think was the problem so thanks. I have a Sony Cybershot 6.0.

John after closely viewing your Hot Pepper pics I am 100% convinced that mine is not Hot Pepper.  Everything is different with mine, colors, blooms being really reflexed and the leaves are super different.

Maybe Charlie or Cindy would want to name it since it came from HVH.  Perhaps a misplace seedling that I've never see elsewhere.  Since the colors of mine are so intense and hot looking I was thinking of maybe Sonic Pepper or Sonic Flare.  Any other ideas?

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/HotPepper11-4.jpg)

Farmer D

Darren, it was the leaves that really made me think yours was not Hot Pepper. Your leaves look exactly like the leaves on my Cindy's Heart. Maybe Charlie has some idea what yours could be..

So Cal is off to the coldest start to November that I can remember.  It is totally winter climate now...totally sucks!  I had a feeling it would be this way this year as it seems so easy for any low pressure system to just head down the coast all the way to the Mexican border without any high pressure zones to divert them.

Short growing season it was, now let's see how my more mature plants cope this year...as well as the new ones.   I'd take better weather any day over prettier bloom colors.  43F last night, for us that is really cold this time of year.

Farmer D

Darren--it is downright nasty out! :( I'm in NorCal...it's cold and rainy and windy! Boo!

I have my little 4 inchers inside warm and cozy...wondering if I'll need to bring SP and HV in soon....seems so early!!

Here are a few shots of SP and HV from today. The open SP has been open for about 3 days and the almost-open SP and HV have been trying to open for about 3 days!

Hi Denise,

Yep, that weather will be here tomorrow...can't wait.

The cold weather definitely slows down the bloom opening process.  I get too impatient after waiting 4 or 5 days and the second it shows the signs of trying to finally open it gets a gentle helping hand...tomorrow rain or shine Ay Caramba will be opening.

Farmer D

Haha :) Love it.

Also- can't wait to see Ay Carumba. It's on my unofficial wishlist  ;)

Nice triple Saffron today.

The Path is wonderful Darren.

Hey Darren,

I still think that you still have Hot Pepper there, unless Charlie mismarked several of that cultivar.  I think yours looks so different because of the high fertilizer regime you use compared to other forum members.  I remembered a picture posted by Bart, who used a heavy fertilizer regime and had Hot Pepper blooms that looked just like yours.  Check it out here:  
http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=243.0;attach=843;image

http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=243.0;attach=847;image

http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=243.0;attach=849;image

Original thread:

http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/forum/index.php/topic,243.msg2013.html#msg2013

Darren I think for sure that is Hot Pepper, when I look at it I think Hot Pepper, just not the right colour [sounds a bit daft that], but I look at yours and look at mine and its the same bloom.

Chris, your like an open book! so smart ;)
Darren, your photo are looking so great.  Love the shots.  And David, as always thanks for showing us the whole garden shots.  Always a pleasure to see your garden.  I have always been a macro photographer at heart so I tend to shoot real tight shots of my hibiscus... I forget to show the whole picture... the whole plant is so nice for everyone to see.  And Because your camera seems to right itself after you format the card, I would say that your problem is more then likely your card.  Thankfully not your camera.  I would buy a new one... because once they start to go, they usually wont recover. 

Peppermint Drop looks great in your conditions, David. I'm glad to see it took the heat well. Superb Creme de la Creme, Jordan. The flowers have excellent size and form but its the unusual combo of colors that made us like it so well. Funny bumpy leaves, though. Never have been sure where those came from.

Charlie

A few from today

Darren, I too think your plant is Hot Pepper.  Mine bloomed like that after I fed HVH booster several times.

Charlie, does CDLC ever seem to pass its crinkly leaves onto its offspring?  I think they're cool and unusual.  :)

Wow Chris you outdid yourself!  You have an impressive recall to remember that off the top of your head...or work the search engine better than me.

Without a doubt Bart's HP is identical to mine, right down to the leaves.  Which is the one thing that keeps throwing me way off.  Can a heavy fertilizer regime (and heavy water as this is near a sprinkler head that keeps it really wet) cause the leaves to be altered to such a degree?  

Jordan you just mentioned that yours did that with the blooms too.  How about the leaves if you remember?  If so then that is amazing and I never would have thought that the plant's leaf shapes can be so altered.  The leaves in Bart's pics are just like mine so if someone else can confirm it then that leads to a very interesting characteristic to look for - in hibiscus if not plants in general.

Also amazing that the blooms can vary to this degree - just look at the photos below for comparison.  I know other factors are involved too...Bart is in Kentucky so climate wise pretty different.  Interesting!!!

Sounds like Sonic Pepper might not ever get off the ground...

Thanks again Chris that was really helpful.

Farmer D

Hey Jordan,

Ive been doing some sleuthing with CDLC offspring, and the census is  many of its offspring are slower growers or for some reason are unusually susceptible as seedlings and fail to make it to blooming size.  If you are going to hybridize with it, I think that crossing it to P's purples or P's Purple's F1 (Raindrop, Winter Lights, Sparkling Water, etc) would give you the greatest probability of success.  Actually crossing CDLC to Raindrop would be really interesting because it would be line breeding Rainbow Christie, and line breeding produces some really cool offspring and usually some unexpected surprises.    

So far Raindrop and Winter Lights seedlings are pretty vigorous, really good CVs to hybridize with, for bushes at least :)

No problem Darren, glad I could help :)

Leaves seem to change alot with amount of sun they get.  In hot all day sun, the leaves are likely going to look pretty different from a plant that is grown in more shade.  Humidity also seems to play a role in it as well, my CVs in Colorado had smaller and more firm leaves compared to what they have now up in the cool and humid PNW.   Nutrients also plays a role as well.  I can see changes happening with my Silver Dragon since using my own fertilizer mix and growing under lights, the new growth is coming out very glossy and firm compared to the leaves it came with.  I will try and take a picture of it a bit later :)

Good weather conditions for some bush shots...

Southwest planter from lft to rt:  Acapulco Gold, High Voltage, Venetian Brick & All That Jazz

Farmer D

more bush shots...

Farmer D

more bushes...

The Path is the short one front left, SLIH tall one in back and just to it's right behind the Lime Tree branches is Electric Orange

Farmer D

Its time to prune Darren!  Since it never freezes in LA, the fall prune technique will work well for you.  Getting a little bit of new growth before winter and when spring comes, they will take off.  Your bushes show really nice growth, but if you want your bushes fuller next year its time to prune!  I know if you do it now, you will be happy with the results next year :)

(and you can share cuttings with all your forum friends ;)

Also pics of the new shiny leaves on silver dragon

I think you are right chris...I need to too....So many of mine though have buds....but a lot not...so I am pruning a few at a time...I am new at this only a couple of years and never was quite sure when to prune ???....lynette

Sorry kristen, do you mean the card that stores the photo's , if it is I have a spare allready, or is there another card in the camera that makes it all work that will need to be replaced.

I can come over and help if you need help Darren ;) 

I have bought a lot of hibiscus from my friend's collection and she did not prune often. A lot of the bushes where misshaped and not growing the way I would like. I hacked them up so they should look nice for next year.  I have some at my BFs I will prune back now since its getting cold. I will post before and after prunes on Wednesday :)

Darren that is a wonderful set of photo's of your bushes, very enjoyed looking. I know your garden is different than mine [Cyndy calls mine formal and its what I like]and I am constantly pruning, but with you having such bigger bushes you could prune them into fantastic shape, which would make even more blooms, and can you imagine your Valentines Day next year as a huge perfect oval,awesome.

As always it is a battle in my head as to do I want to continue seeing blooms for a few more months or take the short term hit for the long run gain.

Some bushes could use it and others seem like they are growing into fine shapes with good bud counts.  I hate to lose height as I am trying to cover up that ugly wall behind them but if I prune all of them does that mean way more blooms even for the monster bushes like COF, FF & RS?  Probably...

Anyways, here are today's blooms....hey what happened it's already dark out?

1st time ever for Saffron (mini but I'll take it) and amazing Bonnie Lass.

Farmer D

John your blooms from this morning were beautiful.  Compassion was especially lovely with that awesome color fade into the yellow.  Great stuff!!!

Rudolph and Saffron both were minis today and are so similar...

Farmer D

Prosperity will one day be mine!!! :)

Thanksgiving and some strange creature today.

Here is a picture of my Bonnie Lass today chillin in my laundry room. She is in there with Confection Perfection, Tahitian Princess and Pinot Noir. All are less than a year old so I brought them in due to the cold. I tried leaving BL outside because it was the biggest of the "smalls" but after one night of 40-something temps, some of the leaves and the buds were wilty. Amazingly, she completely recovered after being brought inside! I was happy about that. I am wondering if I will get to see that bud bloom in the laundry room.....I'm hoping so as I haven't had a BL bloom yet!!

Darren, your Prosperity is looking great. I always like the ruffled blooms.

Charlie, you were right about Saffron Moon. I had to stake up the smaller branches. They couldn't support the heavy blooms.

Its been so sunny and unseasonably warm.  Mid 60's during the day and 40's at night.  The windows are beaming with warm intense sun... and my hib's are recovering from the move indoors.  Here is some from today.

Start with a super warm and quite pretty Voodoo Magic.  One of my favorite bushes of all.

And one of my all time favorite blooms.  Heavy Metal.  This one got pollinated by My Blue Heaven and vice versa.  I also put this pollen on Ruby Tuesday to see what happens.  I dont know if that one sets seed pods or not... Charlie?

I forgot to add this cute Ruby Tuesday in with the others.  So nice to see these colors inside the house.

How funny that you refer to these temps as warm while Darren and I are complaining that the exact same temps are miserable and wintery. :)

That Heavy Metal is awesome! And you know how I feel about Voodoo Magic! Beautiful!

David that is a Praying Mantis...good to have as it eats insects.

Denise your BL looks very happy and healthy.  I love the shine to the leaves.

John your blooms are all looking very nice, lasting many days on end - huh!?

Kristen I am jealous of how deep and dark the colors of your blooms are.  Just gorgeous...I can see why you're such a big fan of Saffron too as even my little mini is really impressive for sure.

Today was 63F & 43F, so everything is going on in slow motion here.  Blooms last for a week but new buds don't do much.  Should still be around 75F normally so with the winter weather Black Dream has gone super dark/awesome with 15 open blooms.

Farmer D

a few more...

Farmer D

Thanks Darren, I have just researched that on the Internet, I am presuming the one I have is not an adult so I will keep an eye out for its mum and dad, anything that can eat Mealybugs is my friend, they are my biggest pest.

Kristen did you see I asked about the camera, you probably missed it.
 When you talk about the card, do you mean the card that stores the pictures? Or is there another card inside the camera that needs to be changed.  Stunning Heavy Metal by the way.

Has anyone ever come across this creature. I would say its some sort of beetle. Its only really a problem on my doubles, Magnifique Samba Dancer etc, and its really horrible, what it does is worm its way into a semi-opened double bloom and then eats all it can, when I find it and flick it out its usually that fat it cant fly away.

Yeah, CT is full of seasons... It is a nice thing to have changes, but I am bugging Matt to move to CA.  I would love to have beautiful warm sunny days 365!  Although it is nice to go outside on a autumn day, have it be a crisp fresh 55º and go for a trail ride on my horse though.  I would miss that.  Thanks for the HM and VM compliment.  Love those blooms!

Darren, I do get some great colors in CT.  Even in the summer time with the high temps, the night time still stays nice and cool, around 70-80, so I get the nice colors then too.

David, sorry not to respond.  Your Sony uses a Memory stick DUO right.  That is the only card that you need to worry about.  You should replace that.  They are pretty inexpensive right now as technology is growing.  You can get a bigger / faster card for half the price of what you paid when you bought the one you are using now probably.  I just looked online for them, here they are around $30 for a 8 GB card which for your camera is plenty big.  If this doesn't solve the problem, you may need to bring it into a camera store and have it checked out. 

Kristen as an added bonus to moving out here you get the chance to go to an open house.  Now isn't that the tipping point for the decision?

Weather is slowly improving as today it hit 70 and next two days in high 70s.  Then comes the weekend and lots of rain and cold weather again...

Ay Caramba is sure an interesting CV as it has some exciting unorthodox form in colder weather.  Almost looks like flames being blown out almost backwards from the bud.  Pretty wild!

Farmer D

Haha good luck Kristen making it in California.  Talk about one of the worst job markets in the country,  I would love to move back to Southern California, but even with my science/engineering background the job prospects are slim.  Probably for the same price you have your nice house in CT, you could get a studio in LA, lol. 

Darren,  fantastic blooms, just wait till you start seeing your blues and brown blooms in this cooler weather, those blooms will be the nicest you see this year.  I have to agree that orange and yellow blooms are not usually as nice in cooler weather, this is probably why my "taste" in CVs has switched from bright oranges and yellows to blues and browns.  They are just much more stunning in my weather conditions here in the PNW.  There is one cv that I thought was much nicer in cooler weather and that is Cosmic Gold.  The blooms got huge and had a beautiful tangerine cast on them when the weather cooled off in the fall.  Nice bush on that one too, I really enjoy the reddish wood and dark green leaves that one has.   

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/oahu-maui2004216-1.jpg)
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

David,

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

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

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

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/moondream/moonxdream.jpg)

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! 

Wow, Thanks everyone for the nice map out day dreaming.  I have been looking up every one of the suggestions on google maps.  Love the Palos Verdes area!  Million dollar homes?  pseh!  haha.  I would love to some day get out there.

Darren, that Ay Caramba is AWESOME! 

Louis, Great first seedling!  Pretty!

Louis, your seedling bloom looks fantastic.

Louis I cant believe you are disappointed, its wonderful and I would be so thrilled if it was mine, how tall is the bush?
I have 1 seedling left out of the 5 I had growing, its now at 6 feet with no sign of a bud, maybe soon.

hi david, thanks for the nice words. the bush is about 2-1/2 feet tall and about 18 inches across. leaves are huge.

i was hoping for more pink or red like black dream, however this is only the first one. if all goes well,. i should have lots more in the next couple of months of all crosses.

louis

Thanks Dave, mind you knowing what it is is not going to help me kill it. I only have Spinosad so I am hoping that works, I spoke to soon when I said that it was only affecting my doubles, yesterday it ate a Hot Southern Nights bud, they are really horrible. Thing is its probably my fault its here, I have a new Plumeria which has started blooming with a lovely scent and I think that's what first attracted them up here on the roof . If I have to I will get rid of the tree but it may even be to late  for that now.

John that Cinnamon Splendor bloom is really nice - to me it is very regal in appearance.  Good colors for this time of year.

Louis your seedling is really nice.  Nothing wrong with an exaggerated Moonstruck bloom for sure.  Having a seedling turn out a lot like one parent is common so I try to use that to my advantage.  When I purchase hibiscus seeds that are crosses I keep that in mind hoping that they turn out like one of the parents that I cannot get or do not have as a plant.  If not then hopefully a new look bloom, but it does eliminate the worry of having hibiscus with the same blooms.

Anyways what do I know....today's only blooms but very nice twins!

I reiterate that if you can get this CV get it - it has everything you want going for it.  Out of my 70+ it is the all around best.  Great job Charlie.
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/Prosperity11-102.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/Prosperity11-10.jpg)

Farmer D

Here is what it looks like, too bad the blooms aren't facing directly towards the street this time but still nice.

Farmer D

Darren- Quit telling everyone to get this one! You're slimming my chances! ;) Very nice picture, LOVE it!

Hey Darren- Thanks for the wide shot of Ay Carumba. It really does stand out. So pretty. Maybe I'll have that one day too... :)

Nice Saffron and P's Purple today.

Darn it Darrin, I wish you'd stop posting those gorgeous pictures of your Prosperity. I get sick with every one, wondering how and why I passed on it. Oh, now I remember, no space left. Guess I'll need to find or make some.   LOL

David on those beetles I don't know if you got a chance to read my initial post. I deleted most of it as it didn't seem the appropriate place for it. It had some info on its likely life cycle.
The instructions with the Spinosad should say if it's effective on beetles. If not, try handpicking and killing as many as possible.  Most scarab beetles if memory serves lay their eggs in the soil, the larva (grubs) feed on roots, pupate, then the emerging adults repeat the process. That cycle can vary from once to several times a year depending on the species and local climate I'd imagine. I'll do some research and if I find anything that seems helpful I'll post it in the hibiscus care topics.

Oh I forgot to ask, how long are those beetles and have you noticed them feeding on anything else in your garden?

dave

Darren, the one thing I like about Prosperity is the colors seem consistent no matter what the conditions are.

David, your Saffron is beautiful.

It took 2 days for this CH to open. It was 36 this morning.

Hi Lou, congratulations on that first seedling. Pretty darn good in my opinion. I'd like to grow it if you get to a point you are going to prune it.

Charlie

Thanks Dave, I did reply but its my own fault you did not see it as I put it in this section rather than create a new one in Care[know for next time]. I also read about Spinosad so am trying that and also checking physically every few hours, saw none yesterday so that was a relief. They are the size of my finger nail and I first noticed them as they crawled into the small bloom on my Plumeria, that's what made me think it was the  scent that attracted them to the garden, coincidentally the 2 doubles and Hot Southern Nights which is all that's been attacked so far are under this Plumeria. Its a bit of a worry that you say they may lay there eggs in the soil, I was hoping that they where laying there eggs in the blooms, much easier to control. Still not much else I can do for the moment, Just Spinosad and my size 9 shoe.

David your beetles are about the size and similar color to the ones that feasted on my rose blooms for a few weeks this summer. I also put another post on this in the hibiscus care portion on the forum with a little additional info.

dave

Sorry Dave and Denise but I bet Charlie will have a decent supply of Prosperity in 2012.  It is really a vigorous grower so it's probably one of the easier ones to grow more of.  John you're right on with the consistency of the blooms.  They go for 3 days usually and the colors just stay the same.  Pretty much the only CV I have that can do that, even in summer.  I leave them on till they literally just fall of the plant. 

Farmer D

Today Acapulco Gold blessed us with quintuplets.  Pretty cool how you can see the variations with each bloom.  This is another amazing CV that I can't say enough good things about.  It is now officially as tall as me at 5'9".  A super duper bloomer, I have to get a shot of the branches near the top.  There are as many buds as leaves forming.  So much energy in this plant - it just goes!!!

Farmer D

hi charlie,

as soon as i can prune, i will send wood. thanks for your encouragement.

lou

Oh Darren- I actually love seeing the Prosperity pictures! Keep 'em coming! I should have bought it when I had the chance. Now I just have to hope you are right about Charlie having more! Nice shots of AG too. My friend has that one and I love it!! To me, it looks like a "classic" hibiscus. Big, bold & beautiful.

There will be a few dozen Prosperity when the 2012 store opens December 30.

Charlie

Just one today

My New Year's Resolution is to make one of them mine!!!

Thanks, Lou. I look forward to seeing what else you get.

Charlie

Another Simple Pleasures today. Not as large and bold as the perfect-weather October blooms, but still beautiful nonetheless.

John your Compassion is just amazingly beautiful.  That is such a soft beauty there, especially in the morning light.  Makes me want one too...

Denise love your Simple Pleasures.  I hope it keeps blooming all winter long for you.

Today is quite impressive with some real stunners!!!  Finally getting some payback for the early winter weather.  Sorry for the blow up shots but these need to be seen in large format for their awesomeness.

Palm Springs
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/PalmSprings11-12.jpg)

Tahitian Lavender Mist - finally back after severe spider mites
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/TahitianLavenderMist11-122.jpg)

Acapulco Gold Mania
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/AcapulcoGoldSextuplets11-12.jpg)

Ay Caramba
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/AyCaramba11-12.jpg)

Farmer D

some more...

Farmer D

Beautiful! Darren- How big is Ay Carumba?

Beautiful, Darren. I was afraid the recent cold nights might have put a damper on your blooms but obviously not. We can often go to Thanksgiving with great blooms in southern CA.

Charlie

Darren, your Acapulco Gold is amazing.

A nice High Voltage today.

7" on both blooms yesterday.  As the weather gets cooler AC seems to get a lot more orange in the blooms which really makes it much more dramatic looking.  Funny how some CVs go darker and others lighter with the cooler weather.  This one is now pretty much in the shade 24/7 due to sun angle this time of year so maybe that too.

Farmer D

This morning's blooms....

Farmer D

Here are some more bush shots...this time my backyard which is my newer section of CVs.  Maybe late next year these plants will all be much bigger and like the front yard hopefully.

Miss Congeniality and Splash after pruning.  I figure this is the best these plants are going to look before we get some of those cold windy dry days that the hibs hate.  Lots of leaf burn when that happens.  Wish they could all stay green like now.

Farmer D

more backyard bushes...

Farmer D

more backyarders....

Farmer D

and a few more...

Farmer D

I think this is it for now...

Farmer D

Jeez Darren, I didn't realize you had a back yard full too! How exciting :)

My Bonnie Lass bloomed for the first time ever today! I'm excited to be posting something new from me. :)

Black Dream is staking its claim as one of the more prolific bloomers. Got some of my darkest ever today

Darren- Look how different our Bonnie Lasses look!

Ernest, that Black Dream is awesome!  Denise your Simple Pleasures makes me miss mine.  I sent it over to my mom and dad's house for the winter.  It living over there in something similar to a warm sunny island resort!  I should take some photos of them all there to show you the madness.  I cant believe my parents are still taking to me after invading their home like I did!

Darren, I think you will eventually be getting rid of all your grass and have nothing but hibiscus in your yard.

Denise, your Bonnie Lass looked great. I have a nice big bud on my Heaven Scent so hopefully later this week I will have a bloom to show you.

Denise yours are very pretty.  I took my shots right as they opened so not their final look as now they look a lot like yours.  Such an awesome bloom - big and pretty!

Farmer D

Ernest I agree with you completely.  Prolific is a great word to describe the amount of blooms this CV puts out daily.  I love it love it love it!

These are day 3 blooms still looking nice but my camera just doesn't do the darkness justice.

Farmer D

OK everyone remember this day, Nov 14 2011.  It could be the day that my hibiscus finally get their big break.  They're shooting a TV show across the street - Private Practice I believe so let's see if they finally get discovered...

Where's Deb been? I know she would want to cheer them on, maybe even become their agent....

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/HollywoodHibiscus11-142.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/HollywoodHibiscus11-143.jpg)

Farmer D

OK, back to reality...today's blooms

1st Black Dragon bloom while I'm here...
Ay Caramba going on day 3 and looking great

Farmer D

Farmer (Is it Darren?), beautiful pictures as always. Love the Black Dragon. Ay Caramba and Tahitian Mist are breathtaking.

Erny

Doll- Can't wait to see the Heaven's Scent. Thanks for thinkin' of me! :)

Darren- Bonnie Lass is a nice one! I waited alllll Spring and Summer for this first bloom and I like it! It's more subtle than some of the brighter ones, but still nice. I look forward to seeing the heavy ruffling the description says Summer heat can bring. The plant seems very nice too.
You are too funny with the sunglasses on your flowers! Were they filming a scene from a show at someone's house on your street?

Hey does anyone know what happened to Deb (Yashodhara)?  I haven't seen a post from her in a very long time....I hope everything is ok with her.

Farmer D

Yeah they were filming the tv series Private Practice today using both houses across the street.  Unfortunately I don't think my hibiscus got discovered today.  I guess they will remain the forum's little secret...

Funny, with the cooler weather I've noticed a majority of my blooms opening in the late afternoon.  I guess everything slows down so much including the bloom opening process that it takes all day to open now...

A few from sunset.  Probably the best colored All That Jazz I've had.  So pretty!  And COF getting ready for another show of blooms...

Farmer D

couple more...

Farmer D

Maybe next time... :)

Let's see the pics!  :D

Darren, that is really cool.  I wonder if we will see your house in the background?  That would be really cool.  I used to watch that show, but now I work the night it is on...  Ill ask my friend to keep an eye out for an insanely floriverous (sp) yard in the background!

Here is two from today.
My Blue Heaven is getting nice and tall, soon I will chop the top to start the tree process. I asked Tajah to sit next to it so you can see a size comparison.  She is 70 pounds and sits about 2.5-3' tall.
And such a beautiful Voodoo Magic.  Charlie, how similar is this to Tigerama?  This bloom I got today looks like the photos to me.

Everyone's blooms are simply amazing.

A few new blooms. Black Dream twins day 3. Donna Lynn is one of my favorite flowers. Lovely Lil X2. Georgia's Pearl day 2. The last is Schlumbergia also known as "Thanksgiving Cactus" but is obviously confused about the dates.

Finally got a pic from Bf

Here is a cool weather shockwave
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v37/p408753196-3.jpg)

Kristen MBH is just amazing.  Such deep colors, man CT does those dark blooms so well.

John your Cindy's Heart is so full of magenta it is amazing.  That is just beautiful.  It's going to throw it's own party!!!

Ernest great stuff there, I like the bush shots a lot.  So glad you're posting pics with the rest of us.

Kerry that Shockwave is a dazzler.  I really like it a lot - tons of energy and personality in that bloom.  Glad to see you got a pic up, can't wait for more.

Well today was just awesome - I can't post over 60 pics so I'll just somehow pick and choose.  Funny how all my plants are in sync with their blooms.  One thing that I think is really helping them out now that it is winter is I am spraying very heavily once a day with SuperNova when it is a bit warmer and dry.  They really seem to like it and it is showing now with lots more blooms.

Bon Temps had been off my radar pretty much all season after a slow and hefty spider mite infestation but it is steadily coming back...just look at this!!

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/BonTemps11-15.jpg)

I forgot how beautiful the blooms are in cool weather with those orangy highlights on the edges and the really warm yellow and pink.  Great CV!!

Farmer D

Cindy's Heart also coming back after spider mites with an interesting look.  Love it next to T L Mist...
COF 13 open blooms, BD 9 not bad for November

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/TahitianLavenderMistTwinsCindysHeartTwins11-15.jpg)

Farmer D

Some more...

Farmer D

Darren- What a nice bunch today! It must be quite a sight in person. Do you get a lot of comments from neighbors, delivery people, etc.?

My best friend has Acapulco Gold and Rainbow Sherbert and she got a comment from one of her clients that "they don't even look real! They look like a cartoon!" I liked that:)

Darren, your Cindy's Heart might need more sun. I have found that I get the best colors on CH in full sun.

A few from today. The last one is a green anole crawling around on my Voodoo Queen.

Denise the neighbors always comment when walking by.  Nice to bring a smile to people's face without even having to say a word to them first.

John you're totally right with Cindy's Heart.  It is in a hot afternoon sunny spot that I keep more dry for it.  My goal is to get it to look like your CH blooms.  Those *!?&%$?! spider mites are the source of my weird cosmic looking blooms currently.  I also recently changed out the soil all around and below CH for much better drainage and it is slowly adjusting.

Hey you should start a new topic for hibiscus and lizards.  I got one around here to I see once in a blue moon.  That is an excellent shot!!!!

Today' blooms...Day 4 on AC blooms

Flickering Flame with petaloid almost as big as the bloom

Farmer D

Pretty stuff, everybody!

Today I had two blooms. An interesting High Voltage, and a small, pale Confection Perfection. It was only about 5.5-6 inches. Not like the big bright ones I got in the Summer. Still nice to look at though!

Two pics I took at my local botanical gardens

This is Abutilon Hybridum which is part of the Mallow family.

(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v37/p374373507-4.jpg)

Here is a red garden Variety
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v31/p217588131-4.jpg)

A few pics today, Think Pink and Peppermint Drop next to a Rainbow Sherbet. Also a picture of a side of the garden I am developing, nearly finished but High Voltage will have to be moved as its reasonably shaded most of the day and that loves the sun.

I didn't actually want to do it [because I am lazy] but I have had no choice, having seen Darren's results I decided to do as he and increase the fertiliser, especially Potash and the results have been amazing, better blooms and stronger plants, and much bigger, I have had to give away most of my garden Hibs as there weren't room for all this growth, the only downside is I now have to water twice a day, I suppose doesn't sound a hardship but a good half hour on the roof in the sun is quite draining.

All your work shows in the garden, David. The hibiscus look spectacular.

Charlie

Darren, your Flickering Flame looks like a double with that huge petaloid.

David, how much sun does Peppermint Drop get everyday. It sure is a beauty.

David, how much sun does Peppermint Drop get everyday. It sure is a beauty.


[/quote]
John no worries with the sun [6 or 7 hours] and thrives. I should thinks its a near certainty to become a ''tried and true'' as its just so easy to grow. Its going to be a large lush bush as well, its fairly big now and apart from a little pinch a few months ago I have done nothing, it did take its time to start budding up and its always the last in the day to bloom [about 10am], but its really perfect.

I liked the look of that Green Lizard thing and would love one of them in my garden, cant say the same for that spider of Darren's, for sure I would not be taking a picture of it.

David, that's great to know about Peppermint Drop. I'll have to add that to my wishlist. Those lizards are all over the place here in Houston.

Here's a pic of Saffron Moon and Heaven Scent side by side. Heaven Scent is a more intense yellow. HS hasn't opened all the way yet so I don't think there will be a big difference in size.

Dark Nebula in Simi Valley, CA

hi david, stunning plant, i have never seen one.

louis

Hi Louis.  Dark Nebula is a slow grower (3rd year for this one) and I am always fighting the thrips, but it is my favorite of all my Hibiscus.  HVH hasn't offered it the past few years. 

Hi Everyone,

Wonderful photos of some great plants.

I was rewarded with a new hybrid bloom after waiting one year from seed to bloom. This is the second bloom from the cross of moonstruck x black dream. I posted a photo last week of one of the new blooms that looked similar to moonstruck. this one, however has a look all of its own. this flower shows more black from black dream.

what is interesting is that the throat is very very dark, almost black. i posted a photo showing my color picker in photoshop with the spot on the throat that i clicked on and the results in the color box. you will see that the color is very close to pure black. from one foot, the throat is black, on close exam, you can see some dark red or maroon tint.

i had to coax the last part of the opening of the flower. it measures 6 inches and i hope it will get larger as it matures.  the bush is tall at 3 feet and has the leaves of black dream.

louis


(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/new-dream-11-17/moonxdream-2.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/new-dream-11-17/throat.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/new-dream-11-17/throat-2.jpg)

Wow!!!DavidZ that is just stunning.

David (Vietnam) your plants are just awesome.  Few can have claim such nice plants that are potted.

David of Simi thank you for sharing Dark Nebula, that is one bloom not seen too often.  The name is perfect for it.  You would think the thrips would be gone this time of year but I have had a small resurgence of them too especially in my T Princess.  I noticed they love my plumeria blossoms so that is my constant source.

Louis that is much more of a cross between the two.   Exciting stuff there.  That eye is a killer.  Can't wait to see more blooms from that one...

Well here are some run of the mill regular blooms except for T Princess in pink glory today...

Also Daisy Mae Plant is undergoing an explosive growth spurt showing a ridiculous number of new branches and buds.  This is what I've experienced with Chariots of Fire, Rainbow Sherbet, Valentines Day and Black Dream.  These CVs get to a certain size and they just go into a whole other level - the monster level of existence.  Very impressive!

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/DaisyMaePlant11-17.jpg)

Farmer D



Farmer D

A few more...VD shot shows how many buds are on the bush when it hits the monster size status.

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/ValentinesDayTriplets11-17.jpg)

Farmer D

Greetings everyone from the cold and snowy North!

Two indoor bloomers for me today:

Cindy's Heart (what a happy indoor camper... 8" bloom!)
Dragon's Breath (blood red with LOTS of "breath")

Deb
 ;)

Louis, That is a BEAUTY!  Great job!

David Z, beautiful bloom. 

Deb, great shots!  I love the indoor jungle shot especially.  I feel your pain sista!

My Heaven Scent was fully opened today. Charlie, does Heaven Scent bloom as a double in cooler weather and as a single in hot weather?

Woah awesome Dark Nebula!  I gave some plants to my aunt and uncle in Simi Valley, Fallen Hero is one that has really taken off this year at their place.  I was worried about that one not making it, but it sprung up about 2 feet this year.

John, Heavens Scent usually bloomed as a cupa and saucer/single when temps were in the 60s and 70s and usually a double when temps were in hte 80s - 90s.  I bet as with all double/single CVs anything is possible depending on what they feel like doing.

Louis, that seedling sure is looking nice!  It will be interesting to see what typical bloom will look like, still looks like a keeper :)

Deb, loving the indoor garden!  I am building a grow rack for my room this year, need to get a few more t5s for it.  I am using 6400k bulbs, what are you using?  Judging by the pink hue I am guessing 3000k?  How are your plants doing under those lights? I didn't want too much in the red spectrum because although it promotes budding in perrenial species it aparently makes leggier plants/bushes so I stuck with a more red-blue balanced bulb. Do you observe that your plants are more leggy with the 2700-3000k bulbs? :)  

Chris, I think you are probably right about it doing what it wants. It doesn't matter to me as I think it looks great either way. It's almost like having two varieties in one.


I would love to see some pics of Fallen Hero if you have any.

Doll, I checked my photos of Heaven Scent as a single and they are in winter. I posted one below that was dated Dec 25, 2002, as an example. As Chris said, this type is somewhat unpredictable but in general cool weather gives you singles and hot weather doubles with Rosalind and her offspring.

Charlie

Well I have finished the left side of my garden and am quite pleased,  created loads of room to grow more and let the ones I have spread out.
 A pair of Bridal Paths today, I think this is one cv that's going to need a lot of that  room.

Nice Heaven Scent, Doll!

Also Daisy Mae Plant is undergoing an explosive growth spurt showing a ridiculous number of new branches and buds.  This is what I've experienced with Chariots of Fire, Rainbow Sherbet, Valentines Day and Black Dream.  These CVs get to a certain size and they just go into a whole other level - the monster level of existence.  Very impressive!

Farmer D
[/quote]
I hope you are right Darren and am quite exited about it, my growth is a few months behind yours but growing fast, it will be great to get more buds, especially on Rainbow Sherbert which is one of my favourites and is usually just one at a time.

Today's blooms

Simple Pleasures....sorry if you're tired of seeing this one from me :) I don't think it will ever stop blooming....and every bloom is photo-worthy. Can't help myself! :)

Wow!! Deb great picture of your jungle, mind you when I first saw the picture as a thumbnail I thought that's a first on here, a Buddhist shrine,the set up you have with your lights is so similar to what I see in most houses every day here in Nha Trang, it really is uncanny, I wonder if that's why in just a few days its attracted over 240 views, wonderful.

Deb love your growing station especially since it looks like a religious hibiscus shrine.  Happy Plants!

Today's blooms...

Farmer D

Darren- I love that top shot of Acapulco Gold! Besides the flower being beautiful, I love the other flowers in the background, and the Fall-colored tree. So pretty!

Darren I see another one of those beautiful Prosperty pics of yours.  That's dirty pool.  Not really, just kidding. Can't wait to get me one.

dave

Some cooler weather blooms today. Wheel of Fortune shortly after opening, Prima Ballerina, Night Fire bush with solitary bloom, Close up of Night Fire , Kinchen's Yellow.

Here are a few more. Love Story, Topaz Glory, Fiesta, Erica Nicole, and Jazz.

Denise and David thanks for the compliments.  Definitely some pretty colors out there right now.

Ernest great pics and I really appreciate the bush shot on NightFire.  I hope mine one day looks like that too.  Nice and full.

Farmer D

Thanks Farmer D. Unfortunately I have a lot more pictures of bushes than flowers. It seems all my plants have been in a growth phase and are just now starting to bud. That Night Fire  is in a line of plants along the front of the house facing south but shielded somewhat by plumerias and proteas.

The first photo shows from L to R Velvet Illusion, Haut Coutere, Night Fire, Simple Pleasures, and Living Legend down on the end. Second shows some of the protea and plumeria in front. Third is looking back the other way at Night Fire, Haut Coutere, and Velvet Illusion. Fourth is Simple Pleasures trying to take over the yard and crowding Love Story on the R and Night Fire on the L. Last two are pull backs to give perspective. I can post more bushes if you're interested in seeing them.

Wonderful photo's Ernest, what is that tree right at the front, its huge, is it a palm tree?

Yes David, two huge palm trees that cast their shadows clear back to the house. The plumeria in the right foreground is Bali Whirl, the only double-flowered plumeria.

Erny

Erny,

Those are fantastic shots.  Very helpful to see what long term hibiscus in ground in So Cal can look like after many years.  That is exactly the look I'm shooting for with my bushes as well.  They can be really attractive landscaping at this stage even without blooms.  Also having them up against your house protects them somewhat too unlike mine which are mostly out in the open.

Quite a few of my CVs have been in growth only stages the last couple of months too.   Maybe the cooler weather triggers this for them as a way to prepare for winter.  Kind of like focusing on one last strong growth spurt before they shut down for the winter.  The bigger and thicker the branching the better survival chances?

I'm sure Chris and/or Charlie can expand...

Farmer D

Excellent, Ernest! I haven't seen some of those varieties in several years. I'm glad to see that you have Prima Ballerina. Years ago in Valley Center that one showed some very good cold tolerance but I switched to growing its offspring Standing Ovation and let Prima Ballerina disappear. Next summer perhaps you can try using HVH Booster (potassium nitrate) with plenty of water and get a record number of flowers on all these great bushes.

Charlie

Wow, I remember when Kitchens Yellow was popular. Thanks for sharing.

One of the three blooms on my CH is a second day bloom.

Doll, That is a perfect High Voltage!

Ernest, I love your home!

John those are stunning Cindy's Hearts.  Perfect in every way!! WOW!!

Today's cold blooms...

Farmer D

Thanks Denise. High Voltage is so beautiful this time of year.

Darren, those are some really intense colors. I'm hoping  for a warmer than normal winter here. I still have my Cindy's Heart and High Voltage outside. I would love to keep them out all winter. We'll see.

John, you are in Texas, right? I am in N. California and still have my High Voltage and Simple Pleasures outside. The lowest it's gotten is about 39 so far.... I'm thinking I'll leave them outside unless it hits freezing? Wondering if I should risk it though?

Yes, I live in Houston. Plants in pots can't withstand the cold temps as well as those in the ground. I think because the roots get cold. You'll know if they get too cold because the leaves will droop. If that should happen bring them inside immediately and they will bounce back in a few hours. It's already gotten down to 35 once here so far. Since my pots are sunk in the ground they came through fine. I have moved about half of my plants inside so far. My High Voltage are planted directly in the ground. I will wait till the last minute to dig them up.

Thanks for the advice. I know the droop you're talking about. It happened to my Bonnie Lass the first night it got into the 40's and I was so bummed....but like you said, a few hours in the house and it bounced right back! Phew! I guess I will just continue to keep an eye on the bigger ones..

Farmer D, great photos as usual. Thanks for showing Scarlet Beauty. I just got a 4" size SB from HVH. That Vin Beaujolais looks like a must-have also.

Charlie, I'm using 1/2 lb Special Blend and 1/2 lb Booster in my EZ Flo injector; also doing a weekly hose spray with the same mix and another weekly spray with Super Nova. What is the shelf life of Super Nova? I found an old bottle in a cabinet and figure it is at least two or three years old. ( I have no good explanation for why I bought it and never used it).

 Thanks Denise. I'll pass along the compliment to my wife who selected our house. My only input was that the yard must be large enough to accomodate lots of tropical plants. Are you subject to freezes in your part of the Bay Area? I grew up in San Jose and don't recall any freezes in the Santa Clara valley but I'm not sure I can trust adolescent memories.

Looks like you got your large yard :)

Yes, we do get some freezes here. In 2009 we even got one day of snow!! :) I am sure a lot of the people on this forum would laugh at our little snow storm though! It sure was fun for the kids that day though!

Great photos Ernest...doll darren and denise.....denise most of mine are outside ...I am trying plankets plant covers this year.....darren and ernest...I think your areas are perfect for hibs...just beautiful...and David your garden is so pretty...luv peppermint drop..and kristen luv your hummingbird shots.....here are some blooms from this week....Lynette

and some more....

and the rest...

Lynette, they all look great! Look how bright your Confection Perfection is! Mine was so pale last week when it bloomed. I'm guessing because it has been inside a lot of the time now that it's been getting colder. Beautiful!

Denise....the cold or heat does not affect confection perfection.....just keeps budding up.. :D

Lynett, so nice, your Confection Perfection is a treat to see.

 I have also had a treat today, Magnifique with a pair of blooms, truth is this is not an easy cv to look after, well it certainly isn't here, I get about 1 bud in 4 to bloom and its taken me over 2 years to get the bush to some sort of decent shape, but when it does blooms its worth all the hassle.
Also had Samba Dancer today as well, must be the day in Vietnam for doubles.

David, any Magnifique blooms would be a treat as far as I'm concerned.  Those look great, I'm envious.  I haven't had much success with it.  It grows well here but just doesn't bloom much.  I don't recall any buds or blooms this year and I've had the plant for over 3 years.  I think I'll let it know that I will be replacing it with Prosperity next month and see if that encourages it.  ;)

dave

Lynette, thank you for sharing those beautiful pictures. Your Confection Perfection has the most vibrant colors I've seen in that cultivar. Exuberance also looks like a real winner. Judging from the photos posted each day it seems I'm about the only one who doesn't have Cindy's Heart and Confection Perfection. That deficiency will have to be corrected as soon as they become available. You are correct that this area in southern California is ideal for growing--actually makes the process somewhat idiot-proof. I spent several years neglecting my plants in every way possible and yet they survived. Now that I am giving them  more proper care they are thriving.

David congratulations on those Magnifique blooms. I have a small plant that looked like it was receding in the pot so I put it in the ground where it is partially shaded by a large pomegranate tree and it is now showing new growth but no buds as yet. If I can get blooms anywhere close to the quality of yours I will be most pleased.

Erny

Very pretty, Lynette. Exuberance and Hollywood Starlet caught my eye - very few people have those so far.

Ernest, the Supernova should be good since it was stored in a cabinet. You can use it mixed with fertilizer and apply it at the same time you fertilize the plants. Or you can spray it on the leaves of the hibiscus but you would need a good sprayer to make that convenient  since your plants are so large now.

Charlie

Haha ok tell it but dont get rid, the pleasure mine gives me when it does bloom is worth the wait and I am sure yours will come good, thing is its so temperamental, it for sure doesn't like the rain [ I actually bring it in when heavy rain is forecast], to sunny and the blooms drop, to shady means no blooms, if it decides to grow a new branch I think why that way? why not try straight up for a change, but then like today it rewards with a pair of blooms like that and all is forgotten for a few hours.

Ernest I am also in so ca,,,,,but inland..sanbernardino area..actually rialto...mine do well.. but the blooms and growth that you and especially Darren get are amazing....I think its the ocean air and the lower summer temps....but I am very happy I dont live in the snow ::)

David I've never been able to get rid of a healthy plant so it probably won't be going anywhere even without much blooming, but space issues are getting critical.

Forgot to mention, your Samba Dancer is absolutely incredible. What a beauty! Another candidate for my wish list.

Hibiscus in the cold rain & a fresh day after....
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/RainyDayHibiscus11-20.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/AcapulcoGoldFallColor11-21.jpg)

A good shot of how black Black Dream can get...
Palm Springs is amazing in cool weather
Bonnie Lass - the old and new

Farmer D

fall colors continued...very impressive bud count on Rainbow Sherbet

Rise and Shine looks better on days 2 & 3

by the way Hibiscus tea has been found to be good at lowering blood pressure in a natural way...

Farmer D

VD flourishes in the cool weather.  Amazing dark pinks and magentas.

Farmer D

Thank you Lynette!  They were fun to take!  Glad you enjoyed them.

EVERYONE GREAT SHOTS!!!  Its nice to see as all mine all hit a wall.  No blooms on anyone!  Well, two on Saffron, but that doesn't count.  There are always blooms on that one.  LOL!  So it is real great to see everyone else's blooms.  
Erny, your home is beautiful!  You and Darren have me jealous! I envy the "tropical plants living outside" thing you got going there!  Ha!  Its supposed to be in the low 30's tonight here.  But tomorrow night we are having a heat wave... its only supposed to get down to the mid 40's ;)

Charlie, thanks for answering my question about the old bottle of Super Nova.

Lynette, I think you are right that the proximity to the ocean is a key element as the ocean breezes do help to moderate the extremes in the weather. Some of the people from other parts of the country may not realize that much of southern California is really reclaimed desert.

Kristen, I feel very fortunate to be living in an area where the weather provides near ideal conditions for year round growing of so many different kinds of plants and I'm sure Darren feels the same way. He has set the bar really high with his profusion of beautiful flowers and his great photography that allows the rest of us to share in the joy he gets from his plants. We are all truly fortunate to have him post so extensively in this forum.

Nice today was Pocahontas and Hot Southern Nights, these are both good shape bushes, of course HSN is still young but I can see a great bush here in the future.

Forgot to mention, your Samba Dancer is absolutely incredible. What a beauty! Another candidate for my wish list.


[/quote]
 Thanks Dave, if you want a double that performs well in the sun then Samba Dancer is the one. Thing is sometimes I am a bit quick to take photo's in the morning, mainly due to the blazing sun after about 10, but next time I will wait with Samba Dancer and take one later, it actually improves with the sun on it, it shows more red as it opens more.

Thanks David, I would like to see that. It must glow in the sun.

I really like your Hot Southern Nights as well as the Pocahontas. I'm really glad I got HSN but it isn't blooming size yet. Hope to see some blooms on my Pocahontas soon since it's finally getting some buds after a rough summer with the dreaded spider mites.

dave

David, I'm glad to see Hot Southern Nights is doing well for you. I just recently got a small one.

Pocoho is a beauty!

Bonnie Lass today

Erny, I agree with you on Darren's bloom profusion!  It is a colorful way for me to start my day during the winter here in CT, by looking here at everyones bloom photos.  There is however something to be said about a quiet snow storm.  Unless you have to shovel...lol... I would miss the seasons here though.

Denise, your BL is great!
Dave, I am loving you blooms today.  HSN is fun for sure!  And who doesn't love a good Pocahontas?  Your bush is so pretty and well formed!
John, great VQ.  I just gave mine away to a friend... hmmm... oops...
Darren, the intensity of your VD is crazy!  Love it!

Nice today for me are Rainbow Sherbert [actually the other day but forgot to post] and Valentines Day.

Holy Smokes David, your RS & VD bloom colors are off the charts!!!  I have never seen RS look like that before.  It has so much color I don't even know if it qualifies anymore as Rainbow Sherbet.  WOW!!!!  Same with VD, that eye is just ultra huge and dark.  You are discovering new zones of hibiscus results.  Great job!  Oh yeah, as everyone else keeps saying your plants just look amazingly healthy.

Denise our Bonnie Lasses look amazingly similar right down to the independent petaloid which on mine I've never seen before...

Today Black Dream is half way to black at this point.  I LOVE IT!
Breath taking Bonnie Lass too...

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream11-22.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/BonnieLass11-22.jpg)

Farmer D

Silver Memories put out a pretty one this afternoon...can't wait my first Bridal Path blooms of the season are just about ready!

Farmer D

Thank you Darren and everyone for the kind and nice words, I wont deny that its been a bit of a battle to get this far from being a complete novice 4 years ago, so compliments from your friends and peers are very welombe.

Now I just need the skills of Kristen with the camera, like you say Rainbow Sherbert is of the charts but I cant seem to capture just how bright the yellow on it is, it really glows and no matter where you look in the garden its like a beacon and your eyes are drawn to it.

I said I would take a picture of Samba Dancer after a few hour sun so here it is, I had to bring it in as we are having a monsoon at the moment, I also had a nice crinkly Crinkle in Time today.

David, how big is Samba Dancer? Love the color.

For me I would say an average of 5 or 6 inches.

Hi Everyone, an update on the new hybrids.  First photo is the third bloom on one plant that is a cross between Moonstruck and Black dream. The red is more intense on this one and shows a petaloid.

The second bloom is a cross between the same parents from a different seed pod. I kinda like the orange. Its a big bloom, about 8 inches whereas the first is a little over 6 inches.

I have several plants that are crosses between Wild Grape and Purple Magic that are coming into bloom. I am anxious to see that one, should be in a week or so.

Comments are always welcome.

Louis


(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/11-23-11/moon%20x%20dream%20-%202.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/11-23-11/moon%20x%20dream-2.jpg)

High Voltage today with a friend...

Louis... They are both great! The second one, though, REALLY catches my eye! Like, if it were for sale it would be one I'd like to buy! Very nice!

Louis I agree with Denise, in fact I would buy that second one if it was in the store, its the outer edge that attracts me, I really like that orange sort of rusty look. My Thanksgiving today as a little of it on its edges and I find it very nice.

I hope somebody has a "Thanksgiving" in bloom today to share! :) Happy Thanksgiving to my cyber hibiscus friends! I am thankful to have this group of people to share this passion for hibiscus with!

Thanksgiving is one I wish I had ordered in the spring.

Doll- Your CH is beautiful as always :)
David- Your Thanksgiving from yesterday is gorgeous!

A happy Thanksgiving to you all, being English it’s not a holiday for me and neither is it for the Vietnamese, but that did not stop my local restaurant last night attempting to put on a Thanksgiving dinner, well a good attempt it was, 8 of us had booked, we arrived sat down and they brought out all the trimmings [trimmings they had seen and copied from a magazine], then OMG!!! They brought 8 turkeys to the table; they thought we had 1 each. Dear of them, they had been bar-be-queuing them all afternoon as well [no ovens here], they could not understand why we where all in fits of laughter, we did manage 2 and a first for and unusual in itself for me, I ate 3 legs. Hope you all have a nice day.

Beautiful, David! Thank you :)

David, great pic of your Thanksgiving bush.

Creole Belle and two 2nd day Cindy's Heart

David, your report on the Vietnamese thanksgiving has my visiting mother howling with laughter. Thanks for the nice description!

Charlie

Very nice, Lou. I still like the first one you showed a couple of weeks ago with the very large dark eye but the third is also quite appealing.

Charlie

Great shots everyone!!  John you have some amazing color going on there...
David that Thanksgiving bush shot is just perfect.  Can't beat quads!
Louis that 2nd bloom you showed is a winner...I would be looking to buy that one if for sale.

Belated Happy Thanksgiving - man I'm tired from it but worth it.  Now for the Xmas lights...

Yea!  Finally got my first Bridal Path bloom of the season...

Farmer D

Confection Perfection Day 4

Farmer D

Darren when you showed Bonni Lass the other day I thought its ok, but wow!! forget ok with today's, it looks lovely.
Your Bridal Path is different than mine, in fact when I looked I thought that's not BP, for sure it probably is and like your Hot Pepper can look so much different under different conditions, very nice mind all the same.

 Your Confection Perfection is stunning, is that in a pot or in the ground.

Not even winter can slow your plants down Darren!  Man those are looking really great, I should hopefully have some blooms to share tomorrow :)

David, thank you so much for the compliment.  I wish I were taking photos of my blooms right now in fact!  However, they are all taking a break.... all of them!   No blooms for a while. 
Your Thanksgiving story is awesome!  So funny!!  And your Thanksgiving blooms are a great site. 

Lou, I love your first and third seedling blooms the best.  That is not to say congrats on the second.  Great job on all of them.  Cant wait to see the rest.  I have one seedling of my own that is just showing a few buds right now. 

Everyone has some beautiful blooms to show!

Cold and windy weather is coming later today.

David glad you liked Bonnie Lass and Confection Perfection.  BL can have quite a few different looks and there is usually at least one bloom a day if not more.  The camera doesn't do it justice and this CV really can likes it hot and drier so a good fit for you I bet.

CP is one of those that looks better days 2 and 3.  The one I posted yesterday is day 4 (cooler weather and in shade all day).  It still looks great today (day 5).  My Bridal Path is like CP, gets much better day 2 as it opens a lot more (see today's pic).  Right now many of my blooms are doing this due to the cold weather though today it got up to 80 finally.  Exuberance is pretty much in all shade due to sun angle and it has issues opening up all the way (see photo).

Again I have another stellar Palm Springs bloom.  The reactions here seem somewhat muted for this CV but in cooler weather it looks just beautiful and don't forget it has a gorgeous bush too.  Great growth habit and is becoming rather floriferous as it gets bigger and stronger.

Chris I love your enthusiasm, it totally pumps me up!!

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/PalmSprings11-26.jpg)

Farmer D

Oh yeah CP is in the ground.  The only CV I have potted now is Caribbean Beauty which is fine now but when it gets really hot there will be issues but I now have a 60-70% shade cloth I will put up before that happens.

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/HighVoltage11-26.jpg)

Farmer D

Lovely pictures Darren, it must be nice to have 2 and 3 day blooms, I have never had a 3 day bloom and only 2 or 3 of my cv's will stay open for a second day, and even then its a struggle. It cant just be the temperature, its nearly winter now and low eighties and last night it got down to 78f, so I think the very high humidity plays a big part in it. Of course I am not an expert so not sure but it may be that same constant high humidity that allows me to grow them here when it is very hot, cos for sure it suprises me.

I mentioned your Bridal Path looks much different than mine, here they are together with Charlies as well, you can see now why I looked twice.

David that is so helpful to see the pictures in a row like that.  Really puts it in perspective for me.  My current BP pics are just pretty much like the ones I posted in January when I had other BP cold weather blooms.  Take a look at the cultivar thread for BP to see what mine look like in both summer and winter of this past season.  Really shows what temps can do to the blooms - I wish they were blooming in summer cause that is when this one looks so amazing.  The heat shows on yours with some hot spots of yellow.  Reminds me of my The Path blooms as they do the same in the heat of summer here (parent's genes there).

Anyways I love all the BP blooms as it is still one of my favorites.  Lately my BP bush has started branching like crazy so I think it is heading towards turning into a monster bush too.  Can you imagine that in summer bloom?  Oh-yeah!!

Farmer D  

Darren- Prosperity just never quits, does it!? And your Valentine's Day pictures have been making that one inch it's way up on my want list!! High Voltage is such a fun one. It has so many different looks, and they are all pretty!

Great blooms as usual everyone!  I finally have one to share today, enjoy :)

Yeah Prosperity is just an amazing CV.  The bush is incredible in every way.  The blooms are very strong and long lasting as well as beautiful.  If you get this one put it in a stand out spot because it will for sure be a star.

VD is also an amazing CV.  Not only is it very floriferous but it really grows as wide as it does tall, maybe even more so by width.  The blooms are very sensitive to temperature changes so they always look different any given day.  Winter is when they really look magical with so many deep and rich colors.  Easy to grow plant with tons of vigor.  I got two so what else can I say?

Farmer D

Chris your Baby Mia looks great!!!

Here are today's blooms...

Living Legend twins, another very dark Black Dream and Acapulco Gold is going white like it did last winter.  Really pretty soft colors but the blooms are still big.

Farmer D

a few more...

Farmer D

David your comparison pics of Bridal Path gave me an interesting idea.  I saw on the BP thread a pic of my north planter from late April.  Here is that pic with one from today so we can all see what 7 months of growth looks like for this group of now almost 2 yr old CVs.  

I am amazed at how much growth there is and underestimated what these plants can do.  Sensational job Charlie on creating such vigorous & pretty plants.

April 23, 2011
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/NorthPlanter4-23-11.jpg)

Nov 27, 2011
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/NorthPlanter11-27.jpg)

Rt to Lft: Scarlet Beauty, Rainbow Sherbet, Bonnie Lass, Chariots of Fire, Flickering Flame, Bridal Path and Sea of Tranquility deep within the shadows.

Farmer D

hi charlie,

thanks, its exciting to see something new. i have many more crosses that should bloom within the new few months. i have a cross between wild grape and purple magic that should bloom in a week or so. i have a lot of the same crosses and they all have really nice compact bushes like cosmic gold and wild grape.

louis

Darren, that is such a great comparison shot.  Real easy to understand your garden more.  And it is soooo awesome to see the growth you got this summer!  GREAT JOB! 

Thanks Kristen for the compliment.  I guess you don't see the progress sometimes as much as it really is when you are doing it daily.  Nice to step back and see it from two far apart time points.

Also for a reference point the tallest bush (COF) is 5 feet tall exactly.

Farmer D

Alright, today some more really nice blooms...

Bridal Path #2 along with the 4 day old bloom.

Miss Congeniality's first bloom in 2 months (mini) and after a big time pruning.

Acapulco Gold is just amazing, 7 blooms open currently and the amount of new branching going on is beyond what I was hoping for.  Chris I know you wanted me to prune it but man it is branching now as if I had.  Again it really responds to the Supernova spraying which I still do almost daily on all CVs.

Super pretty Rise and Shine...same orangy brown highlights like Bon Temps
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/RiseandShine11-28.jpg)

AG gaining in the width dept
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/AcapulcoGoldPlant11-282.jpg)

Farmer D

some more from today...

Farmer D

and a few more...

Farmer D

Darren, great photos of your many blooms as usual but the before and after of your bushes is absolutely incredible. Tremendous growth in just a few months time. How much Supernova do you mix in your sprayer?

Erny

Thanks for the bush shots Darren. They are really nice ones!

Erny I do it the hard way.  I use just a 32 oz hand pump sprayer mixed with one capful of Supernova.  The reason I don't use a hose attached sprayer is I am really careful about getting the ground too wet here with my super wet clay soil.  Especially now in winter I have two planters that never dry out and to add any additional water aside from rainfall is asking for fungus and overwatering issues for me.  Also I can take my time and try to get the underside of leaves to get rid of spider mites too.  I just adjust the spray to more of a stream.

I really drench the plants, trunk, branches, stems, leaves - everything but open blooms.  I spray them till the are dripping which is kind of like a light watering in winter.

One big downside with 70+ plants is that I go through a sprayer in less than a week as they wear out fast (cheap things of plastic only cost about $4 each).  I tried the expensive ones that say they last but ended being just as bad.

Getting close to 2 hours for each spray session and I have to wait for the morning dew to evaporate before spraying.  I try to do it on dry days when the temps are at least 65F or higher.  Can't do it too late in the day or some leaves stay wet overnight and then those lovely black fungus spots appear on the leaves.

Hope it helps - as you've seen the results are pretty good so far.

Farmer D

Wow today is a parade of blooms...I don't know how long this will last as they are now predicting our first Santa Ana wind event on Thursday and it is supposed to be a really bad one.  At least it isn't a cold wind event, but the dry wind is not good obviously.  I'll be staking some plants today especially Acapulco Gold.

A couple of stunners today that haven't yet bloomed too much...
Also Black Dream opened 12 blooms today - all super dark and waxy looking.

Raging Bull - an amazing deep burgundy with the white eye - very nice!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/RagingBull11-29.jpg)

Sunrise Dance - Lynette had such a colorful one a week or two ago too
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/SunriseDance11-29.jpg)

Farmer D

more blooms from today...

Farmer D

Darren, your Raging Bull looks like a Black Dragon. Beautiful. I have a small 4 inch one that already has 2 buds on it.

This is the only spray bottle that I have found that lasts. It's made by Chapin. I get it at the local Ace hardware.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2igg4uw.gif)

A few colorful shots of the yard to give perspective to the garden.  

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/SidewalkColor11-29.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/NorthwestYardColor11-29.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/DrivewayView11-29.jpg)

Farmer D

Thanks John!  I haven't seen this one here in L.A. - it is always the delta sprayer.  I'll check out ACE maybe they have it.

Here is the one I use, I just keep putting on new nozzles on the existing bottle.  The part the gets pushed in by the handle eventually stops springing back out to fully meet the handle.  As it wears out you get less and less spray with each pump.

Farmer D

and more...

John I agree it is a lot like Black Dragon.  I wasn't expecting RB to look like this but really impressive and the size is big at around 8".  Solid CV for sure.

Farmer D

Just a heads up for those in So Cal that starting tomorrow night we are forecast to have a severe Santa Ana wind event - the worst in several years apparently.  

Lynette I know you are in a wind prone area so you might want to consider moving in your plants if not already inside.  Gusts of over 80 mph are forecast for over 2 days in wind favored areas.  And they have now changed it to a cold wind event so even worse for outside hibs.  Temps in the 50s.

Farmer D

A few nice ones about today.

Darren, thanks for the information on your spraying regimen. Very helpful. Also the heads up on the coming Santa Anas. Here in North Tustin we are smack in the middle of the Santa Ana wind tunnel and I always have to move my potted plants out of harm's way. I have found a spray bottle from Orchard Supply to be quite durable. The brand name is GardenPlus and it is a 1.5 L pressurized sprayer that is thick plastic but with a brass nozzle.

thanks darren...I hate the wind!!!....but I am going to use my plankets.....one good thing my front yard ,,,where all my hibs are is somewhat shelterd,,,,thanks and good luck  :'( :-\..brrrr

Woah Darren, you can really see the influence of raging bulls parent Black Dragon in that bloom! Nice!

Good luck with the Santa Anas, though here on the Olympic Penninsula sustained winds of 30-40 mph with gusts 60-80mph is pretty common in the winter, temps usually in the 40s, not as bad as the Midwest at least. Just be happy it's an every few years event :)

Some back yard pictures today. Unfortunately not that many nice blooms.

Bessie is a very bright red double that stands out from across the yard.
Renaissance Blue shows more red and less blue on winter blooms.
Kinchen's Yellow
Creole Lady
Magic Moments--just doesn't want to open completely.
Finally, the world's largest avocado tree (after being cut back by about 1/3).

David your blooms are just so colorful.  A pleasure to look at. 

Erny you may not have as many blooms as you'd like but they are still a joy to view.  Really fun colors too.

It sure got windy here tonight.  I spent the afternoon staking branches and plants I thought would be in trouble by themselves and from what I've seen so far I'd been in big trouble if I didn't - especially Acapulco Gold.  Would've been a disaster with that one.

Today's color....

Farmer D

and some more...

Farmer D

and a few more...again a very pink Tahitian Princess

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Nov%202011%20Hibiscus/TahitianPrincess11-30.jpg)

Farmer D