Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

A delightful day with Charles & Cindy here to see the garden for the first time!  Hopefully they will leave some of their hibiscus magic behind and get all these plants into super blooming mode...

Farmer D

Farmer D

Darren, thanks for  the photos. If you happen to  be in Orange County, stop by my place and take some pictures of the new blooms I am missing. We spent the last two days in the northern Scottish highlands and today even farther north in the Shetland Islands. These places have a beauty all their own but flowers are definitely not a part of the landscape (lots of sheep and heather).

Erny

Darren, Wild Grape has a great bush. Branches out quite nicely. The thing I like about WG is that it doesn't require much sun to bloom. Two hours a day seems to be sufficient.
BTW, I was able to find a Mary Helen Eggenberger. Thanks for the suggestion. I like those with flowers that have big petals. ;D

John I appreciate that info for Wild Grape, great to hear it doesn't need a lot of sun to bloom as I like to put those purple bloomers in shadier spots to protect the pigments from fading.

Also that is great news about MH Eggenberger.  I have two cuttings from Kauai which I am now growing so we can compare how they do over time in our locations.  I'm a big fan of this one so this is quite exciting.

Insane Cindy's Heart too - it don't get better...

Erny it sounds like you might be going through hibiscus withdrawal especially with where you are vacationing currently.  Not a whole lot of color I would imagine way up there!

Here is a Rocket's Red Glare FB bloom I liked a lot...

Farmer D

Farmer D

Today's blooms

John I just realized that Cherokee Princess bloom you posted two days ago is really something special.  That orange is beautiful!

Farmer D

Farmer D

Never get tired of seeing that bright hope and rodeo drive Darren.

I thought Charlie would like to see this bright pink red Cadillac.  The plant was very stressed when I got it and has discarded all buds except for this one that managed to open.  I hope that the future blooms will be red:)   I really enjoy the petaloids alot on this bloom though, adds character to the bloom. 


 

Darren, I like your Crystal Pink.

John I'm glad you like Crystal Pink as I think it is way under everyone's radar.  It loves the heat and grows very nicely as seen by the shots below.  That is yesterday's bloom which is over 8".

Your Spice Cake looks mostly grey - that is most unexpected and very nice!

Farmer D

This is a first bloom on a second Tahitian Antique Purple plant I am giving to my in-laws but WOW this is by far the nicest bloom of TAP I've seen anywhere.  Wonder what the difference is...

Farmer D

A series of shots of Island Queen, the first two shots from my 6" plant and the last two from the 2 gallon that is going to family.  Much larger size and better color on the 6" plant bloom which is planted in the ground vs the 2 gallon in a pot.

And another pic from Facebook this time of Heavy Metal from Japan.

Farmer D

Here are some pictures for today 

A few more ,This Cindy's Heart is a cutting I rooted off of my grafted one and it's doing a lot better than the grafted one .

Mike, your blooms all look amazing.

Amazing blooms everyone! Impressive show!

The past 2 days have been Hibiscus-palooza for me! Lots of great blooms for me from yesterday and today!

Some more. My first bloom of Confection Perfection! Ordered one as a 4" and 6" last year, and go figure the first bloom is on the 4" while the 6" has just been growing like mad but no blooms.

Also, Heavy Metal today! And since the two are neighbors and look so good together, I thought a group shot was in order. :)

Finally my first bloom on Carnelian!! I got this as a 4" last year as well. Blown away by this one! The depth and range of colors is truly amazing! Also took a close up of the stigma pads...this bloom has way more than its fair share. LOL

Also a day 2 pic of the bloom.

Mike your blooms are all beautiful - and your Cindy's Heart is so darn colorful and bright.  It is like candy!

Paul all your blooms are outstanding - great variety!  Your comment about the 4" ones blooming first doesn't surprise me.  I am at a point now where I can say I see better long term results with the 4" plants as they seem to adapt better and then grow strong in their local climatic conditions - they just don't seem to struggle nearly as much with transitioning from leaving the greenhouse.  The only big downside is they can struggle much more outdoors in winter and die more easily...

John your Expect Miracles looks amazing!  I really like those deeper colors...

Farmer D

Farmer D

Hi Everyones blooms look great , Here is a few for today  :)

Some blooms from today.

Confection Perfection
Sleeping Beauty
Kennadie Jade



Thanks, Patrick

We're supposed to hit 100 everyday this week. These 2 love the heat.

Paul your Confection Perfection is so different looking than what I've ever seen before - the colors are beautiful!

First bloom today for OK Corral.  This one definitely comes under the "camera cannot get what it looks like in real life" category.  I am also curious to see what it will look like later today when it is not so reflexed.

Farmer D

Haute Couture is already back to the colors I like to see on her blooms.  I'm just not a fan of her blooms having brown in them, I much prefer the lavender with heavy gold spotting.  Heat & sun!!! And right next to her Rodeo Drive puts out another dazzler

Farmer D

Cosmic Gold actually showing some faint spotting - now that I would not have thought possible.  I love it!

Farmer D

Some updated shots of OK Corral now that it is not reflexed.  Again tough to get the camera to accurately portray the bloom but pretty darn close...

Farmer D

Darren, I love the color on your Cherry Glow.

Thanks John - my CG is on a sunny and hot spot on my porch and the red has not faded at all.  The blooms are also getting a little bigger in size maybe as it adjusts?  I am looking for some white spotting and that pink glow around that white eye but nothing like that yet.  Buds well but the branches do flop a little.

Insane Island Queen today - such a difference between one that is potted and in the shade compared to this one that is planted in ground facing my sidewalk getting hot afternoon sun.  The colors are very intense and the blooms much bigger.

Farmer D

Day 2 for OK Corral's first bloom.  If it is supposed to have this washed out color look then the name is very appropriate.

Farmer D

Here's some blooms from today, a pic of our Black jack bush and a seedling bush, the seedling bush is 5 years old and still no buds developing.  My average here in Ohio from sprout till flower is usually 5 years. This bush might take 6yrs.



Patrick

Great blooms everyone! Farmer D, your Island Queen is gorgeous! Great Black Dream too! It really makes me miss mine. And I really like the weathered look of OK Corral.... it does give it a wild west look. LOL

Nice Black Jack, Patrick!

Here are a few blooms for me from yesterday and this morning. Polar Bear just keeps on blooming! My first Burnt Saffron of the season... I took the picture before I had to leave for work so it wasn't fully opened. I had hoped to get a picture this morning, but we had some storms and the bloom got all torn up. :( And my first bloom of Aphrodite (which seemed to survive the storm quite well). Amazing bloom! Big and Beautiful!!

And now for something REALLY WEIRD! I got my first bloom on Periwinkle, which I got as a 4" pot last year. It was just starting to open before I left for work, so I couldn't get a picture of it just as it opened up. I checked it after I got home from work in the evening and it was beautiful, but since it was dark I couldn't get a good picture. I decided to wait until this morning to take a photo.

Well this morning I awoke to a VERY WEIRD BLOOM. Exactly half of the bloom has changed to brown! It isn't in an area where only half of the bloom would be exposed to sun, which might cause fading. Even the pollen sacs on the brown half seem withered.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? So strange! I promise, this photo has not been edited! LOL

Paul, I had that happen once on a garden variety hibiscus.

Darren, check out the Daisy Wilcox I have coming.

Patrick that is a lot of patience to wait 5 years - I thought I was on the slow end with mine taking 1.5 yrs.  As I keep refining my germination set up I last week even got one to come out of my grow chamber with a bud which would be around 6 months from planting.

Paul very pretty blooms and that Periwinkle is just crazy - I'm sure a lot of people will think it is photoshopped or something!  Yeah the Island Queen blew me away - I love it when they do that...

I have to admit I am not a fan of the weathered look so not too crazy about OK Corral's first one but I will see what the next few blooms down the road look like.

Speaking of Black Dream here is a bud cluster that has developed over the last week.  After Charlie & Cindy visited here last week he thought that all the tip die back I have been seeing the last several months might be from a pest issue so I sprayed spinosad twice now and things are improving so I hope this is a sign of good things to come...

Farmer D

Nice one there John, hey you're up to three plumeria trees now.  Sounds like you are off to a great start.  I wish you as much success with them as you have had with your hibiscus!

Farmer D

Here are some seeds I harvested today.  Creme de Cacoa x Tigerama, and Black Jack x Cranberry Muffin.  and a photo of Black Dragon.


Thanks, Patrick

Patrick, I like both those crosses. Could get something extra good from either one.

Charlie

Besides Blue Ballerina, a whole bunch of first timers for me this morning! Too Hot To Handle, Fox Fire Twins!, Red Buttons, and Espresso Magic!  :)

Today's blooms

I need help!  I got my butt kicked last night by raccoons - mom & her four kiddos which are almost as big as her.  Even after the neighbor and I hosed them for 10 minutes from his grapes they came back 3 more times which I successfully repelled.  Then I guess not long later a sneak attack into my backyard.  Grass is all dug up and this time they dug into the roots of both Aphrodite & Bridal Path and broke one of two main branches on the later.  I think I know whose house they live under (which is all run down) but I don't see how I can stop this weekly problem that seems to be escalating...

Farmer D 

Here are some blooms from today.  Confection Perfection


Patrick

Darren, sorry to hear about your raccoon problem. Squirrels are my main pest. They love to pick the leaves off my hibiscus. They don't even eat the leaves. They just like to sit there and pluck them.

First Ms President bloom. If you like pink blooms this one is a real beauty.

Wow John I never heard of squirrels doing that - it is extra frustrating when there is no point in doing such damaging things.  I have a raccoon update:  The City of Los Angeles has ONE animal control officer, you read it right - one.  I have some of my neighbors calling as well but I don't have much confidence I will see anyone out here any time soon...

Oh well, I'm enjoying the slow increase in blooms and working out my theories as to why things here are so slow coming.  First Big Oafs of the season...

Farmer D

A stunning True Love (but I find all it's blooms stunning) and Haute Couture is just something else in the hot sun and heat...

Farmer D

Palm Springs looking even better day 2

Farmer D

Today's blooms

This is my recently acquired Burnt Saffron from June ( didn't get a good photo of the flower from the other day) - Beautiful flowers, and already looking like it has a couple seed pods going, no idea what the crosses are though...mostly doing random crosses this year...

John all your blooms are looking great - I especially am liking Hot Southern Nights.  It is getting better and better.

Farmer D

Darren, your Cosmic Gold always seems to have a nice glow. Really nice.

Second pic is the garden variety President that I have had in the ground for 3 years.

John when I first got CG as a little 4" twig a few years back I wasn't too excited about it.  Now I see it has wonderful variation of colors, excellent form and a vigorous/floriferous bush.  Today it has quads for the first time...

Farmer D

Farmer D

First blooms on Dragon Moon and Hot Cocoa. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Dragon Moon on day 1. Also Fire and Ice, Tahitian Orange Rainbow, and Bon Temps.

Erny

High Voltage, Daisy Mae, Heartbreak Hotel, Cinnamon Splendor, and Creole Lady.

First bloom in a while on Princess Ka'iulani. Also Fifth Dimension, Simple Pleasures, Nightfire, and Tahitian Taui.

Magic Crystal,  Rim of Fire, Flickering Flame, Rose Quartz, Creole Belle, and Hot Pepper.

Erny welcome back!!!  I hope it was a good vacation for the both of you.  I also hope that you came back to lots of happy hibiscus too.  I'm sure you're super busy getting them back to happyville.  Your High Voltage and Bon Temps are especially pretty! 

Farmer D

Thanks Darren. It's good to be back. I came home to lots of blooms. I recharged the fertilizer injectors in all my drip lines about a week before I left so that may be responsible for part of it.

Here's some seeds I harvested today, Makenna (one of our seedlings) x Cranberry Muffin.  I included photos of both blooms..  Also a picture of our first bloom from Rain Drop, the plant"s about 3 years old and the bush looks great, love the bloom too, better than I expected.

Thanks, Patrick

Great blooms everyone! Some blooms from me from the past few days.

A couple more....

Welcome back Erny.

Patrick I am in love with MaKenna - the colors are so vibrant!

Paul that Too Hot To Handle is really exciting.  A different arrangement of colors that are quite lively.

John are those spots on your VD?  If so that is cool...

Farmer D

Farmer D

Lots of blooms today. Silver Dragon, Hollywood Starlet, Bridal Path, and Red Cadillac.

Erny

Sea Spray, Palm Springs, Funny Voodoo, Melon Melange, and Inner Compass.

Miss Congeniality, Over The Rainbow, Rosalind, Creole Belle, and Rum Runner profusion.

I didn't intend to show so many but I returned from a trip with a bad cold; so I did what I always do when I need to lift my spirits--head out to the garden to look at the flowers.
First bloom on Christie Blue; I'm a big fan of Rainbow Christie and all her offspring. Also Flickering Flame, Cinnamon Splendor, and Night Runner.

African Princess, California Beauty, Climax, Lady In Waiting, and Louise Bennett.

First bloom on Grace Under Fire. Also Really Red, Voodoo Magic, and a seedling that may be a keeper (from Kerry via Chris).

Great pics Erny, I hope that your cold gets better.  I really am liking that seedling, the mix of brown, dark red and yellow splashing is great. 

Now it needs a name and to be propagated :)

Thanks Chris. That seedling is actually a lot nicer than it shows in the photos. I'm partial to using song titles for names and that one will be Honky Tonk Hero after the great song by the late Waylon Jennings. I think it will have to get bigger before I can take cuttings. Since my success with cuttings has been zero I will probably want to send them to you and/or Charlie.

Today's blooms

Been having some weird weather in my neck of the woods... very cool over the past few days (Today's high 67 and low of 49!!!) .... which makes a noticeable difference in the color intensity of the blooms. I wish they would all bloom today! LOL

Hi, just joined the forum.  Here are some images from the past few days.  Bought 13 plants (6 inch) and replanted 1 month ago. They are all starting to bloom!

Paul,  you sure did capture some beautiful colors on your blooms today.
Gil, welcome to the forum. Your photos of Fire & Ice and Sparkling Water are spectacular.
I got a few more first blooms today from plants in the last shipment. The star of the garden was Quasar. Unfortunately, the photos don't really do it justice. The green band inside the edge is much fainter in the photos than in real life. Other first blooms on Thunder Egg and Creole Darlin'. Also the always reliable Magic Crystal.

Erny

Finally a photo of Creme De La Creme that is not all marked up by thrips. Also Pocahontas, Tahitian Princess, Secret Heart, Palm Springs, and Silver Memories.

Cherry Glow, Electric Orange, Cinnamon Splendor, Sun Shower, and Chads.

Chris that seedling is definitely a keeper, can't wait to see how it develops.  Congrats both of you!

John that eye on your VD is really something else!  I take it it has been hot there for a little while now to draw out those deep colors?

Paul your blooms are looking gorgeous!!!  Very pretty colors and nice array of blooms and I'm loving CP & Space Oddity - beautiful! They're all beautiful - you're getting great coloration on all your blooms!

Gil a big welcome to the forum.  Erny's right - those are some stunning pics especially F&I and SW.  Also that Pinot Noir is picture perfect.  What a great way to start posting!!!

Erny - Quasar!!!  Enough said...

Farmer D

I had my two biggest Acapulco Gold blooms ever at over 10 inches each, I didn't know it could get so big.  Also a stunning Island Queen.  This one is a blooming machine and it is in total shade too so impressive.

Farmer D

Exuberance is budding up like mad!!!!

Farmer D

Great job, Darren! Super photos from everyone. Looks like we are about to enter the fall blooming season that should be spectacular this year! I'll have some new seedlings to post in the coming weeks.

Charlie

I can't wait for fall then Charlie!!!  Thanks again for your help while here - all my plants are now budding up and I've figured out a few critical things...

Farmer D

I'm looking forward to getting Brassy Blonde very dark brown (like Mike's pics from last season) giving it the same treatment as Haute Couture...

Speaking of dark Muy Caliente getting some wonderfully dark orange now

Farmer D

Received some much needed rain here in Galveston.  Sky was overcast, and I am experimenting with camera settings.  The 2 6-inch Deep Waters received in June are crazy bloomers.  The 2 4-inch Rainbow Sherberts received in May are putting out lots of gorgeous blooms as well.

Darren, great colors on those plants today. That first photo of The Path is as good as I've seen for that cv.
Capt-J, it looks like those plants are liking whatever you're doing for them. Beautiful colors and patterns on both Deep Waters and Rainbow Sherbert.
Tahitian Orange Rainbow is today's star in my garden. Also Miss Congeniality, Voodoo Queen, Hollywood Starlet, California Beauty, and Living Legend.

Erny

Tahitian Princess, Solar Soul, Palm Springs, Creole Belle, Luck Be A Lady, and Cinnamon Splendor.

Winter Lights, Gentle On My Mind, Riptide, and Strawberry Fields Forever.

Wild Grape
Cindy's Heart

HI everybody  your blooms look good , I'm going to get a little carried away with Vin today , 4 blooms at once .

also a few more

some more , the white one is a seedling off of high voltage .

Wow Capt J those Rainbow Sherbet twins are incredible with those wide bands of orange.  They really put my first bloom this season to shame but I have something to shoot for for sure!

Erny your blooms are looking very nice.  I noticed that on your Riptide bloom it has pinkish veining.  This is unexpected and extremely stunning!  That makes that bloom a standout - so my guess is it needs heat and sun but at the same time that is what will fade the bloom...I'll have to be creative with where to put mine.

John your Wild Grape bloom is so nice I just ordered one.  Just gorgeous and I know you've said the plant is great too.  Also love your Cindy's Heart as always.

Mike your blooms are off the charts!!!  Quads on V Extraordinaire - that is amazing!  And your Heavy Metal is perfection in my book.  Hey is that Flickering Flame from the cutting I sent you a few years back?

Farmer D

Finally my first bloom on my Prosperity plant since replanting it last June.  Boy did it survive one heck of a fight with dry rot!

Second bloom for my seedling - I'm very satisfied for sure...

Also a couple more pics off of Facebook that I thought were very nice HVH blooms.  I apologize the Slapstick pic is so small but pretty awesome with that pinkish eye.  I'm liking that a lot!

Farmer D

HI Darren
I think it was a cutting that you sent me , Thanks

Mike, your blooms are beautiful.
Darren, you will love Wild Grape.

High Voltage Bloomed for the first time today.
Also, from this week, Song Sung Blue, an interesting Pinot Noir, and a beautiful Hollywood Starlet (Day 1 & Day 2)

Enjoy!

Marilyn welcome to the forum!! We are so glad to have you here and those are some gorgeous blooms!  Wow Song Sung Blue is one we don't see often too so very nice!!!

Farmer D

Got my first bloom of the season from Splash (doing much better in a new location) and first one ever on my newer Surf City plant.

Farmer D

Farmer D

Thanks Farmer D! I just joined the forum this week, but have been admiring everyone's photos for quite some time.

I had submitted an introductory post earlier this week, but don't think it ever went through. My name is Marilyn, I live in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and got my first HVH hibiscus (Valentine's Day) about 5 years ago. I've been in love with HVH since, but we just moved into a house with a yard this October, so now we're ordering like crazy. We've planted a mainly HVH hibiscus hedge in the back, and so far all the plants are doing really well.

Here are some of my favorites:
My first HVH - Valentine's Day
Our first Pinot Noir flower was flawless.
Our 2 gallon Song Sung Blue came with flowers and has been blooming like crazy since.
Our Winter Lights struggled a bit at first, but has been doing better.
And I got some nice shots of our first Hollywood Starlet Hibiscus bloom. I love the different looks this flower has on Day 1 and Day 2.

We have several more HVH's that haven't bloomed yet, but I will be sure to share those when they come!

Enjoy!

Marilyn, welcome to the forum. Hollywood Starlet is one of my favorites and your photos captured the changes in the colors beautifully. You will also be pleased with the bush; it is one of my best growers in the ground here in southern California.

Although first blooms aren't always the best, it is still exciting when a new plant puts out its first flower. Since I got a large order in June, I am still seeing first blooms on quite a number of them. First blooms today on Midsummer Night, Torch Song, and Tahitian Pretty Boy.

Erny

More first blooms on Chai Tea, Vin Extraordinaire, Tahitian Sunset Splendor, and Jason.

While not its first, it has been about a year since I've seen a flower on Hot Southern Nights. It has also been awhile for Bayou Irene. Tahitian Princess, however, is a regular bloomer. Also Titian Venus and Over the Rainbow.

Huge petaloids on Flickering Flame make it appear almost like a double. I think Darren posted one like this several weeks ago. Also Illuminati, Tahitian Sophistication, Ay Caramba, and Silver Memories.

Silver Dragon, Hollywood Starlet, Rainbow Christie, Cinnamon Splendor, Fire and Ice, and Zelma showing her unusual rusty red/brown color.

Alluring Diamond from Pushpa Suresh.
Stunning bloom!!

- James Bond
- Moonstruck
- White Diamonds

Erny that is an amazing array of blooms!  Torch Song is really unique and impressive...Ay Caramba also looks super fab so rich in colors.

Aleksandr your blooms are looking just gorgeous!  How is the greenhouse coming along?

Farmer D

The bud shot is from Dragon Moon and it will be it's first bloom.  I have never had a bud so big.  If it gets any bigger I think it might explode or something...

Farmer D

Darren, thank you!
Greenhouse is in process, I will post some photo later.

- Tahitian Moody Blue
- Moorea Hot Charley
- Dark Nebula & Infinity
- Cyber Sister
- Moon Madness

Thanks Darren. I see you got Satsuma--great color on that one.
Aleksandr, it looks like your collection is doing great. A lot of beautiful blooms there.
A few from today: Burnt Saffron, Creme De La Creme, Bon Temps, Secret Heart, and Melon Melange.

Erny

Vin Beaujolais, Simple Pleasures, Flickering Flame, Creole Belle, and Nightfire.

Two different looks of Lady In Waiting--one single and one double. Also Sea of Tranquility, Electric Orange, Chads, and Cherry Ice.

Here are some blooms from the last couple of days.

Hawaiian Salmon
Sky
Black Dragon
Chocolate Delight
Pinot Noir


Thanks, Patrick

I was pleased to get my first bloom on Wild Grape today. Also Black Dragon, Rose Quartz, Sea Spray, and Tahitian Orange Rainbow.

Erny

Cinnamon Splendor is just an incredible bloomer. It produces at least two and often as many as six new blooms daily. Again many thanks to Patrick for showing me the beauty of this cv. Two other prolific bushes are California Beauty and Daisy Mae. Also Rocket's Red Glare and Rim of Fire.

Erny that bloomfest on Daisy Mae is just awesome!!!  You're really getting a lot of blooms for sure.  Great job with your plants!

I loved that pic you had of FF with the petaloid.  I love it when mine do that too.

Well here is that first bloom for the giant bud of Dragon Moon.

Farmer D

Another pic from Facebook this time of Renaissance Blue and Vin Electrique.  Does anyone have any experience with Renaissance Blue cause those two blooms are devastating...

Farmer D

Darren, Renaissance Blue was one of the old cvs I took out along the east wall in my backyard. I never got a real intense blue color and never got the white around the edge. The bush was a little sparse and had small leaves.

Erny

Amazing blooms everyone! Looks like August is treating everyone well in the hibiscus world. I have several pics to share from the past several days.

So I had to go out of town last weekend for a wedding, and I had several hibiscus that were going to bloom that I didn't want to miss! So what's a guy to do? I took them with me! LOL Yeah my mom thought it was a bit weird when I showed up with 5 plants...but when she saw them bloom she completely understood! LOL

(This was my first bloom on Wild Orchid. I got it as a 4" last year.)

I also took my 6" Inner Compass with me, since this was the first bloom for me on this cv as well. I was surprised by the yellow spots on this one.

Finally some blooms from today. A stunning set of Fairy Music blooms! I tried my best to get a photo of them together, but they were facing opposite directions. Also an eye catching Abracadabra just after it opened, an amazing Night Magic just after opening, and my first bloom of Dragon's Heart.

Today's blooms

Also had a Blue Ballerina and another Periwinkle today. (Periwinkle has been blooming like crazy lately.) Its really hard to get a true-to-color photo of these two, but I did my best. lol

John and Paul, thanks for sharing those really nice photos. That Fairy Music is an intriguing blossom.
First bloom on White Hot since it went into the ground in mid-July--not quite up to greenhouse standards yet. Also first blooms on Blue Opal and Crimson Kiss. Also Wild Grape, Voodoo Queen, and Creole Lady.

Erny

Burnt Saffron, African Princess, Cherry Blue, Creme de la Creme, and Vin Extraordinaire.

Sparkling Water, Acapulco Gold, Tahitian Burning Sands, Summer Shore, Melon Melange, and Strawberry Fields Forever.

Paul that is the most awesome/crazy thing I've heard of yet for us hibiscus maniacs.  I never considered taking them with us!!!  I can see it now at the airport as I try to explain to the TSA agents why my plants need to come with me.  For you though it is probably a great way to get anyone who sees your blooms in person to understand how amazing they are!  Helps you're driving too...

John your Cindy's Heart stops me in my tracks everytime

Erny what are you talking about - your White Hot not up to greenhouse standards?  That bloom rocks!  No other hibiscus looks like it too...

I've noticed the more you feed Time For Love the more the blue comes out

Farmer D

Amazing natural setup for this Black Dream trio and I am in love with The Path - best blooms I've seen on it yet.

Also more 10" AG blooms - these seem to becoming the norm now for my plant

Farmer D

Darren,

Just wondering if you know if Time for love and Joy have the same parents, the colors are similar.

Thanks, Patrick

Patrick, the parents of these 2 are completely different. That brings up an interesting point about hybridizing hibiscus that we see fairly often. You can get to very similar flowers using different paths. Lots of examples out there when you start looking for them.

Charlie

Darren, I'm loving that Tahitian cross and your Path blooms are the best I've seen of that cv.
First bloom on Summer Fun today. A pretty large flower for such a small plant. I think I'm really going to like this one. Also My Blue Heaven, Sea Spray, Quasar, and Creole Darlin'.

Erny

I wasn't terribly impressed by the first few blooms on Dragon Moon but today's is a lot nicer. Also Lady In Waiting, Pocahontas, Illuminati, and Inner Compass.

Vin Extraordinaire, Georgia's Pearl, Voodoo Magic, Hollywood Starlet, and Climax.

Thanks for your reply Charlie, I have both and noticed that the leaves were alot different but the colors were similar.  I have been able to harvest alot of seeds this year, I haven't been able to get any pods to form on sky yet but am still trying.


Patrick

Great pics everyone.

John, that Cherokee Princess is a nice bloom. I don't remember ever seeing it before.
First bloom on Attitude of Gratitude today. Charlie said it was a unique yellow color and I agree. It's a shade of yellow/gold although the photo doesn't capture it completely. Also nice blooms on Dapple Dandy, Tahitian Orange Rainbow, Brassy Blonde, and Rainbow Sherbert.

Erny

Pocahontas, Gator Pride, Wild Grape, and Secret Heart.

 Vin Beaujolais, Delta Dawn, Tahitian Sophistication, Heartbreak Hotel, and Miss Congeniality.

I agree with Erny, that Cherokee Princess is something special!  I love it a ton!!!!

Erny that Dapple Dandy has me really excited.  If it can sport some petaloid action that is going to be out of this world.  It is full of color and personality for sure.  Also loving your Vin Beaujolais with that big red eye zone.

I got my first Cindy's Heart of the year and this is after moving this poor plant two more times this spring.  A credit to it's durability and vigor.

Farmer D

This is my first bloom from Haute Couture that the bud formed completely since it has been here so a true representation of the color it is getting here.  Lovely!

Farmer D

Darren, that Haute Coutere is looking great. Do you have the spider mites under control? I feel fortunate not to have encountered that particular problem as yet. I am still fighting the thrips but seem to be making some progress. I hit everything hard with spinosad yesterday and plan to repeat it next week. Hopefully that will take care of it.

Erny it is too soon to tell as the Kontos drench takes some time to do it's thing but I did spray all porch plants and a few others with hort oil to smother them and their eggs hopefully.  Cherry Glow has lost about half of her leaves and I suspect most of the others soon.

I am not worried as between the two I feel confident this will not get any worse but I am ready if it does with more of the same.  I will definitely apply at last two more applications of both over the next week or so and see where it goes.

I posted these pics on Facebook and there was some controversy over whether these are aphids or spider mites.  I am familiar with aphids and these to me are not them but maybe I am wrong.  The damage to the leaves sure seems like spider mites to me.

Farmer D

Darren and Erny, I highly recommend Cherokee Princess. It is a good bloomer and the colors do not fade in the heat.

Darren, your Cindy's Heart bloom is awesome!

In our outside garden, we've had to spray for spider mites and thrips a couple of times every summer. the earlier you can get them the better it is. Strong water sprays will hold mites at bay, but it requires several times per week to be really effective. Hort oil is a step up in effectiveness and the "big guns" like Avid can be used if ever necessary.

Darren, those are not spider mites but great photo anyway!

John D, I'm really glad to hear that Cherokee Princess is doing well in TX heat. It's an under-appreciated variety imo.

Charlie

OK Charlie - if my picture is of aphids then how much smaller are spider mites?  I see aphids on both my roses and all over a few of my hibiscus blooms and baby leaves and they are really big I guess.

To help better identify what I am seeing and more accurately diagnose what I have here are some pictures from right now of various pests on my hibiscus.  

The first picture is most important as there was something very small and red which you can barely make out on the main middle part of the pictured leaf above the four aphids (if that is what they are).

The pic of the bud has some sort of white dead looking pest.

The pics of the shady leaves I assume are aphids?

Farmer D

Palm Springs rocking today with a nice multi-colored bloom.

Also T Antique Purple looking fine and first bloom of season for H Hotel

Farmer D

1st bloom in ages for SLIH and another 10"+ AG bloom

Farmer D

First bloom on Blushing Bride today. Also Ruby Tuesday, Vin Extraordinaire, and White Hot peeking through the plumeria.

Erny

Burnt Saffron, Magic Crystal, Midsummer Night, Silver Dragon, and Funny Voodoo.

Pepper Spray, Slapstick, California Beauty, Chai Tea, and Sea Spray.

Titian Venus, Ay Caramba, Living Legend, and Night Magic.

Wild Grape, Brassy Blonde, Bon Temps, and Secret Heart.

Busy days...

Farmer D

Busy days & broken pipes...

Farmer D

Insane Cherry Glow even with the spider mites ravaging...

Farmer D

First decent flower on Island King. Attitude of Gratitude in the morning and then late afternoon. Also Rose Quartz and Summer Fun.

Erny

Brassy Blonde, Creme de la Creme, Night Runner, and Crimson Kiss.

Valentine's Day, Vin Extraordinaire, Tahitian Sunset Splendor, Inner Compass, and Tahitian Sophistication.

Miss Congeniality, Wild Grape, Dragon Moon, Sun Shower.

Up until now Jeanette Elliff has been the queen of bud drop. Secret Heart, Burnt Saffron, Daisy Mae.

Really nice photos, Erny. Your garden is sure putting on a show now!

Darren, I don't know what those insects are. Insects go through several stages as they grow and mature, some looking quite different at different stages. Spider mites are much smaller than aphids, barely visible to the naked eye. Under 10 to 20x magnification they look like miniature crabs and move around quite fast.

Charlie

Erny, I really like the color on Crimson Kiss.

Erny I am very excited by the look of your latest Dragon Moon bloom.  If mine can look like that I will be much happier with it for sure!

Charlie thank you for providing more information.  I will post any new pics as soon as I see anything new or different.  I will spray again with spinosad probably today as it will be about 90F here for the next few days and also more Kontos for the porch pots.

Farmer D

Farmer D

This last few weeks of blooms by The Path have been extraordinary!

And a perfect Exuberance

Farmer D

John, that Crimson Kiss is even more vivid than it appears in the photo. It's one of those that jumps out at you from a block away.
Darren, that's great color on Exuberance and The Path is just outstanding. I hope you're making progress in the war on the bugs.
Two first blooms today. Swamp Music surprised me with the size of the flower--a full 8 1/2" on a small plant. Glitz and Glitter is the other first bloomer. Alsp Chai Tea and Dragon's Breath.

Erny

Wild Grape has been putting out a bloom every day for about a week and today showed twins. Also Thanksgiving, Flickering Flame, and Cinnamon Splendor.

Vin Extraordinaire, Peanut Butter, Night Magic, Rosalind, and Chariots of Fire.

I think Love Story will always be my favorite double. Also California Beauty, Daisy Mae.

I think I am making progress but I forget how long it takes for the Kontos to break the spider mite life cycle but I am thinking at least two weeks.  Plus the hot and dry temps are not helping any.  I am still seeing lots of mottled yellow leaves on both Cherry Glow and Illuminati and some on other potted porch plants as well.  I just fed them their second dose of Kontos (once a week) and I'll spray them again in a few days with hort oil spray.

Quite a bit of aphids too and even white flies so I am feeding some select plants Kontos as well but might also hit them with some spinosad later this week if things persist.

On the other hand I am starting to see some insane bud counts appearing finally.  And here is a surprise bloom for that little Fly Me To The Moon cutting plant you gave me recently.

Farmer D

Darren, i've had no sign of the aphids that I had last summer. I gave every plant a good drench with Bayer 3 in 1 back in March or April and I have to think that has helped a lot. My only problem has been the thrips and I think I'm getting them under control with repeated sprayings  of spinosad--much less scratches appearing on most blooms now. The only white fly was a heavy infestation on my specimen dwarf plumeria in the back yard planter that has always been a magnet for white fly. I used a hose end spray bottle of Bayer 3 in 1 with a vigorous spray that equals that of the bug blaster. I followed that with a hose end spray of neem oil and now that tree is as clean as a baby's bottom. The nice thing about the Bayer 3 in 1 hose spray is that the liquid dripping off the leaves soaks the ground and probably ends up being a mild drench as well. You might want to try that sequence on your infested plants in addition to the Kontos.

Erny thanks for that info.  Any additional tactics is always very useful and I also have Safari Tree & Shrub which I still haven't used yet as well.  I am always keeping in mind the possibility that some of the pests will develop resistance to some of these products.  It makes sense to spray more heavily early in the season and if the pests make an appearance later I would think that after a few months have gone by the current generation would not still have resistance by then?

Ironic how I have had no issues with Thrips this year but I bet having a low volume of blooms has kept them in check here.  I still see them on my plumeria blooms but that is a constant I've seen all year round for them ever since having my Celadine.

Again I think my plants are weaker than average due to lack of feeding over the last several months until recently.

Oh yeah - your Inner Compass from yesterday was spectacular.

Farmer D

Here are some blooms from today, I up sized the pot for Happy Heart this year and the bush really started growing.

Black Dragon
Happy Heart



Thanks, Patrick

Awesome pics everyone! I wish I had time to comment on each one but I'm trying to squeeze these posts in before work. I have several pics to share from the past 5 or 6 days. Been kinda busy and also very sore from running in a Tough Mudder race this past weekend. OUCH! LOL

Anyways, here is my bombardment of pictures. :)

more... (I'd like to point out that Fairy Music is AWESOME! Blooming like there is no tomorrow. The blooms are huge and so beautiful! A favorite!)

more... First bloom on White Hot! Love it! ;)

Today's blooms

Paul that Burnt Saffron is gorgeous and Too Hot To Handle is a ton of fun.  Nice shots!

Patrick your blooms are looking very nice - Royal Rainey twins are niiiieeeeccce!

John your EM is becoming extraordinary.  I saw how in the greenhouse how intense the colors are and your's is showing that now!

Farmer D

Charlie I'm happy to report that Acapulco Gold can regularly put out 10"+ blooms which is what mine is doing now.  Just huge and bright as beacons.

Farmer D

Both Muy Caliente and my seedling put out larger size blooms today so progress on that front as well...

Farmer D

So I dug down in this planter on Saturday and around 6" down it was bone dry again.  This would explain why the plants here are thinning out slowly and not growing much except Cosmic Gold.  Now that I am remedying the situation I can't wait to see what she does going forward.

Farmer D

Really impressed at the pics I've seen here. Some beautiful flowers.

Here are some of today's blooms. There were more, but couldn't get a good angle to photograph them.

We have some blooms to share with you today, and also a bud forming on Double Cappuccino.  Hopefully in the next couple of days it will bloom.

Wild Grape
Summer Shore
bud of Double Cappuccino




Thanks, Patrick

Great pictures everyone. It is interesting to see how different some of the flowers look in different parts of the country. I presume it is related to differences in weather patterns at least in part.
First bloom on Tiger Cub today.  Also Attitude of Gratitude, Sea Spray, and Palm Springs.

Erny

Happy-Go-Lucky is aptly named--it just looks cheerful and bright. Also Vin Beaujolais, Rainbow Christie.

Anyone who doesn't have Daisy Mae is missing out. Almost all of my plants go through cycles of blooming followed by weeks or months of very little or no bloom production. Daisy Mae is the conspicuous exception. It always has 5-10 blooms and never seems to take a break. The flowers are always perfectly formed and presented for maximum visibility. They are large and vibrantly colored. What more could one ask of a cv?

Two different looks on Heartbreak Hotel today. The leaves in the second photo aren't fascinating foliage--they are on a plumeria next to HH. Also California Beauty, Peanut Butter, and Climax.

I agree Erny. It has been a strange summer here in West Virginia. It has been very cool compared to previous years, and it shows in the blooms. My Glitz and Glitter was less glitzy and glittery than yours. And my Burnt Saffron looks so different around the edges than other blooms I have seen posted.  That's why I enjoy this part of the forum so much! It's cool to see how different the blooms can be in different environments. :)

Everyone's blooms look amazing.

1st bloom today for Tropical Sherbet - this I got as a small 4" back in April and it has grown exponentially...

Also first super fab bloom for Show Stopper

Farmer D

Farmer D

Farmer D

Darren, I know that you enjoy first blooms as much as I do and those two of yours are fantastic.
I have a long awaited first bloom today on Come Hither. This is the only plant in the large group I planted last summer that had not bloomed up til now. Charlie said it is a slow grower and slow to flower and he was sure right. Also five more that are relatively new but rapidly becoming favorites: Summer Fun, Quasar, Wild Grape, Pocahontas, and Dragon's Breath.

Erny

Dapple Dandy with a petaloid and less spotting. Also Blue Ballerina, Crimson Kiss, Cinnamon Splendor, Creole Belle, and Tahitian Burning Sands.

Living Legend, Fly Me To The Moon, Creole Lady, Night Magic.

I don't think Butterscotch Bliss is supposed to look like this. This is my second flower and both appear to have been heavily infested with thrips. I don't know much about thrips but either some cvs are naturally resistant to them or they may not transfer easily to adjacent plants. The same ones seem to get the worst of the thrips repeatedly while others right next to it never do.

A few for me today. Inner Compass, Paul Bunyan, and  Fairy Music just keeps on pushing out the blooms

Paul your blooms are looking great - wow FM really is a bloomer!

Erny you're right on about the excitement of first blooms.  I can't wait to see many more...

Some end of day shots with another 10"+ AG

Farmer D

I would like to say I am really proud of how well our black jack plant has grown this year, I think it really helps out us northern growers when we can purchase the larger size plants.   Also just wanted to say our seed from Creme de cacao x My Blue heaven has sprouted. You may have noticed I said seed because the big seed pod only had the one seed in it but it has now sprouted so the 5 year wait for a first bloom is on.


Thanks, Patrick

Today's blooms

Today's blooms. First bloom on Desire which I got as a 4" last year, Midsummer Night, Desire and Midsummer Night group shot, Fox Fire, Saffron, and first bloom on Wild Child which I got as a 2 gallon this summer and it did not handle the shipping and change in environment well. Its making a come back, but I expected that the bloom wouldn't resemble WC yet. But still its a cute little bloom. :)

John and Paul those are all very pretty blooms!  John has the magenta/red covered perfectly and Paul has the purple and light brown covered very nicely.

Patrick that is great to hear about your Black Jack bush as that one is a great bloom.  Sheesh - another possible one to add to the want list...this is insane...

Well I am insane with delight today as I had some more first time blooms but the one that really has me ultra excited has bloomed a couple times before but now that it is prime blooming season and I know what I am doing finally this one is in my legendary category and the bloom is not in the best of shape yet either!  The dramatic banding is really special to me...

Farmer D

John we were wondering if Chorus Line would produce more color here = YES!  Looking as advertised and I am really happy about that!

Farmer D

I am just loving these giant Acapulco Gold blooms - I'll post some more pics later as some are really reflexed now as well as a lot of Black Dream blooms...

Farmer D

Darren, Scintillating looks like it deserves the name.
White Hot would definitely be high on my list for Hibiscus of the Year. Also from today: Brassy Blonde and Red Cadillac.

Erny

Tiger Cub, Sea Spray, Valentine's Day, Burnt Saffron, and Dapple Dandy.

Hot Cocoa, Living Legend, Inner Compass, Cherry Glow, and Lady In Waiting.

Some prolific bloomers: Slapstick, Daisy Mae, Cinnamon Splendor. Also Rocket's Red Glare and Bessie--a uniquely colored red double.

Here are a set of Rainbow Sherbert triplets, my first bloom on Party Girl (received as a 4 inch in June) and a pic of my troublesome Splash.  The petals are curled a lot - looking more like a 5 point star.  Does anyone have experience with Splash doing that?  Are I doing something wrong?

Capt-J I just love those R Sherbet blooms you're getting.  As for Splash mine did all sorts of weird stuff until I moved it to full sun recently.  How long has it been blooming for or is this one of the first?

WOW Erny, that White Hot is extraordinary!!!  Definitely has my vote for HOTY.

Also your Slapstick bush is freakin awesome!  That is exactly what we all hope for when we grow these beauties.  Mine is starting to do some decent growing and I suspect buds should be showing up any day.  I put a stronger sprinkler head near it and it really liked the extra water for sure.  That is with much increased feedings particularly of the HVH booster.

Some end of day shots...

Farmer D

Quite the fade on Scintillating but I am very impressed none the less with it's bloom today.

Farmer D

Here are some blooms from today, Double Cappuccino opened, looks good for such a small plant. Can't wait till the plant gets large so I can see how big the bloom gets and also Tigerama and Black Jack.


Patrick

Darren, I was glad to see all that pink on your Chorus Line.

John me too - it is still in a 1 gl plastic pot on my driveway so next is to decide where to put her.  I need some sort of dark background to make those blooms pop.

Patrick that is some intense depth of color you're getting on your blooms!  The higher latitude works well for that...

Today's star of my garden has got to be Crystal Pink.  I still feel this one is under everyone's radar.  The blooms are well sized, the plant is budding up a lot and is lush and well branched.  All this in my tiny driveway planter that gets baked by the sun and isn't even a foot wide!  The form on this one is perfect and the striations of pink and white are magnificent!  It is becoming quite the hit on Facebook too...

Farmer D

Erny did your Dragon Moon look like this early on?  If so I think I need to move mine to a sunny spot but then again would that make the colors fade quickly?  The three blooms I've had on DM have been gigantic approaching 10" and are very heavily textured lasting at least 3 days each time.  I am not a fan of this look as it is just a pink rendition of Dragon's Breath to me - just my taste as others might love this look.

Farmer D

I think the heat is getting to us wimpy So Cal folk as I missed two nice blooms in the backyard this morning.  Looks like TFL is a bit fried now - 93F today...

Farmer D

Erny slapstick is going crazy! wow.   I am also loving cinnamon splendor!

Here is another Braveheart bloom, I really love this one alot, very unusual colors and good bloomer and seed setter :)

Chris, my Slapstick was a nice bush with two strong vertical stalks. Sometime back in winter both stalks showed tip die back so I cut off the distal 4-6 inches on each stalk. They started leafing out along the whole length of each stalk but no blooms until recently. Now it is going crazy as you saw in the photos. Normally I don't prune much, if at all. After this I think I will be much more active in the pruning department. Cinnamon Splendor is also a blooming machine.
I was out of town over most of the long weekend but returned today and found a bunch of nice blooms. My two favorites here are White Hot and Quasar.

Erny

Two other recent additions that I really like are Summer Fun and Glitz & Glitter.

Wild Grape, Peanut Butter, Night Magic, and Valentine's Day.

Over The Rainbow, Fifth Dimension, Blushing Bride, and Cinnamon Splendor.

Dapple Dandy, Black Dragon, Pocahontas, and Tahitian Lovely.