Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

Acapulco Gold bloomed for me today for the first time this year!

wow really pretty...I have that one too...its growing like crazy but no blooms yet :'(...lynette

What a beautiful and unique form of Acapulco Gold.

dave

With petaloids, even! Probably due to use of the booster. Very pretty flower!

Charlie

Acapulco Gold, Pina Colada, and Lady Cilento from today.  Group shot sun is too bright, I should have taken it earlier in the morning.  Also Gwen Mary.  Individual shots came out better. I'm having much better success growing them outside this summer so will expand on it next year.

dave

These are the three that got me started into this wonderful addiction back in 2004: Erin Rachael, Aztec Sun, and Tamibon.  I let Tamibon get a little too dry so bloom never opened completely.

dave

One last pic, my first Vin Beaujolias bloom.

dave

Nice Dave!  Vin B is gorgeous!  I'm on the list for a Vin Extraordinare; seeing your Vin B makes me want one of those too. 


Night Runner today, growing into a nice little bush with some staking up.

Great pics Dave. Vin Beaujolias is awesome.

Thanks Doll and Jordan. I love this one and hope to get Vin Extraordinaire too.  I better make sure I'm on the list for it.

Jordan your Night Runner is gorgeous.  I just lost mine, it never really got going so am hoping Charlie will have some more coming so I can give it another try, hopefully in the 6" size this time.

dave

Wow great looking flowers everyone!  I have a cool RRG bloom to share, will post later :)

Wow, September is off to such a wonderful start. I love what you guys/gals are showing.

RRG with six petals :)

Hi everyone,

this plant is stunning. i just love the colors and the leaves are a bonus.

all my hibiscus are outside hidden in varoious parts of the garden, hidden from the deer. they will be coming in next month.

louis

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/9-02-10/gator%20pride.jpg)

Oh, very pretty, Louis. It reminds me a bit of Creole Lady.

Such beautiful photos!

Jordan, I am impressed with your Night Runner - it's really taking off and the staking is allowing it to show off better.

Charlie

Here's some blooms from today,

Acapulco Gold
Magic Crystal
Key lime pie

PS Charlie, I had a Cashmere yellow the other day that was 9 inches , before that one they have been around 7 inces.

Sorry, here is today's magic Crystal , the other one was from another day I think I already posted that one before.

Here's a couple of pic's of Cinnamon girl

And a couple picture's of Moon Shadow

Heavy Metal bloomed for the first time today.  I plan to cross it to Moonstruck. It should bloom in a few days.  :)

Patrick, thanks for the info on Cashmere Yellow. I've been working on yellow flowers the last 2 years and there's going to be more of them soon. For many years Heaven Scent was the favorite yellow based on sales and I didn't do enough to develop more yellows. Anyway, I was wondering how big Cashmere Yellow bloomed outside of our greenhouse and 7 to 9 inches is turning out to be the range.

Laura, nice photos of Heavy Metal. That big dark eye sure came through this time. A cross of it with Moonstruck could easily keep the eye, since this is more or less a backcross with Rainbow Christi, parent of Heavy Metal. A bigger version of Heavy Metal or a brighter version of Moonstruck would be very nice to see!

Charlie

The different looks of Georgia's Thunder
Both were blooms today.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/eg1wev.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2mgsbol.jpg)

Thanks, Charlie!  My Night Runner took awhile to get going, but now it's full of buds and has been blooming with 7" flowers.  Can't wait until this one gets taller.  The staking up of the bush helps the flower bloom in a more visible spot, too, considering this cv likes to flop, flowers included.

Much better color on my Cosmic Gold today. Didn't get out of the 80's today.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/25jf9f7.jpg)

A collage of sorts

Great blooms everyone

Heaven's Scent and it was a scented one :)

Burnt Saffron

Doll, you caught Georgia's Thunder perfectly, showing the odd way the petals open at times. Good color on the Cosmic Gold. It does show best when conditions are milder, better color and great form then.

Charlie

Wow, Chris, a scented Heaven's Scent! Doesn't happen all that often... Nice color on the Burnt Saffron. Didn't I see on the news that Denver had just about the hottest temp around a day or 2 ago? Didn't hurt your flowers any, looks like.

Charlie

I've had two flowers of HS that have been scented so far.  Usually I can smell the light scent right after the flower opens.  Later in the day the scent is gone.  The HS bloom held up really well in the heat,  I cant say the same for burnt saffron it was only open for an hour before it started to burn.  Mid nineties today, but back into the 70s tomorrow. I picked that bloom and brought it inside.  

I started to prune everyone for the boxes today.  They will only be in the boxes for about five days, so I think that for the most part they will be fine:)

Chris, Your burnt saffron is amazing!  So pretty.  It is going on my list of wants.  Along with the Night Runner, I was always so afraid of the bush on that one, but I am fully capable of staking, I think that I must give it a try!  And I love that photo of the heavy metal.  And all the photos of the Acapulco Gold is so different from what I have seen.  

 I have been waiting for my very first Hibiscus that I purchased to bloom for a month.  It is Cajun Blue.  I don't know what to expect from this one... It had this one little bud just waiting, and I think it may open today or tomorrow! Can't wait, bummer is that I have no one else open right now to cross it with!

~Kristen

Come on, Cajun Blue, you can do it!

6 petals on my Voodoo Magic :)

It opened,  what a beauty!  Sorry I ever doubted it!  I also put some 2 day old Saffron love on her... We shall see.  I was debating whether or not I should because I didn't know if I would rather have a seed pod and no more blooms, or let her bloom some more.  Seems to be that when I do get a pod, the blooms stop!

I love those enormous red pads.

back to watching Navy Football :)

Kristen, how pretty!  I haven't seen photos of Cajun Blue other than Dupont's stock photo.

Blooming today for me:

Silver Memories
Voodoo Magic
Creole Lady
Night Runner
Chariots of Fire...

...Sunkissed Blonde with twins!  SOO pretty!  And her bush.  :)

GREAT pics! :) You are a master gardener now Jordan!

yay   :D

Uli & Jordan, It is interesting to see the difference between your two Voodoo blooms.  You are both in CA right?  Are you far enough apart for there to be a climate difference?  And I love your Night Runner,  I now decided that I need that one as well.

Charlie, do you know anything about Cajun Blue?  I really don't know anything about it and would love some info.

Kristen, I was surprised to see the difference too. Jordan's is very orange while my VM blooms are brown. It's probably cooler here where I live.

I thought i would post this in case anyone was interested to see our newest Hibiscus in Vietnam. I know its only a garden variety but up till now we have only had 3 other colours and the lady who made it is very proud. This is the early morning picture with a red tint and has the day goes on it is a very strong yellow and about 6 inches with loads of blooms.

What is funny is she has about 20 plants in the shop and only mine have bloomed and she cant understand why,i tried to explain to her about HVH Special Fertilizer but as i cant speak Vietnamese she just thinks i am cuckoo.

My VM blooms are brown sometimes... this one was more orange than usual actually.  I think the climate here is very different from where Uli lives.  I live in the hot, dry grassland of central CA and I think Uli lives in southern CA.  

Good bloom day for Jordan! Plenty of sunlight helps a lot with blooms.

Brown flowers are known to be more orange in hotter, sunnier places. I recall some visitors from the tropics came here once and they were amazed to see the brown blooms here of varieties that were mostly dark orange for them.

Charlie

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to show this beauty. Moonstruck has two huge blooms on it. they are both 9 inches in diameter. they are almost as big as the plant itself. each bloom has been open for two days with good first day color.

I made a big decision today. i decided to make application to the poor house. you see, i plan on opening my greenhouse for the first time in over 10 years. will cost a fortune to heat, but you cant put a price on enjoyment.

Louis

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-07/IMG_1505.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-07/IMG_1507.jpg)

First open bloom:

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-07/IMG_1508.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-07/IMG_1524.jpg)


(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-07/IMG_1520.jpg)

Grey Dawn,that's the name i have given to this un named cv i was sent in error. I am very pleased and it so far seems to have no problem with 4 hours of strong sun a day. The bloom is slightly bigger than last time at 5 inches.

David, that sure turned out to be a very nice flower. I like the color.

Big blooms like Moonstruck are a sight to behold. I can't think of any other flower species with blooms so large and with such great and variable colors. Nice job on coaxing this one into bloom!

Louis, I'm glad to hear that you are going to use your greenhouse this winter. Expensive to heat, yes, but your hibiscus collection will love it and getting some blooms in mid-winter is a special treat. You might look into cheap and easy ways to insulate and prevent heat loss. I've had to do this in my big, leaky greenhouse and the benefits were enormous. Higher temperatures with less propane burned than before I did it. I'm going to expand the area that is well insulated this winter and expect to be able to keep the plants in it warm at night and thriving.

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

  I apologize for posting this here as it is a re-post I posted it in the Care forum (Iron  forum) and haven't gotten an answer yet.  (I only posted it yesterday though, but I am leaving tonight for a week vacation and need to do this this morning because I will be bringing all my plants inside and squeeze them into one big window.  This is what I posted:

 I just hosed all my plants today in preparation to bring them in tonight for my vacation.  It is an overcast and windy day, so I thought it would be a good day to do it and have them dry nicely.  I saw some yellowing on Cindy's Heart.  I looked with the mag and saw what I thought are mites, or their eggs, but there was no movement.  It was really cool last night, didn't know if that affects them or not, that is why I did the hosing to them all.  Anyway, I think I would like to give them a spray of protection before I bring them all in.  Do you think I should use Neem Oil, Bondie Systemic Insect Control, or Bondie All Seasons Spray Oil?  They all take care of mites, but which would be the best?  I don't want to come home to a room packed with yellow infested plants, so I want to take all percautions.

They all dried nicely, today is also an overcast cool breezy day.  After the hosing yesterday, I inspected Cindy again, and those things I saw before were gone.  (I really like this hose meathod!)  But would like to use a long lasting spray on them before I bring them in so if anyone who has an opinion can help me, I would love some advise. 

And again, I am sorry about re-posting, I know you are busy Charlie.  Thanks for everything!
~Kristen

P.S.
But just so this post isn't completely unjustified for this forum, I will show you what I woke up to.  My hardy Lady Baltimore bloomed overnight.  It is nothing like she is supposed to look like.  Much nicer colors because it has been in the 50's at night and 70's in the day.

What a pretty Lady Baltimore!

I'm sorry I missed your messages yesterday. You are probably already gone and decided what to do but just in case......

I think I would try the tea tree oil in this case. It will smother like oil but also has some natural insect control properties that may affect mites, too. The Bonide systemic contains acephate (Orthene) which is not much use against mites but is great against thrips. I would save it for that purpose since it is a wide spectrum pesticide that will kill a lot of beneficial predatory insects.

The hosing down of the leaves was a great idea and will probably give them all the protection needed while you are gone. I am very glad you have learned to use the magnifier to check for insects. I advise this constantly but rarely hear about anyone actually doing it. Checking this way is what the pros do and is the only way to take the guess work out of deciding whether insects are a problem or not.

BTW, mites are very responsive to heat and cold and in the cold they may become inactive. If the magnifier is strong enough you can see the body and legs and even the spots on the common 2 spotted mite. If you learn to look for body shape, spots, etc you will know for sure if mites are present or not.

Charlie

Great!  That is very helpful.  I haven't left yet.  We might leave after I get out of work tonight at 11pm.  So I will use the Bondie All Seasons Spray Oil right now, let them dry then bring them all in for the week.  Yeah, I think I need to get a mag that is more then 20X.  I did see the body, had the right shape, and a black spot on the back, might have been 2 spots, not sure.  But they were all gone after the hosing.  I mag them at least once a week, if you tell me to do something that will benefit my hibiscus, I will do it.  If you tell me to do something that will benefit me...eh.. maybe later... :D

I love these plants, and want to keep them all happy!  Thanks for everything!

~Kristen

Have a great trip, Kristin!

One more thing about magnifiers - although the stronger they are the more detail you can see high powered ones are also harder to use for finding insects and if too strong - say 100x - you can't see whole insects well at all. 30x seems about right.

Seeing that this is the Flower Photo of the Day thread below are some photos from yesterday which turned out to be a good bloom day!

1. Haute Couture - fully decked out in all the colors it can show
2. Ruby Tuesday - glowing like a jewel
3. Chocolate Cherub - 6 inch bloom, one of the darker browns
4. Think Pink - one of the larger hibiscus flowers at 8 to 10 inches
5. A pair of Ice Fairy blooms - miniature flowers in icy blue colors on a big vigorous bush

charlie...that chocalate cherub is really nice...I have never heard of that one...her are some of my blooms from the last couple of days..lynette ;D

and a couple more..... ::)

Really nice picture of Sparkling Water, i have never seen that cv before and catching it with a ray of sunshine on part of it is very clever.

I know its prettier than I thought...

Wow, Lynette, your hibiscus are getting into high gear now! Not much of a summer so far in this area, but I'm still hoping for a warm and sunny fall that lasts into December. Thanks a lot for sharing these.

Charlie

charlie...my little sparkling water held  on to her color all day...She is very pretty ;D...Ya I hope they continue until dec also ;D

Charlie...is sparkling water a one day bloom???.I went out this morning and she was closed :-\...Oh well she was beautiful....Lynette

here are a couple more blooms from today ;D

The Think Pink cv looks lovely,i dont really like pinks and i have just ordered one.

David, I think you will like it. The flowers look just like the photos but what does not show is the large size and nice crisp texture of the flowers. It's a fairly slow growing variety but that works well for pots.

Charlie

Lynette, you've got everything blooming right now. Very few if any thrips scratches. Good job! I'm glad Moonstruck is starting to bloom for you - once it gets going it can be a very good bloomer.

Charlie

Chocolate Cherub has great opening color and a 5-6 inch flower. I like the buds on it, too, as they grow large and dark colored before opening. But, it did not propagate well last year so we only had a few plants of it. I'm trying again this summer so we shall see.

Charlie

Blooms today:  Silver Memories, Tahitian Princess, Night Runner, and colder nights + booster = BRIGHT Creole Lady flowers!

I love creole lady...I have her too...she bloomed alot then has taken a break..but now getting some more blooms....nice...lynette

Here is a couple of photos I took at night..... ::)

Blazing sun today so a pale Saffron and a nice Pineapple Sundae,and a nice large bud of Samba dancer for tomorrow.

Beautiful garden!!...David does pineapple sundae do good in full sun?????..thanks lynette

Thank you,the garden should now look quite nice till the end of January.

 Pineapple Sundae is becoming the most sun tolerant cv i have,i say becoming as it was not so good in its first year but now as it is getting older i can  leave it unshaded for 6 hours and even have blooms into the second day which is unheard of for me.

You guys have posted such nice photos of Creole Lady that we may need to change the "More Info" page in the  store to show the brighter look. Since it fades or changes color during the day we did not want to mislead anyone but I see that we did not include any of the opening colors and should do so.

David, you've created quite an attractive setting with your tropical garden. Very inviting looking place to spend some time!

Pretty nighttime shots, Lynette. I'm just wondering about the last one labeled Nightfire. It doesn't look like Nightfire, have you seen it bloom bright blue and red as it normally is?

Charlie

Charlie...so sorry..it is night magic...oops :-\

I love the opening color of Creole Lady so much... yesterday was a little bit overcast so she didn't really fade until the end of the day.  I think I'll make her an indoor plant at some point so I can enjoy the opening colors.  :)

David, your garden is superb.  It should be featured in the World Gardens section.  Are you and Cindy working on that by chance?

All the recent beautiful photos of Creole Lady really make me want one.  Charlie are any going to be offered in a more affordable size like 6" pots?  Also are you still propagating any Silver Memories?


dave

Thanks Dave and Charlie, well everyone really,having my garden on the HVH website has been my aim since Cindy first asked me over a year ago, i will be unbelievably proud so have to try and get it just right. I am hoping that once a few of the other plants bloom around the Hibiscus i will be ready and it should be on by Xmas.

Motherof4,    really nice pics of Fabulous.  Mine has been under the misconception that it is a foliage plant so I'm considering placing it on the desk in front of my monitor with you pics displayed so that it may derive a little inspiration.  Yikes, I think I was out in the sun far too long today.


dave

Seeing the pictures of Creole Lady on the forum and then looking at that 2 gallon one in the shop is driving me crazy every day,can i risk shipping it to Vietnam or should i wait Agghhh,i am of for a swim to think again.

dave.....I have a couple of those plants...sunkissed blonde is one and sleeping beauty...they are growing slowly and no blooms ???...lynette

For those who asked, Creole Lady will be available in 4 inch and 6 inch pots next year. The 2 gallons convinced me that it is worthwhile and the great photos posted here confirm it.

Silver Memories is a graft only variety. It may be available next year. There is also 1 two gallon plant of it left that should be ready to ship before winter sets in. Not sure if there is a waiting list for it or not.

Dave, once your Fabulous starts blooming it should bloom a lot. Maybe it needs more sun or maybe it is just growing back from being pruned and hasn't reached blooming stage yet.

Lynette, put those 2 slow growers in bigger pots (if need be) and give them more sun and some Supernova. Both are strong growers in the right conditions.

Charlie

Here are some of today's blooms in Ft Lauderdale, FL

Jon

I love that gone green!!!!.....Charlie they are both in bigger pots...sunkissed blonde gets a lot of sun..sleeping beauty not as much...maybe I will move her to more sun...and they both get super nova...oh well

"Gone Green" certainly is an interesting 6-7 inch bloom.  This variety grows at a very rapid pace.  I've had "Gone Green" since June and it has tripled in height.  Probably better suited to be planted in the ground.

hello charlie,

i would like to put dibs on the silver memories. i have sent cindy an email asking if one is available and its on my waiting list.


Please let me know,

Louis

Jon, your post reminded me that the last "green" variety I offered was also a very vigorous grower. It was named Absinthe and was a big flower that I offered in 6 inch pots. Not a lot of takers for green tinted flowers back in 2002 although almost every different color finds a home these days. Absinthe tended to outgrow the 6 inch pots before they were all shipped. I wish I still had it but it is one for the history books now.

Most or maybe all green tinted flowers trace back to Misfire and Topaz Glory. Creme de Cacao is one I have these days that shows a hint of green and some of its offspring are distinctly green tinted. It has Misfire and Key Lime Pie as parents so the green tinting is not a surprise. I say tinting because no hibiscus flower is green like grass or leaves but are either a light yellow with green tint or a dark muddy gold with green tint.

Anyway, below if a photo of Absinthe from 2002.

Charlie

Hi everyone,

i have set up my sunroom/greenhouse for the winter and have all my plants now inside. nights are getting too cold here, was 40 degrees last night.

here are two from today:

Gators Pride

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-15-10/gators%20pride.jpg)

And two images of Me-Oh-My-Oh. its a stunning plant, spindly by the blooms are spectacular.

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-15-10/ohme-1.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-15-10/ohme-2.jpg)

Louis

40 degrees already! We won't see that until December, hopefully.  What temperature will you try to maintain inside the greenhouse?

Me-oh-My-Oh does have a poor growth habit. Just about the time it starts blooming the branches all start falling over. But, it is a big flower with excellent opening color. 

I'm glad to hear you got the greenhouse set up, Louis.

Charlie

I would be happy to start seeing 60's at night.

A nice Cosmic Gold. I think Cosmic Gold will make it to the tried and true list one day.
(http://i54.tinypic.com/658spt.jpg)

Wow its great to see everyone's pics! :)

Doll, it's hard to imagine night temps over 70F. Makes for some big flowers with those varieties that like it that way.

I agree about Cosmic Gold being a good performer. How is it in the heat? It seems to do better for me when the temps are milder - bigger and more colorful blooms than when the greenhouse heats up to 100 or so.

Charlie

The heat doesn't seem to bother it much. The blooms have been averaging 6-7 inches. When the weather cools down soon I will see if the blooms get a little bigger and brighter.

That's good to know. If Cosmic Gold behaves the way it does here when cooler, you will get 8 inch blooms with lots of ruffles and tufts and some darker gold or orange highlights. Sort of like the one below.

Charlie

hi charlie, the temp in the greenhouse will not go lower than 70 degrees. i will take what the sun gives me during the day. the plants will get sun from 11am till sunset, which is around 4pm during the winter. so depressing.

when the sun is out, i will have in the high 80's during the day with no additional heat.


lou

Low of 70 is excellent. They will flourish and you should get blooms, too. I can no longer heat our entire 1 acre greenhouse to 70 in the winter, but do so in some curtained off areas while letting others go down into the 50's.

A Canadian commercial grower I've been in touch with once told me he uses a special generator in winter to raise the level of carbon dioxide in his greenhouse to higher than normal limits. He said this combats the lower light levels and lower temperatures and allows him to get active growth during the winter. Different circumstances that far north, but I found it interesting anyway.

Charlie

charlie,

a lot of commercial growers here in conn use the carbon dioxide generators during the winters.

a great help to them, especially the early tomato growers who grow them in greenhouses and have them on the market by early april, a real treat.

lou

Here's some blooms from today

Heaven's scent
blue Hawaii
Rocket's red Glare

And Here's Silver Memories, also I have a picture of one of our seedlings, do you thing there is a chance it may bloom this year before winter. It was planted in Dec 2008

Patrick

Louis, are you from CT?  Which part?

Pretty photo of Silver Memories with the red contrast of Dragons Breath in the background.

Patrick, your seedling is at the size mine are when many of them first bloom. If you see any microbuds developing before it gets too cold and can then keep the plant warm for several more weeks you could see a flower this year. The more sun the better right now. The seedling bush looks very nice, well branched and upright.

Charlie

Louis, that's interesting. I suppose it has something to do with not being able to vent fresh air into the greenhouse when it is freezing outside. CO2 gets used up by the plants in that kind of enclosed environment. I tried a small generator that used propane to produce CO2 in the propagation area of the previous greenhouse I had but didn't see any noticeable difference in that situation so did not set it up again after moving to the current location.

Charlie

Heavy Metal twins and Moonstruck's opening and second day colors.

hello,

i am in morris, a little south of litchfield, where are you.

louis

Laura those pics are great!  I remember you saying you live in WA, what part?  I just moved up here and I am curious to hear how you have been growing your hibs because they are looking great!

Chris, I actually live in Union, Oregon but I attend Walla Walla University. I will bring them to school with me and hopefully they will continue to bloom during the drab winter weather.

I recall that Laura posted a flower photo in mid-winter but then said the reason it bloomed was that she took the hibiscus home for Christmas break where it got a lot more sun than in her dorm room in WA.

I agree with Chris - your hibiscus are looking excellent now!

Charlie

First Bonnie Lass bloom
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2cghtmf.jpg)

Interesting Bonnie Lass, Doll. Intense main color but the heat must have knocked out the color from the edge. Nice form on this one.

Charlie

It is still getting into the 90's everyday. Until that first cold front comes through it will stay that way. A cold front in Houston this time of year knocks the night time temps into the 60's and daytime highs into the 80's.  Almost sweater weather for us. Lol.

 A cold front in Houston this time of year knocks the night time temps into the 60's and daytime highs into the 80's.  Almost sweater weather for us. Lol.
[/quote]

Totally unheard of here but its the exact same weather we are getting,it should be great for my Hibiscus. Last night was the lowest night time temperature [64f] in 40 years. Makes me laugh though the government in Nha Trang are advising old people to try and keep warm during the night and should the daytime get below 70f they will shut the schools to avoid a flu outbreak. Even funnier,last night i was in the garden feeding my plants with Safari[just wearing a pair of shorts] and asked my girlfriend if she would help me measure out as my eyesight is not so good and she refused as there was no way she would take off her gloves,ha ha unbelievable.

Hi Louis,
  I am on the Shoreline, Clinton.  Know where it is.  I am going to google morris right now to see where it is.
Nice to meet you anyway!!

and nice to meet you also. you have milder weather on the coast. the water acts like a heatsink.

louis

Here is a second day bloom of CDC

(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v13/p517146214-4.jpg)


I got two blooms of the darker Voodoo I like :)
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v14/p664264-4.jpg)

every ones blooms are looking good !

Kerry Beautiful photos!! 

I'm home from vacation.  Most of my hibiscus did OK.  Belle du Jour dropped about 15 leaves and is now mostly yellow.  I put her in my bay window that has beautiful morning sun... in the winter when the leaves are all gone.  Oops.  So now back to rehab for her...  My mom didn't water everyone as they seemed to be wet, but when I got home, Voodoo Magic & Gabriel were wilting.  I watered them and they bounced back to health.  Then I went into my bedroom to find another 10" Cindy's Heart!  And another bloom from Simple Pleasures!

How beautiful, Kristen, and more big buds coming along, I see!

Charlie

I notice that telltale yellow dust on the staminal pads of your blooms, Kerrie! Voodoo Magic pollen dries out very fast in hot and sunny places so your in the house plant could do a lot better in terms of pollen.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie for the beautiful bush, I love her!!  There are a ton of new buds coming on all of mine! Saffron is gonna explode along side CH!  I wonder if they really like the indoor window?? 

Here is a great bloom from a new plant from HV, its called Love Story. its loaded with buds and gave me two blooms the day after i received it. thanks charlie and cindy for great plants and outstanding shipping.

Louis

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib-9-15-10/love%20story.jpg)

Louis,  That photo of love story is spectacular!  I had no big interest in that one, but the photo you took of it makes it irresistible!! 

Nice one, Lou!

Love Story is one of our tried and true plants - great color and a solid bush. There will be a couple of 2 gallons at next Saturday's Open House and if not sold will be in the online store on Sunday.

Charlie

The plants seem to like their new home. Moonstruck has twins that are about 9 inches in diameter, each and love story has two blooms. i think i might have to join hibiscus-aholics. no mater how crowded you are, there is always room for one more.

louis

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-21-10/4-%20blooms.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-21-10/love%20story-1.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-21-10/moomstruck%20twins.jpg)

Louis,   Welcome to the Hibiscus Addiction support group or is it the Hibiscus Enabling group?   ;D  Your plants look great in their new home.

dave

Lovely, i dont know what has happened to me, i dont really like Reds or Pinks but i have just bought Think Pink and after seeing that photo Love Story will be my next buy. Does the white really stand out?


hi dave, the white is a good white. red takes over most of the bloom. blooms are about 6 inches in diameter. great bush

louis

I also have love story...what I really like about her is that she blooms both singles and doubles...kristen you would love this one...lynette :D

Think Pink bloom from Monday, received order on Friday. A really nice 8" flower.

dave

Pina Colada triple with some evidence of thrips.  Drat.
Heaven Scent dbl and then HS single form with Blue Ballerina inside under skylite.

dave

Another strange Rainbow Sherbert bloom but not on the same branch as the other one posted earlier.  A couple of shots of an interesting unnamed landscape variety.  Blooms are just under 7 inches.  Must be the HVH fertilizer.


dave

hi dave,

great looking plants, great looking foliage. what is the smaller blue that you have in the last photo?

louis

Hi Louis.

that's Blue Ballerina finally blooming again after a major spider mite attack set it back.

dave

hi again dave,

its a very pretty bloom. every time i see another that i like, my wallet gasps.

i need rehab  ::)

I agree, Blue Ballerina is a very pretty bloom.  I resisted getting it a first because of its smaller bloom size, but several photos posted on the forum sold me on it.  

I know that wallet feeling though my primary problem has become space.  I still have at least 10 plants on my ever growing wish list and kind of hope they don't show up in the store for a while since I won't be able to resist them.  Also, based on the pics that Charlie has posted of many new seedlings recently there will be some incredible new cultivars on the way.  Time to find a spot for a decent sized greenhouse and start budgeting for it.  lol

dave.  

and more:

Nina....I love that second hib...beautiful!!...Where did you get that one???...I would love to have one...thanks lynette

Yeah Nina, All of them beautiful!  What is that second one and where did you get it??

Jolanda Gommer was hybridized by a commercial grower in The Netherlands, Hendrik Jan Gommer. It is his best known hybrid. Nina, who lives in Croatia, may have purchased it from him although much of her collection comes from wood that she grafts herself so it could have come from anyone who has it and sent her wood. Gommer used 'Fifth Dimension' in a lot of his hybrids and has said his best results came from using it. You can see the colors in Jolanda Gommer. Below is another photo of it taken by a woman in France.

Charlie

Cindy's Heart - I think it is about 7 inches
(http://i51.tinypic.com/qs4o6b.jpg)
Braveheart after a refreshing afternoon shower.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/wmcq4j.jpg)

Hi everyone,

Some blooms from today. the cherry appaloosa, I believe is Charlie's creation.

Hope you dont mind the long post.

Louis

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-26-10/cerole%20lady.jpg)

Cherry Appaloosa

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-26-10/cherry%20appaloosa%20-%202.jpg)

Cherry Appaloosa

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-26-10/cherry%20appaloosa.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-26-10/cosmic%20gold%20-%201.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hib%209-26-10/cosmic%20gold.jpg)

The Cherry Appaloosa is truly lovely and has pushed Love Story into second place on my wish list. I really like the way the 2 colors are seperate and the white seems to stand out more than Love story.

Such great photos from everywhere! Nothing better than a beautiful bloom photographed well.

Cherry Appaloosa has been a mixed blessing - one of the best flowers I've seen yet on one of the worst bushes. We've never been able to grow anywhere near enough of it to supply the demand for it but I'm also reluctant to ship it to an inexperienced collector due to the challenges of keeping it growing and upright.

The problems with Cherry Appaloosa came from another classic beauty, Rebellious Spirit, that also had a terrible bush with a good red and white flower. That same cross of Morgan Alyssa x Rebellious Spirit gave us Strawberry Fields Forever and Rebel Rouser, both red and whites with better bushes than Cherry App but not quite as nice a flower. Below is a photo of Rebellious Spirit.

Charlie

Thank you Charlie,its wonderfull. Think Pink on its first opening.

hello david, think pink is very pretty. how do the plants fare on the trip to your country.

louis

I have no idea what has changed with the shipping but Express mail is now getting here in about 9 days so they arive in perfect condition. Me and Cindy have sort of discovered that by buying each plant individually i dont have a problem with customs so all in all i am very pleased.

First P's Purple
(http://i55.tinypic.com/n36t0o.jpg)

Blooming today; Valentine's Day, Burnt Saffron, Creole Lady

Outstanding photos of wonderful plants, everyone.

louis

Beautiful valentines day....I have a small one..has not bloomed yet...I love burnt saffron...I am on the waiting list for that one...I also have creole lady...nice..lynette

Jordan, I didn't realize that Valentines Day looked like that, I thought it was more like Cindy's Heart.  Wow I'm excited for mine to grow big enough to bloom now!  Beautiful shots everyone!

Yes, Vday is great.  This is my first time seeing it in person.  The eye is extremely dark and rich.  A good one to have it you're looking to create dark blooms.  Maybe a good cross with Dragon's Breath?  Or Black Dragon if Vday will set seed.........

Very nice Jordan :D

Always nice to see such beauties. Does Valentines Day set seeds? Not so far but there is always the chance that the right cross will be made at the right time. Looks like your Burnt Saffron is blooming well right now, too!

Charlie

I know it's late but if anyone has this post tagged for notification here are some of my September blooms.

Better late than never....this plant is a plentiful producer.  Usually 20+ buds at one time getting ready. Enjoy.

Farmer D

More catch up photos from Sept.

Farmer D

Really nice colors

Farmer D, thanks for these photos. Great pics of abundant blooms! No worries about posting in September Photos of the Day. We can see from the forum statistics that all threads are read over and over. In fact, the July 2009 thread is still the second most viewed topic on the forum. I'm not sure why but it just goes to show that when people discover the forum they look over both new and old threads.

I bet you also had blooms in October and November.  :)

Charlie