Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

Here's yet another species making their debut on the Forum: Orange Kokio (subsp. saintjohnianus) * Twins & one 6-petaled bloom (trying to give the "Hollywood Hibiscus" just a little competition in the unique and unusual department.) 8)

Hello everyone,

I would like to add to the start of the March thread with an unusual cosmic gold ( for me )

bloom is bigger than normal at 7 inches, edges of the petals has an orange tint, which is neat.

This plant has the perfect bush. I have had this plant for about one year and its only a scant few inches higher than when i got it. nice compact bush with tons of buds.

I guess another nice end product of the new HVH household formula.

louis

Hello Yashodhara ,

very interesting plant, i do like it a lot.

louis

My cool weather CG looked awesome too.  My blooms were HUGE 9 inches and a bright tangerine color, very beautiful.  This was of course before the apartment freeze at the beginning of January, but it looks like CG is bouncing back!

Would really like to see some of your bushes Louis!

Yashodhara, I am really enjoying your species hibiscus blooms, your flowers make me want a Shizo :)

I've been out with the flu for the past week or so but I'm finally starting to become myself again.  I did manage to peel myself of the couch long enough to take these photos a few days ago, though.  CDLC decided to bloom for me while I was sick.  :)  Black Dragon too.

Very nice Jordan, can I ask you what is making your leaves on CDLC look like that, they look green and healthy but sort of bubbly. The reason I ask is I have the same thing happen on mine sometimes and I just assumed it was the sun, but I see yours are indores so I am obviously wrong.

Mine has the same leaves, I think it is just how this CV is.  Just like all the flowers are different, if you look at the foliage of your plants they are all different too.  Some are smooth, serrated, lobbed, have green stems, have red stems, etc.  It is really amazing how different each plant is!

Thank you for sharing these blooms, could you imagine the possibilities if you could get BD x CDLC seeds!

Yup David that's just how its leaves are.  CDLD x BD would be awesome!  Can't remember...  is CDLC a setter?

Jordan, nice CDLC!  Im waiting for one to come into the store... charlie?  I hope I hope... 

Well, Im here suffering in St Martin right now... Actually, I really am.  I have been sick since I got here, hence why Im sitting in bed talking to you right now.  Jordan, I think I caught your cold.  Its miserable!  Probably the sickest I have been in years!

Lou, you have been getting some beauties!  Love your CG!  Hows the weather there?

hi kristen,

san marteen, how nice.

weather here is very cold, was below zero last night and will be in the low single numbers tonight.

get out on the beach and bake in the sun. that will make everyting better.

louis

A couple of species tonight: A really red Schizopetalus and a super perky Arnottianus. Also, a little something from my sister-- A deep purple Blue  Bayou Rose.

We wanted Charlie to see what a difference the HVH Indoor Plant Food and supplements have made for hibiscus grown indoors, in winter, in Michigan: I told my sister about the website and the indoor plant section, and she's been using HVH supplements since last summer... She says that her (indoor only/never go outside/only natural light) hibiscus are budding and flowering like crazy (Very happy!).  :D

Kristen, sick in St. Martin!  :(  I hope you get better soon so you can enjoy the rest of your trip.  Yup this flu for me was the sickest I've been in 6 years.  I'm definitely getting a flu shot next year. 


Great photos, Yash!  I'm not into species hibs but you're making me want a schizo.  That Blue Bayou is perfect, too!

Oops, that's supposed to be "Bayou Rose", not "Blue Bayou" for the non-species photo (doh!)  :P

Thanks for that feedback, Deb. Very intense colors you are getting. There's no getting around it - the right nutrients in the right amounts makes a huge difference with hibiscus flowers. Nice species flowers you've been showing.

I hope you are feeling better, Kristen. All that sun should be good for you!

Lou, I think you will see bigger Cosmic Gold flowers as we move into spring. It's usually 8 inches here and the orange highlights are common. With the fancy form - those ruffles and tufts along the petal edges - it's quite a pretty bloom.

Creme de la Creme has those bumpy leaves as part of its odd charm. I don't have an explanation for them but I've seen them on all plants of CDLC, sometimes more and sometimes less.

Charlie

A very dark raindrop bloom today.  Almost a black/purple, who knew that the blooms could get that dark?  Enjoy :)

Chris - Very nice moody blue "Rain Drop"... Maybe today he/she felt more like "Storm Cloud"?  ;)

A second Arnottianus bud opened today, so now I have two huge twins: 7" second day/reflexed bloom on top and 6.5" new bloom on bottom... I could smell their perfume when I walked in the door tonight (yum! :D). It's warmer and raining here today - Maybe it reminded them of "home"?

Amazing Raindrop, Chris. Based on this dark bloom I should have named it Stormdrop! Is that the lush western WA landscape behind the bush? The Raindrop bush seems to be branching well.

Charlie

Deb, thanks for the pleasant reminder of how sweet and pure H arnottianus can be. The fragrant ones are sublime! I must try to propagate this one some more.

Charlie

Lush a beautiful hedges behind that window.  Stormdrop definitely describes this bloom and the weather we've been having lately, I have self-crossed all the blooms Ive gotten so far, stormdrop would be a great name for any worthy offspring ;)

Raindrop is a very good brancher, I haven't done anything pruning and it is making more branches at the base, I think Darren should try this one in a shady part of his yard, it is a really good one. 

On a different note, how are the plants looking for spring shipping?  I bet the 1gallons are looking really nice :)

A little sunshine from the yard today...
Bon Temps
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00589.jpg)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00590.jpg)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00593.jpg)

Farmer D

hi darren, very pretty bloom, what is the name.

louis

Another beauty, few more weeks and we should see orange come back into that bloom!

Sorry about that, it's ever impressive Bon Temps.

Darren you've posted several beautiful Bon Temps pics.  I'm envious.  Mine is two years old and has never even had one bud.  It's one of my prettiest bushes tho.

dave

I have seen several different bon temps on this forum and its interesting to see the different coloring due to location, temps etc.

on mine, i just get the ruby throat and lovely yellow everywhere else.

Ain't nature grand  ;D

louis

Some amazing color on an early garden variety "Tropical Red" double in the late afternoon sun, and some more snowbiscus photos (Arnottianus, Storckii & Tropical Red). Arnottianus is 9 mo. old and measures 57" from soil to upper stem, and Storckii is 7 mo. old and is 38" tall (received in late July 2010 in a 4" pot). Gotta love the species... Does anyone else have "Little Shop of Horrors" moments? (Hmm... Better order more plant food, just in case).  :D

A very, very intense Bienvenue. Wow. what color in my plants since the new fertilizer from HVH.

This bloom measures 8-1/2 inches, much larger than normal.

Produces a lot of pollen, i crossed as many blooms as i can, even the cats :)

Louis

Very nice Loise, Kim Anh has just arrived and we have had a few oohs and aghhs, ha ha still not sure which she likes most, the snow or the  bloom but lovely anyway.
Bit of a contrast to me here, in the last few days I have had about a 70% bud drop due to a ferociously hot sun, still its raining today which will cool things down a bit.

hi david,

tell Kim that i can send tons of snow her way if she pays the postage :)

louis

Louis you always have the nicest blooms!  You should take a pic of your growing area!

Here is a neat plant called Molten Lava. this photo was taken in the early morn after she opened. it measured 7 inches then and later in the day, she expanded to a little over 8 inches. the color in the evening had intensified and the eye got larger. no photos from the afternoon.

Louis

Black Dream looking insanely pretty & Chariots of Fire with a washed out glow...
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00597.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00599.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00604.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00603.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00602.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC00605.jpg)
Farmer D

hello farmer d,

love your black dream. i have never had such an intense red on mine.

great looking.

louis

Hi Louis,

Thank you, the Black Dream color is so rich and sophisticated. 

Your blooms have been incredible too.  Your Bienvenue and Molten Lava are so colorful.  I'm half tempted to get some houseplant fert seeing your incredible results but not for outdoor survivors...

The one thing I lack right now besides patience is bloom size.  Most excluding Bon Temps are 4-5" since new years.  No complaints as all my plants are somewhere around 1 yr old and to survive outside in winter & still bloom a little is pretty cool.

I look forward to more great pics from Conn and maybe that white background will soon change color.

Farmer D

Had nice Cranberry twins today.

Farmer D, you may be the only person in southern California who is getting outdoor hibiscus blooms now - even small ones! Thank goodness that hibiscus will bloom well indoors as we are having many fine flowers in the rooms with sunny windows.

On the bright side, the Equinox that is coming in less than 2 weeks always marks a turning point in the year for hibiscus. Since hibiscus evolved in the tropics where day and night length is equal or close to it, they seem to wake up around the Equinox when day length once again lengthens to match the night hours. If the temperatures will cooperate we will see some new growth and more buds before long.

Charlie

Thanks for that photo, David. It's another example of how often Cranberry Muffin opens 2 or more blooms at a time. That's a nice trait for a large bloomed variety. I also really like the colors you get in the tropical heat.

Charlie

White Wings - Haven't seen this around in local nurseries in many years.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2wrgeao.jpg)

I am really hoping Cranberry Muffin is a cv I can take cuttings. Like you Charlie I love the blooms but due to a lack of experience when i first got it I never pruned or pinched it properly, I only have 2 main branches so limited blooms, so if i can take cuttings I will grow them into a much nicer bush. If It wont take cuttings I have decided to cut it right back and start again, I have done this with a couple of my cv's and had very good results.

I am now very confident with my cuttings and have a virtual 100% success rate, for this I must thank Doll, well I think it was Doll who wrote ''cover with a Polly bag obligatory'' and have never looked back since. What I am aiming to do is grow my favourite cv's in clusters,so instead of looking at 1 Hot Pepper I will have 4, with Acapulco Gold I will have 5, this way I am hoping the display will look like what we see from you occasionally in the nursery  on your DVD and the Website wallpaper, spectacular.

David, I think that might have been Kerry who gave that tip to you.

Oh well thanks to Kerry. Love that White wings, when you read about it in the gallery its quite interesting, I did ask Charlie about it a few months ago and there might be some for sale later this year.

Had my new Acapulco Gold open for the first time today. After about 1 hour it changed colour, I much prefer its second colour, it looks just like the one in the gallery.

Chow everyone,

the sun is getting higher and stronger and the plants are basking in the light. Numerous buds on all plants with multiple blooms at once. I have posted photos of these two plants before but, i am seeing a larger bloom on each plant. this cosmic gold is 8 inches and is a second day bloom. this wild grape is the largest i have had of this cv. the bloom is a little under 8 inches. I wonder what is causing this growth (hint hint :) ).

louis

David - Loving Acapulco Gold, it is such a fun plant to enjoy

Louis - amazing pics once again, can't wait to see all those other blooms...

I'm a 3 bloom show for a while now.  Just Black Dream, Chariots of Fire and Bon Temps hanging in there.  Got lots of baby leaf sprouts on my plants now.

Today it is two beautiful black, Black Dreams and Chariots of Fire all on 2nd & 3rd day blooms.

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BlackDream3-14.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BlackDream3-142.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BlackDream3-143.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BlackDream3-144.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/ChariotsofFire3-14.jpg)
Farmer D

More March Photos. I apologize for posting so many photos. Too many nice ones to not show.

My first bloom of Electric Orange, WOW !!, what a nice plant. Electric is definitely the word for it.

Also a 9 inch High Voltage, largest one i have had. And a very nice intense Valentine Day.

On the close up of electric, note the great white veins.

You can see that the snow in the background is going away.

Louis


(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-15-11%20orange/electric%20orange.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-15-11%20orange/electric%20center.jpg)


(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-15-11%20orange/high%20voltage.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-15-11%20orange/valentine%20day.jpg)

Wow Lou!  Great lineup!!  That VD is spectacular.  I cant wait to see your Electric Orange in person.  I have Saffron and LOVE it!  I want to see the differences.

And don't apologise for posting your photos.  They are spectacular.  And if you are going to post photos of blooms, this is where they are to go.  Plus, you are a rockin photographer!

Lou, those are some spectacular blooms and photos. Wild Grape is just one delicious flower. I think that is the first Electric Orange I've seen in 2011 and I'm glad it boomed nice and bright in Connecticut. This has been a winter of blooms for you - was it worth firing up your greenhouse again? If nothing else you proved that heat is more important than light for winter blooms. Both are necessary but your plants couldn't have gotten much light in those short northern days with plenty of snow falling all winter.

Charlie

hi charlie,

yes i am glad i decided to heat the greenhouse/sunroom for the winter. it really was not all that bad, on sunny days, i heated the house, free heat :)

yes, days were short but i think the constant heat helped the plants. the sunroom was 75 when the sun was not shinning and over 90 when sun was out. the plants handled the extreme shifts with no problem. the only plants that i had to keep an eye on were the reds. they would tend to burn in the hot sun so they were delegated to the back the benches.

louis

Another beautiful and unique look from Bon Temps today...
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTemps3-172.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTemps3-17.jpg)
Farmer D

Another bountiful day. Spring is in the air. It was 75 F today. We have gone from too much snow to too much mud. Never a happy medium.

Today in bloom are Cosmic Gold Twins, a nice Valentine's day, a great Illuminati and a very nice Tahitian Princess, (first bloom for me).

Louis

Farmer, I love the color you get on your bon temps. i dont get the red on the edges as you do. Maybe in the summer.


I envy your grass, mine is brown and rotten from all the snow.
louis

Wow :o   Outstanding blooms & photos Darren & Louis!

Well, we have the East and West coasts reporting in with amazing hibiscus news on this sunny spring-like day. It's 69º here on the Northern coast frontier, and I have two new bloomers to report: Orange Lagos and (my first HVH exotic bloom!) Pocahontas. Also, some "friends" who stopped by for a bite...

Deb  ;D

Wow Louis, you're a one-man flower show.  Every bloom is gorgeous and should be used on google results for that particular cv.  Didn't know you had a Tahitian Princess - some of the Tahitian and Moorea crosses coming out the last few years are breath taking to say the least but the bushes and bloom presentment can be questionable from what I've read.

How is the T Princess bush, mine is rather tall and compact?

I guess on the bright side at least the grass will get more sun than shadows with the compact bush.

Deb - your blooms are also really pretty and add lots of sunshine to the northern front.

Here is a second bloom of Bon Temps today, I really enjoy the blend of soft and rich colors.  The red blushes on the edge will disappear once summer rolls around and temps rise.
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTemps3-176.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTemps3-175.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTemps3-174.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTemps3-173.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BonTempsTwins3-17.jpg)
Farmer D

Darren, my Bon Temps has a bad habit of not opening all the way. Maybe the heat here causes that.
Here's a little garden variety called Candy Wind. Nice ruffled flower for a garden variety.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2yy85rb.jpg)

Doll - Candy Wind has some personality and those colors really jump out.  That works!

Don't worry about Bon Temps not opening all the way, mine all do that and Charles confirmed that is how that cv is.  I manually finish the process for them and most of the time it stays completely open.  Well worth it for sure.

Here are two from today, the 3 bloom show continues with COF starting to get darker eye colors.
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/ChariotsofFire3-18.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BlackDream3-18.jpg)
Farmer D

In case anyone wanted to see how huge these hybrids can get in a semi-tropical habit, I went to the San Diego Botanic Gardens today and found a huge (10ft x5 ft) High Voltage bush.  It was blooming in its pink splendor, but the blooms were too high for me to get to and snap a shot of.

There was also a very large (7ft x 4ft) "Gypsy Music" as well.  I am pretty sure both these plants came from you too, because I saw the remnants of the plastic tag you use at the base of the plants.  :)

On a side note, really love that new FF variety "Midnight Dream" reminds me alot of Midnight Serenade, which is one I really like, yet another one to look out for, sigh. 

AND, great blooms everyone!  I am hoping that my hibiscus in WA take a cue from your plants and start budding up:)

That High Voltage bush has grown a lot! San Diego Botanical Gardens used to be named Quail Botanical Gardens and has a long history with hibiscus. I've given talks there before and contributed a dozen or so large hibiscus to them a decade ago. Ross Gast gave them a large collection 60 years ago but not many of those survive. His cross records are housed there - 10 big leather volumes of data he kept on hibiscus hybrids. I need to visit again soon, thanks for the current update.

Below are some photos from HVH, greenhouse and kitchen window type.

Confection Perfection blooming in the greenhouse. This is turning out to be one of the most reliable of our new varieties. Great bush and lots of blooms.

Think Pink blooming in 6 inch pots that will be ready to ship pretty soon.

Crinkle In Time - reflexed on opening but with great colors, this is a fascinating flower.

Wild Grape - such a pretty purple

Mountain Air - most notable for its big size and fancy ruffles and tufts

Charlie

Hmm I wonder where the others are planted in the garden...  

Awesome pics!  Geez spring can't get here soon enough, it looks like we are in for a treat when it comes to these new 1 gallon pot sizes.  Those Think pink look great, and I notice there are some "too pretty" next to them which look lush :)

5 acres of grass turned out to be more of a challenge than I realized, so when our neighbor offered his "moowers", we accepted. So far, so good. Pic below.

Charlie

Charlie, I noticed in the background of the Think Pink picture a variety named Tea Party. Is that a new one? Do you have any pics of it?

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

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

Charlie

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

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

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

Charlie

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

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

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

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

Enjoy,

Louis

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

louis

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

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

hello david,

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

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

louis

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

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

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

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

Here is the second bloom anyway.

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

hi kristen,

your new camera is doing a great job for you, of course its the talent behind the lens. :)

rocking photos of the path. it was the very first hibiscus that i had years ago and i would like to get another one.

i hope the weather was nice for your holiday.

louis

Thanks Louis,

  I am using 2 different lenses as you can probably see.  The macro 100mm shoots really saturated.  I brought it into PS to bump it down a bit on the close up of 5th.  But the truth is that bloom was intense!  I haven't gotten one like it since that one last month.

Im having fun with my new camera for sure.  Thanks for the compliment!

Very deep colour from Pocahontas today,  no sun either so it will last 2 days.

Woops, I just noticed it had a third smaller bloom.

David!!!  What a pretty bloom!!!  I want!

Ha ha, ditto your Fith Demention, that's number 1 on my list now.

david...wow...just a beautiful pocahontas...I have her too but she had some winter damage and is just now starting to get tiny new leaves...thank goodness..lynette

David - picture perfect Pocahontas and the plant looks so healthy.  I sure missed my chance to get that one.  Thank you for sharing.

Farmer D

Can someone please tell the weather it is now spring time, not winter?

Such a nice surprise to see your new photos, Kristen. Great colors for The Path and 5th Dimension. The variability of 5th Dimension and the "gun metal gray" that is the official description of the main petal color were the reasons that the garden editor for the Los Angeles Times chose 5th Dimension for the big color photo that illustrated his article on hibiscus hybrids a dozen years ago. It's been popular ever since although the bush does not hold up well to cold conditions and is best grown as a potted and protected plant. Once upon a time I had 100 big plants of it but am now down to 1 medium size 5th Dimension. It's on my list to graft this summer to make sure I don't lose it.

If the temperature or light has not changed much then the different flower colors you saw before and after going on vacations are most likely due to fertilizer changes. Amazing, eh?

Charlie

Spectacular Pocahontas, David!

Electric Orange makes a nice full bush with plenty of wood which is helping make it available. Should be more plants before long.

Charlie

Thanks! The colors were spectacular!!  I shot the 5th bloom in artificial light, sun, and shade.  The shade one came out soooo extreme, although when you look closely at the bloom in person, it was quite like the photo represented.  Loved working with that one!

Have you ever tried to root 5th?  The plant that I have I got at a local exotic tropical garden store who told me that they don't graft any of their hibiscus.  It is growing and producing blooms nicely for me.  And if it is better suited for a pot, then Im in luck ;)  If you loose it, I will send you a cutting :)  I am having a good time with hybridizing with it.

  Just the other day I got some pollinated Cindy's Heart and The Path together.  Crossing my fingers for that one.

PS, Do you know if Cindy got my email?  I know you both are probably really busy.  Just checking.

White Wings twins
The yellow one is a garden variety called Ft. Myers Yellow
(http://i53.tinypic.com/5ey61v.jpg)

Not sure where to write this but Charlie could you tell me if Cosmic Gold and Bright Horizon are grafts or cuttings. I went and bought a load of new pots yesterday in readiness for the new cv's coming and I have to decide which ones will go where, I did buy 2 sets of pots as shown in the picture and I want to put a cv in the big one that I can later take cuttings and put in the smaller ones, should look quite neat.

Also I pruned High Voltage 3 days ago and now realise I have to change it to a different pot, should I do it now or wait till the new growth comes and then do it.

david,
your planters are as attractive as your plants. what a great garden you have.

louis

Thanks Louis, its took a bit of planning, as the picture shows the centre looks very bare at the moment as I have moved all the mature cv's round the outside ready for the new ones. Also round the outside I have a lot of Plumeria growing which will hopefully give me more shade in the centre.

David, both Cosmic Gold and Bright Horizon are rooted plants grown from cuttings.

The safe approach for transplanting a recently pruned hibiscus is to wait for the new growth to come in and be actively growing before moving it. Root stimulating hormones are made in the new shoots and no doubt help the plant grow into the new pot without problems. You could probably make the move now but it is a little more risky so if there is no pressing reason to do it I would wait for about an inch of new growth.

Charlie

Spring shipping is underway but it's always good to take some time to enjoy the flowers - below are some photos of recent days.

1. Cindys Heart - missed by a day a great display. As can be seen, there are 5 folded up flowers along with the 2 still showing. The day before there were 7 open blooms......

2. A picture perfect James Bond. The flower opened early on a heavily overcast day.

3. Gypsy Rom - a flower I really like that will be available in a month or two.

Charlie

Wow Charlie,

What an awesome display for Cindy's Heart!  Sad you missed it by a day.  And GREAT JB bloom.  You should add that one to the JB page.  The photos you have on that page are sooo different.  Is this a typical look for JB?  Or is it a shade look?

Looking at the photo of JB i realise I have not bought enough pots, its stunning.

David, I thought the same.  I love the photo of this bloom.  I considered it when it was available, loved the huge bloom, but the colors were sort of muted and picked others instead.  The photo that Charlie has here is making me kick myself!

I really like the quality Cindy's Heart has of making many short branches off one tall one, all of which produce buds, and then having it go.  Mine was about to do that, but alas I had to move her and she got damaged.  Looking good this year, hopefully some nice blooms in the summer. 

James bond, another one that I also look at and barely miss when its in stock...sigh

Three photos today, raindrop is showing her dark dusky look, which might be due to the gloomy weather or the fact that I fertilized it with potassium oxide. Either way it is still my favorite RD look :)

Chris, those are some amazing colors. There is an advantage to living in more northerly climes - if you can get blooms they are often full color and quite spectacular. Kristen, that is the case with the James Bond that is shown above. We had several rainy and overcast days and this darker condition allowed for the colors to show without the sun and higher temperatures breaking down the molecules that make up colors in hibiscus.

Charlie

hello chris,

love the colors of raindrop. great job showing the colors.

louis

Either way Charlie, Its an amazing flower! 

Happy Spring (so the calendar sez, more snow tomorrow  ??? ??? ???).

Nice sunny day today. Its getting much too hot in the greenhouse so this morining I put up 60% shade cloth. (blocks 60% of the sun).

The reds were burning from the intense sun.

Today we have a very nice Illuminiti, great colors. A stunning Wild Grape, an unsusl plant called Bayou Rose (colors are accurate) and a brilliant Cosmic Gold.

Louis

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-30-11/illuminiti.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-30-11/cosmic%20gold.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-30-11/wild%20grape.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/3-30-11/bayou%20rose.jpg)

Exceptional blooms Louis & Chris!  Such a nice variety of colors...

We finally got rid of the rain and are slowly warming back up.  Apparently Chariots of Fire likes this change of weather showing the most vibrant colors yet this year.

Enjoy!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/ChariotsofFire3-303.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/ChariotsofFire3-302.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/ChariotsofFire3-30.jpg)
Farmer D

Wow Louis and Darren lovin those blooms!

Here's a bloom From Creme de cacao, it snowed today. I think spring has forgotten to come to Ohio




Patrick

Louis,

  Such beauties as always.  I was curious about the Bayou Rose... I haven't seen one that looks like that.  I found a photo online from a supplier of the Bayou Rose that I am thinking of.  Could this be a mix up?

kristin,
I would assume a miss-name. I have no idea who this plant is. i have had it for about a year, and this is the second bloom. it was only a lil thing when i got it. the plant is about 2 feet high and the blooms are about 8 inches.

this problem never happens here at HVH. we can be comfortable with charlie and cindys product.

louis

Louis, it might be a Dupont variety called Blueberry Thrill.

Doll, you are so right. i did a search and thats what she is.

"I got my thrill on Blueberry Thrill, err hill  :D "

Fats Domino will not be happy with my lyrics. Just could not resist.

Louis

well its pretty anyway.  If you got it at that place near us, they also cary BT.  And you said that they have mixed up a bunch of your plants from them. 

what is the size of that bloom?  It is beautiful.!

Nice bloom Patrick, mine has only bloomed once and it was not so nice as that. I have just pruned it so hopefully it will get better, what is your bush like, mine has a lovely shape and leaves.

Here are some spring photos of blooms just starting to open on the 6 inch pots. Not too many quite yet but the cooler spring weather colors are something special.

Charlie

Ah that stormy heart is quite the eye candy