Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

Acapulco Gold
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2dbnn2s.jpg)
Creole Belle
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2h7qgye.jpg)
(http://i55.tinypic.com/301og1d.jpg)
Compassion
(http://i56.tinypic.com/fbvyft.jpg)
High Voltage
(http://i55.tinypic.com/357il2w.jpg)

Gorgeous blooms John D... they're perfect!  Especially that Acapulco Gold!

I've fallen off the map lately.  Overcommitment to work and all that...  stuff...  but Space Oddity made my day today and I just had to share.  8 blooms!  I've never had so many on one plant at one time. 

A Black Dragon too. 

The unfortunate aspect of my garden now is that despite my spraying Spinosad every three days, I'm still ravaged by thrips.  More sensitive cvs are dropping every single bud.  The ones that are still blooming are all scratched up.  My neighbor has tons of flowers in his backyard which, in CA, is just a stone's throw away.  Maybe that's why...?

Anyway, enjoy the flowers.  :) 

Lynette your blooms are just awesome.  Great colors and variety.  Very bright and summery!!  I really like Firestorm and Solar Eclipse a lot, just incredible.

Wow John those are some beauties.  All so nice and your High Voltage just has such an amazing bleed of magenta.  I hope mine can do that as well, that to me is when HV is at it's best.  Like a clean cut conservative version of Cindy's Heart?

Jordan your Space Oddity is killer.  That bloom is so unique and wow, so many of them!!  That would make my day too.  I got a baby one coming along with some buds so hopefully in a month or so I can add to your wonderful shots.

Thank you both for sharing!!

Yesterday's blooms (too busy as well)...

Sea of Tranquility
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02132.jpg)

Apricot Cookie - day 2
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02137.jpg)

Flickering Flame - darkest ones yet
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02141.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02144.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02143.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02139.jpg)

Acapulco Gold cluster
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02150.jpg)

Black Dream - this one is really dark which I like a lot
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02154.jpg)

Farmer D

Acapulco Gold Fireworks - just in time for the 4th!!

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02158.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02160.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02159.jpg)

Daisy Mae - always has some fireworks of her own too
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02170.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DaisyMaeTwins7-2.jpg)

Farmer D

Farmer D, those last photos are some of your best yet, and that's saying something! The Sea of Tranquility is showing a pretty look, but those Acapulco Golds are show stoppers. I also like that version of Apricot Cookie but there is another version I think you will see as we move farther into summer that shows the different colors as rings.

And Lynette, I had to save that 8 bloom Space Oddity photo to my hard drive - super!

Charlie

that was darkhorse charlie :o..lynette

darren luv that alcapulco gold....and sea of tranquility....so pretty....here are some blooms from today..lynette

and the rest.....

sorry i posted valentines day pic twice  :P :-[

That Wild Alure is no nice, a real eye catcher.

Lynette that Dancing Dragon is really amazing.  The colors are so vibrant, especially the violet.  You're the only one I've seen with that cv.  All your blooms are really pretty, VD is so alive with red...looks like it's wearing lipstick!!!  Soft Spot is also very nice - thanks for sharing!

Charlie thanks for the encouragement.  I look forward to seeing what Apricot Cookie does down the road.  It is in a more shady spot under my Loquat Tree so I wonder if it will feel summer as much as other plants that I have.

Flickering Flame & Chariots of Fire
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02180.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02191.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02181.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02192.jpg)

All That Jazz
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02186.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02184.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02188.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02185.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02189.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02183.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02182.jpg)

Black Dream
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02193.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02194.jpg)

Farmer D

Lynette, gorgeous Valentine's Day!  You get such great color!

Darren, your Acapulco Gold makes me want mine to hurry up and start blooming.




Summer Shore bloomed today.  I stuck a bush photo in there too.  Nice and full but mine did need to be staked up.  Voodoo Magic bloomed for me as well.  :)

Jordan your Summer Shore & Voodoo Magic are both awesome.  SS is really a smooth operator and the bush looks great.

Happy 4th Everyone!!

Scarlet Beauty
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02197.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02198.jpg)

Crystal Pink
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02199.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02200.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02201.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02208.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02202.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02203.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02196.jpg)

All That Jazz
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02205.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02206.jpg)

Rum Runner
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02204.jpg)

Farmer D

Jordan, Now I need to get Summer Shore... It is BEAUTIFUL!  And your Space Oddity!  Holy cow!  Great job! 

Darren!  Your Acapulco Gold is so awesome!  Mine is still just a baby.  It is having a hard time with the intense sun... Is that normal?  I thought this one was a sun / heat lover.

Happy Independence Day everyone.

I have only a couple to show you today, I have lost many of my plants to a deer attack.

I put some of my plants outside in an area that I have been using for years, a place the hibiscus love. I put out 8 really nice plants and the next day they were all gone, nothing left but the roots.

I have never seen so many deer as we have this year. they have devastated my garden eating everything in sight. I have tried everything possible to deter them, water blasting, electronic squealers, coyote urine. Nothing works.

I have a passion for tropical waterlilies also and have been cross breeding them for years. I grow them in the summer here in connecticut and in the fall i send the plants to a friend in hawaii and she will grow them for the winter. we have been doing this exchange for over 10 years. she sent me 13 huge plants and i planted them in one of my ponds and within a couple of days they were all gone. not even a root survived.

Needless to say, I will drop out of the waterlily business for good. Makes me think twice about my hibiscus also.

I still have many in the greenhouse where they will stay. This makes me sick. This state that i live in refuses to do anything about the over abundance of the deer.

Well, enough rambling, please enjoy the very nice simple pleasures and the intense electric red.

louis


(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/7-4-11/IMG_2903.jpg)

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/7-4-11/electric.jpg)

Louis, That is such a shame.  Im so sorry!  Which ones did you loose?

Louis... that's awful!  I have a solution to your problem.  Get a shotgun!  Hope you like venison.

Jordan, the many shades of color in your Summer Shore photo blew me away. And the  bush photo really shows the FF leaves, too. Quite striking, both of them.

Charlie

Ahh, Lou, that's a shame. If you want to replace any particular variety I'm sure Cindy will help make that happen.

From what I've experienced and heard from others, dogs are the best way to protect a property. Not always feasible to have dogs, though.

Charlie

thanks charlie, appreciate the offer. i will wait for now to do a complete inventory.

kristen, the ones that i lost are as follows:

black dream (BIG plant)
the path
two plants called eleanor from hawaii
molten lava
purple magic
stolen kiss
wild grape

and a few of my new seedlings that were close to blooming

louis

That is heartbreaking Louis and I feel awful. Lets hope you can soon replace. You know I have never actualy seen a Deer, but if I do I will give it a good punch.

Kristen in regards to your Acapulco Gold question my experience is that it loves sun and heat.  I would agree with what you said previously about the ever changing climatic conditions in CT recently.  I am amazed at how quickly these plants respond to changes in the weather.  We just had our first stretch of weather in the mid to high 80s and all my plants just starting growing like crazy, especially the smaller ones.  So hopefully a few longer stretches of consistent weather for you and lets see what your plants do.  The biggest ingredient I've learned is patience.  Not as easy as it sounds....

Louis that is a real tragedy.  I love wildlife but that is over the line and then some.  I have enough fun with the squirrels, possums, rats and raccoons that are eating all my peaches, figs and plums before they are ripe enough to pick.  I'll never hurt them but it sucks hearing them at 2 in the morning munching away and then waking up to find broken branches of hibiscus and wondering what the... are they doing when eating?  I don't mind sharing the fruit but do they have to get destructive.   My Tahitian Cherry Blossom looks like one of the raccoons sat on it while eating.  Not much left of that CV currently.

Anyways who would have thought in the middle of the city wildlife would be such an issue...at least you have a beautiful greenhouse for protection.  Hopefully you'll get some surprise replacements that will maybe make things better for you in the long run...

Today's Blooms...

Chariots of Fire
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02240.jpg)

Sea of Tranquility
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02238.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02236.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02234.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02233.jpg)

Sunrise Dance
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02230.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02232.jpg)

A July Mystery Bloom - feel free to reply in the Mystery Bloom Post Section
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02228.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02229.jpg)

Farmer D

georgous what ever it is....lynette...

Darren, I'd love to have highs in the 80s. I won't see those kind of temps till October. Everyday is 98-100 here.

Cindy's Heart
(http://i53.tinypic.com/m8lk01.jpg)

John you totally have my sympathies.  TX has been hot hot hot for several months now and with that drought too that is no fun.  Hopefully that keeps the damaging t-storms away though.

Perfect growing conditions for Cindy Heart, Creole Belle, Bridal Path and Hot Pepper among others.  Which explains your awesome CH & CB photos you're always posting.  Never get tired of them...hang in there with that weather!

We got our first humid monsoon weather so the hibs are even happier now.  I'd say high 80s and humid is perfect for them.  Did you see that  dust storm engulf Phoenix yesterday?  Talk about a disasterous scenario for hibiscus...

Today's blooms...

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02241.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02250.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02251.jpg)

Valentines Day - top one is a 9"
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02252.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02253.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02248.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02249.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02243.jpg)

Hot Pepper - starting to come into it's element now
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02244.jpg)

Farmer D

hi everyone,

awesome blooms. daren, your valentine day is spectacular. i have never seen one so ruffly.

louis

darren that hot pepper is nice...does it get full sun all day???? I've been thinking of that one...but it would be in al day sun....we have been having almost 100 degree humid weather the last few days...most hibs doing ok..just some yellowing leaves...but still blooming...here are some from the last couple of days....lynette

the rest

Wow... Such beautiful blooms Everyone!!!  :o

It's very warm *pant* and toasty *pant* here in MI, and the heat loving hibiscus are putting on a show... Here's the El Capitolios and Dainty White  ;)

Louis - I'm very sorry to read about your loss :'(  
Hope those deer have a severe case of indigestion!

Lynette - Your 'biscus are just amazing!

Darren - Outstanding blooms... Since they are Hollywood Hibiscus, I hope you will forgive my classic movie remake... Starring one of your A-List performers  8)

(Your awesome picture was just begging for a caption... I'm going to attribute the impulse to heat stroke  :P)

Lynette your blooms are consistently beautiful day after day.  Confection Perfection really has some bright pink and fuscia going on there.  Again I'm really liking Firestorm too...has is bloomed mostly red at all like the pic from the online store?

Deb your caption is hilarious.  It didn't even cross my mind of the possibility when I took that shot.  I was just glad that the blooms are now making it above the wall so the sidewalk folks can see the show.  Come on out to Hollywood and begin your new career as a script writer.

Today's blooms...

Chariots of Fire
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02273.jpg)

Midsummer Night
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02270.jpg)

All That Jazz
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02269.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02260.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02266.jpg)

Apricot Cookie Twins
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02264.jpg)

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02259.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02261.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02255.jpg)

Farmer D

Lynette as far as I know it likes the hot weather a lot so all day sun shouldn't be an issue from my perspective.  I believe David Wood has a beauty of a bush with the best blooms that I've seen so far so if it does well in Vietnam...

Mine gets sun from early morning till around 4pm right now.  It seems to like the HVH booster a lot.  Before I started feeding it the booster I would barely water it and all the leaves would yellow and no buds.  Now buds everywhere, lots of water and fert as well as lots of new branch growth too.

Currently it is still in the process of filling in it's new leaves for the season so it still looks somewhat sparse and most of them are small.  I figure by end of this month it should be much more full looking.
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02274.jpg)

Farmer D

OMG!  Everyone your photos are looking top notch!  Sorry I cant contribute.  Nothing!  Well one CH that I can share, maybe Ill upload it tomorrow.  Darren, your Path is awesome.  As is your COF, AG, HP,...... um the list goes on.  Real nice display.  It must be really satisfying to go outside and examine each one.  I have fun just going out in the morning misting and examining all my green leaves... sigh... some day there will be blooms like yours.  Any your photography is looking real nice too!

Lynette, great blooms as well. Love the caption too!  And Doll, Love the CH!

Darren..a couple of weeks ago when the weather was cooler it was a deeper orange...but in the hotter weather its a little lighter ...seems to like the warmer weather and does well in the sun...I really like it....and recommend it... and I luv the path !!!!

Cindy's Heart came out to play yesterday.  She only stayed out for 2 days.  Here is a second day photo of her.  And since I have nothing hibiscus wise to share, I thought I would show you whats been blooming around the yard.

There is a Phantom Petunia.  My Elephant Ear that I got as a bulb this spring.  It seems like it is going to be an awesome plant!  My hydrangea.  And a sunflower that one of the local birds planted.  We were feeding black sunflower seeds all winter.  Hope you enjoy!

Kristen you're right on with going outside and enjoying the inspection process each day.  Always exciting to see what new developments can occur in just one night.

By the way, incredible Cindy's Heart.  Just love the magenta swirl.

Today's blooms....

Apricot Cookie
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02287.jpg)

Picante - another orange & pink bloom from opening - lovely!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02286.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02285.jpg)

Midsummer Night
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02282.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02283.jpg)

Rainbow Sherbet & Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02275.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02281.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02279.jpg)

All That Jazz - very excited about recent blooms showing pinwheel look - amazing!!!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02278.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02277.jpg)

I love love love summer...they call me Farmer D for a reason!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02290.jpg)

White Babcock Peaches
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02292.jpg)

Farmer D

This is a big learning curve for me, living in the high desert of Southern California. I've been experimenting with our hibiscus, and moved a bunch of houseplants out onto the porch. They get blasted with hot afternoon sun for about 4 hours per day, and are shaded the rest of the day. It has been 100 degrees here for the last week, with a relative humidity that must be below zero!  Well, pretty low at least. So I put a fountain in the middle of them and keep it running 24 hours a day to try to add some humidity to the porch. At first some of the plants got some sunburn and stopped blooming, but they acclimated within a couple of weeks, and now they are really blooming.

(http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/images/porchhibiscussm.jpg)

From left to right: Pinot Noir (top left), Acapulco Gold (middle left), Strawberry Cream from a couple of days ago, Arabian Princess (with 3 blooms to right of fountain), and Too Pretty (right).

The flowers don't last as long in this kind of heat and sun, but otherwise, the plants seem to be doing fine!  I'm going to add another fountain and more plants and see if we can keep this going until winter when they'll all have to come back inside.

Hi Cindy  :D
That's an absolutely beautiful display! The fountain is a really good idea, too... Both functional as well as pleasing to the senses. Interesting how hibiscus adapt to different climates-- They have to be fast on their feet roots to survive summer in Michigan, since we endure every temperature/weather variation imaginable from week to week (hour to hour!). Since high humidity is usually the norm, I double pot my plants inverse to what I see yours are: Potted in clay (never know when they will need to shed some extra moisture) with a plastic pot on the outside (for warmth or water retention when needed).

Wow, Darren...
Are those peaches? (Yummm... Guess I'll need a raccoon disguise)
You're growing peaches (in CA), and I'm growing citrus (in MI)-- ?   ;)
Gorgeous blooms... V Day's bloom looks HUGE!

Today's bloomers: H. Rosa Sinensis, Key Lime Pie, El Capitolio Red & my "citrus" tree

Deb  ;D

Hi Cindy - great to hear from you!

Very cool idea.  I didn't realize Hemet has a high desert climate.  Is your area prone to those dry cold winter Santa Anas?  That was what gave my plants the worst problems during winter here in So Cal.  It looked like they got a cold wind burn - especially when it was windy at night.  Heads up for later in the year - at least yours are portable!

Plants look great - you don't have any deer in your area do you?

Farmer D

A few first photo's today. Cosmic Gold, could not be more pleased with this cv, pity my camera does not seem to show how golden in color it really is.

Crinkle In Time, very pleased again and seems to really like the sun, and Cream de Caco, nice bloom but very small, hope the Booster which is on its way will help get my blooms bigger.

Another first is Vin Extraordinaire, nice but a tiny bloom, I really need the Booster.

Wow, David - Amazing blooms!

I don't know if it's the light, but 'Creme de Cacao' appears to be burnished gold... Does it have a metallic appearance in person? And 'Crinkle in Time' appears to have a near-black eye (very dark red?)... 'Cosmic Gold' is always amazing, but then I'm biased!  :D

It did a little but has since faded to a sort of green,still nice though. I agree with you about Crinkle in Time, in fact I just sent a picture to my sister and described it has a salmon pink with a black eye.

While I have been taking pictures this morning here is one of the very very hot side of my garden, cant realy grow Hibs here allthough I am trying with the red garden Hibs. Very pleased with the Andeniums up on the shelf as I have grown them from seed.

David, it's great to see all those growing in your garden. My sister visited recently and told me your town is one of the nicest she saw when vacationing in Vietnam a few years ago. Is that the beach visible in one of your photos?

The Creme de Cacao photo is a bit of a mystery because that variety usually shows prominent white rays coming out of the eye. We'll have to watch future blooms to see what they do. The leaves looks right, though, ruling out something like Burnished Gold.

Hopefully your Vin Ext will improve as it matures. The bush looks great - lots of buds forming. I think the Crinkle In Time will amaze you sometimes with 8 inch plus size flowers.

Nice job growing them all.

Charlie

I'll attach a more typical Creme de Cacao flower.

Compassion and Cindy's Heart
(http://i56.tinypic.com/fpcmtu.jpg)
Compassion and Saffron Moon
(http://i53.tinypic.com/33dl7ic.jpg)
Compassion and California Beauty
(http://i55.tinypic.com/14ucck4.jpg)

Ooops! I forgot that there was an actual hibiscus named "Burnished Gold' when I was describing the look of David's 'Creme de Cacao'... What I really meant was that his CDC bloom looks like it was gilded with gold dust or metal fleck paint.  ;D

John your Compassion and Cindy's Heart look just beautiful.  Perfect hibiscus!

David we're in the same boat as I just got my first Vin Beaujolais blooms ever too.  Vinny Vin Vin...is nice...

Today's goodies....

Vin Beaujolais - finally first blooms in over a year since getting as a super small 4" last April.  The purple is really a wine color - a little hard to see in pics

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02343.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02338.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02341.jpg)

All That Jazz - amazing double throat colors on all blooms now
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02335.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02325.jpg)

Valentines Day - 1st one off of my 2nd VD plant = a 9 1/2" bloom wow!!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02323.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02328.jpg)

Farmer D

Charlie not sure if I have ever posted a picture of the beach here,it is beautiful and about 300 meters from my house. I walk along it every morning after I have tended the garden, usually between 7 and 8am  
Interestingly beach life here is a little strange, if I was to go down now [4am] it would be starting to get busy, by 6 it would be full of Vietnamese exercising and relaxing before work , by about 8 it would be empty [apart from a few holidaymakers] till about 5pm when they all return, the Viets hate the sun so a lot of the time I have the beach to myself.

Yes I can see Crinkle in Time becoming one of my favorites , big bloom and loves the sun but what I really like is the way it changes color through the day and has that crinkle affect on the petals.

The Cream de ? is a strange one, first of I don't know weather its Cacoa or Cream as I wrote C d C on the label and forgot which, but whichever one that green is now its its normal color, I say now as when it first bloomed some months ago it was brown like the picture shown in the gallery, but ever since every bloom is green, dosent matter where in the garden I grow it either, shade or sun, it still comes green, still I like it which is what really matters,

(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x377/mphquicksilver/Picture1-11.png)
Here is my flower for today Angle Wings

Here is a photo of our Vin Beaujolais, don't know if it will post because it doesn't show in the preview, so sorry if it doesn't post

Patrick

Patrick, that's the "classic" look for Vin Beaujolais. I've had the same experience as Farmer D when taking photos of it, sometimes hard to get the colors to come out exactly right.

Love those Compassion photos, John D.

Charlie

Very nice Patrick, what is the bush like.

Mike your Angel's Wings is always so pretty and delicately colored - thank you for sharing.

Patrick that is one amazing Vin Beaujolais.  Mine is in a really sunny spot so I think it will have to wait till early winter to hopefully achieve those colors.  But wow that is one awesome looking bloom!!!  Even in full sun the purple is still a very nice shade that I guess could be described as wine (the name works well).

Today's blooms...

High Voltage
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02347.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02348.jpg)

Simple Pleasures - 1st bloom ever on a plant barely 6" tall
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02352.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02361.jpg)

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02353.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02357.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02374.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02367.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02369.jpg)

Chariots of Fire
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02370.jpg)

Kristen your hummingbird pic is the best, I'm getting closer to getting one too.  This one showed up before I could switch to the fast speed shutter - so close!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02375.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02376.jpg)

Farmer D

Thanks for the compliment :)  That Hot Pepper is awesome!

Apricot Cookie
(http://i53.tinypic.com/a0ieiv.jpg)

John that is a lovely Apricot Cookie.  The blooms I've had so far lasted pretty long - are you seeing the same with the heat there?

Today's blooms...


Vin Beaujolais
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02408.jpg)

Tahitian Bronze Radiance
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02415.jpg)

Bon Temps
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02412.jpg)

Flickering Flame
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02414.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02411.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02409.jpg)

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02407.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02406.jpg)

Farmer D

Darren, the only bloom that has lasted more than a day in this heat has been Saffron Moon. I found that a little surprising considering it is a double.
I have really enjoyed your pics of The Path. At one time it was available at a local nursery here. Doesn't bloom well in our heat though.

Hi everyone,

been very hot here lately, love it. all my plants are in the greenhouse where the temps seldom go over 95 degrees F.

I have a 60 percent shade cloth that keeps it cooler than outside. also i have good ventilation. the only downfall, is that i have to water sometimes twice a day. oh well, you know the alternative.

Here we have a magnificent Simple pleasures and a very nice very big, Jolanda Gommer. Simple is about 8 inches, gommer measures 9 inches. both very nice.

enjoy the summer.

louis

High Voltage and Cindy's Heart
(http://i52.tinypic.com/11c72pk.jpg)

beautiful blooms every one...angels wings is so pretty...still luvin hot pepper!!!!....here are some blooms from the last couple of days.....charlie my electric red looks really orange..is that normal sometimes????...thanks lynette

......the rest

Wow Lynette, your VD is crazy!

Lou, loving the Tigerama!  Mine has a tiny bud on it.  I should bring all my plants to your house for some shade.  Man o man!  They are all turning lime green and some leaves are yellowing...  Is that because of the stress of the heat?  There are no bugs, im sure of that.  Any suggestions?  Should I just get them into mostly shade till this madness is gone?  Love New England!

Kristen I noticed that the first or second round of buds on my plants were prone to discoloring and falling off before opening.  As the plants have strengthened and hit their stride the buds are now staying on a majority of the time.  For example my Hot Pepper and Vin Beaujolais just started blooming recently and they are still experiencing quite a few lime green to yellow buds that fall off (maybe 20% make it to opening as of today).  Again the booster has helped improve this also.  I pick them all up ASAP and expect this to get better as the season goes on and our plants get into a good groove.

Hope this helps...Farmer D

Lynette those are just gorgeous blooms.  Kristen is right about your VD - the colors are unreal!!!  Same with your Bon Temps - such strong colors for that CV.

John your HV & CH are beautiful together.  CH really is a dream bloom as the magenta bleeds away into the whiteness...

I apologize for all the pics, I'm trying to limit it to one per CV now but it's really tough...  

Flickering Flame - what a beauty!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02471.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02483.jpg)

Look very closely you will see a special visitor under the bloom - more pics to come...
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02435.jpg)

FF Quads
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02472.jpg)

Midsummer Night
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02442.jpg)

Surf City
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02466.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02468.jpg)

Daisy Mae
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02484.jpg)

Tahitian Bronze Radiance (2nd Day)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02421.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02422.jpg)

Vin Beaujolais - getting darker!!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02423.jpg)

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02426.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02439.jpg)

A view from AG at 4 feet up
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02461.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02430.jpg)

All That Jazz
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02462.jpg)

Farmer D

Mine have been doing the same thing since we had the 100 degree weather last week...i have also sprayed spinosad just in case some are caused from thripes..I hate bugs >:(

darren I just ordered hot pepper...thanks to your beautiful pics...I could'nt resist...I hope it likes the sun cause it will get it most of the day...and I luv that tahitian bronze...where did you get it from?...thanks

Darren, Its not the buds that are turning color... I don't have buds!  ARG!  Its the foliage thats turning.  They are in such shock I think that they aren't even thinking about making buds.  But I agree with you, I think it is the sudden super hot heat we are having.  Is that your situation?  Lynette, you too?  Its frustrating.  I started using HVH houseplant fert with every other watering which is a big change for me as I only fertilized once a week.  I also potted up a few today.  Some of the worst were a little bit potbound.  Could that be it too?

On the other hand, I got my first bloom off of Gator Pride.  And its unique...  The first is later in the day, the second is when it first opened.  I know, backwards....

Lynette the sun and Hot Pepper are made for each other, its my number 1 in the sun, think High Voltage but better.

Darren, I ment to say great display!  I love all of them!  Don't know which one is nicer then the other.

Kristen I was not joking the other week when I said why change? your Saffron was a beauty and that didn't happen for no reason, the Gator Pride is also stunning and a change of fert over 1 week will not make that happen.
 You are bound to get a little bit of transplant shock, then add that to your fert change then yellow leaves I think are a near certainty.

I will say again about your Gator, what an absolute beuty, I had one once and it never looked like that.

Sorry I read your post incorrectly there.  Be really careful with the fertilizer - my experience has been what Chris stated recently that the hibs will take in more fertilizer as the temps increase and it is easy to get fert burn fast.  I have cut way back on my fert and booster since it finally got warm here and a handful of my smaller plants and potted ones showed burning on leaf edges (in ground ones have much different results for sure).

I'm also amazed at how easily hibs can get overwatered too.  My potted ones are on my porch with an intense afternoon sun when hot and the soil SEEMS to dry out so quickly and so I'd water them and they would get super lime green, veiny looking - almost transparent some of them.  So last week I repotted a couple to bigger pots and when I removed them I saw how the bottom third of the soil was soggy while the top was dry.  Even with well draining soil I'm wondering what else I should have in there.  I added a little cactus mix to it and mix it up to increase drainage and even out things a little more hopefully.  Check yours to see if that might be the case too - which for me was a potbound issue as well.

Maybe someone can invent a transparent pot that doesn't let the sun dry it out so easily and then we can see...

I know it's tough but be patient...the weather this year has been a real challenge for everyone.  My biggest mistakes and weakness is not being patient enough and taking too much action causing more problems.  

Add a little booster when it isn't too hot and see if they green up more if your soil isn't soggy down low in your pots.

Farmer D

Ditto on what David said, it will do amazingly well.

By the way David, your Hot Peppers are the best period.  HP perfection!!!

Farmer D

Louis it's nice to see Jolanda Gommer.  I am very interested in that CV as it is extensively used with many of the Tahitian CVs to create new crosses.   Apparently the layers of rings and combination of swirling colors combine well with the Tahitians among others.

I've got several dozen seeds planted many of which are Tahitians x JG.  We'll see if that holds true...

Lynette there are several growers online that do sell Tahitians including HVH (Tahitian Princess recently).  I will not tell you of the months of craziness I went through to get some of the more hard to find ones (phone bill is still recovering).  T Bronze Radiance has pretty blooms on a three foot twig with a few leaves.  Some of these CVs need Charlie's hybridizing badly.

And I super appreciate how HVH ships there plants too...try bare root hibiscus being shipped in early spring via air freight.  They're now just coming out of shock 4 months later...and four died!!!

You only live once though...Farmer D

ok...I just got a small T princess....thanks..darren.............david thankyou...your HP is georgeous....

hi kristen,

on your plants, they are much too hot. i have found that hibiscus thrive very well in mostly shade, especially dappled shade. until the deer ate all of mine, i had them under the shade of the old apple tree, they only received late afternoon sun from 4 to sunset., and they were growing like crazy.

in my greenhouse, they are doing very well. i have a 60 percent shade cloth covering the greenhouse, which means that the plants only get 40 percent of the sun, when its out.

shade them up and you will find that they will recover nicely. also they like to be sprayed every day, preferably in the morning around 10 am'ish.

louis

Louis - you da man!! 8)

Loise would it still be ok to give them a spray if the sun is on them, I have often thought about doing it but am a bit frightened it will burn the leaves.

All the photos are really beautiful.

Cindy's Heart and Creole Belle
(http://i52.tinypic.com/noyion.jpg)

Thanks Darren and Louis.  Louis, I have some great shade, just as you described... I may try to move them there tomorrow.  I was always under the impression that they want intense sun.  But I guess with CT weather, it is not a consistant thing, which causes headache for them.  I will try more booster.  Should I add it to the houseplant formula?  Or should I go back to the mix your own with HVH fert and super nova?

Kristen I like Louis' advice, I would try the dappled shade first and see what that does.  If the results aren't what you want then I'd add a little booster to the SN & fert mix of your liking tweeking as you see fit.

Today's blooms...

Miss Congeniality
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02486.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02485.jpg)

Deep Waters
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02494.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02488.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02492.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02491.jpg)

All That Jazz
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02490.jpg)

Flickering Flames (day 2)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02489.jpg)

Farmer D

hi again everyone.

david, do not spray plants in the sun. water droplets act like little magnifying glass and will burn the plant.
best to spray in the morning before it gets too warm. the spray will add moisture and will wash the bugs and dirt off.

and do not spray in the evening as the wet leaves can and will cause mold. you want the plant to dry off before bedtime.


kristen,
i have had good luck with daily small dilution of the household fert and once a week, use the booster all by itself.

if you have dappled light, that is the best. my plants are not in direct sun and are happy as a kid in a candy store.

how do i know, of course, they told me with their big blooms.


hope this helps, remember what is good for me may not be good for you. but is a start

louis

Thanks a ton everyone.  I will have to give it all a try!  And David, I forgot to thank you as well.  I know you like my Saffron.  Wish it behaved as well for you as it does for me!

John D, love that Cindy's Heart with the color shading toward purple.

Farmer D, looks like you are getting a lot of different blooms now - beautiful Miss Congeniality and the Flickering Flame flowers always warm my heart.

Charlie

Compassion - so far has proven to be very heat tolerant
(http://i54.tinypic.com/rbcx1w.jpg)
High Voltage - first time I've seen HV with a ruffled bloom
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2iqoop1.jpg)

I finally have something to show you!  Here is Sunny Wind (that I am attempting to make into a standard, Cindy's Heart, and my very first seedling that appeared yesterday (Im calling it Griffin for now).  Hope you enjoy.  (You can read about Griffin in the 2011 seedlings section, and see more photos of it.  It's a pretty compliment to CH as it matches the hot hot hot pink center)

Kristen, your seedling bloom is great. Love the hot pink color.

A pair of Cindy's Heart
(http://i53.tinypic.com/etctft.jpg)
Cherokee Princess and Cindy's Heart
(http://i55.tinypic.com/281aalx.jpg)

Got a couple of new ones today...

Rodeo Drive (1st one ever)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02534.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02525.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02526.jpg)

Venetian Brick (1st one this season)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02510.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02511.jpg)

Black Dream
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02531.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02530.jpg)

Daisy Mae
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02524.jpg)

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02522.jpg)

Acapulco Gold Twins
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02521.jpg)

Crystal Pink
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02520.jpg)

Chariots of Fire
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02517.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02516.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02515.jpg)

All That Jazz Twins
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02514.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02513.jpg)

Miss Congeniality - 3rd day I'm very impressed by the 1st bloom = lovely fade
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02508.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02509.jpg)

Farmer D

I also have a first; Rainbow Sherbet.

High Voltage and Creole Belle
(http://i51.tinypic.com/4siuqb.jpg)

David congrats on your first Rainbow Sherbet.  It is a really fun bloom and yours is a really pretty first one.  Way to go...

John it is amazing how many blooms you're getting out of your Cindy's Heart.  Everyday just about and what a CV to see so often.  Great stuff!

Today's blooms..

Yeah - finally Bridal Path.  Small mini but cute with petaloid!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02556.jpg)

Apricot Cookie
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02552.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02553.jpg)

Black Dream - 12 blooms at once =been waiting for this to happen with so many buds
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02551.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02549.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02547.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02548.jpg)

Valentines Day Twins
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02546.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02537.jpg)

Sea of Tranquility - this one is so silvery
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02544.jpg)

Flickering Flame - another 4 blooms at once
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02543.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02541.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02542.jpg)

Crystal Pink - wow this one is quite special
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02538.jpg)

Rodeo Drive (Day 2)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02536.jpg)

Farmer D

Darren, your Black Dream is amazing. I would love to see you get a Cindy's Heart. I'm sure you would have tons of blooms on it. It is a very prolific bloomer.

John I'm right there with you on that one.  I recently got one but looks like it has a little ways to go but I know that one day...it's in a really sunny hot spot so it should do it's thing.  Is growing really quickly!!

Cindy's Heart dinker
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02561.jpg)

Sea of Tranquility - this one gets better after it opens the first few days - just amazing!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02560.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02559.jpg)

Daisy Mae
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02562.jpg)

Prosperity - get ready for this one, monster bush and now budding up like crazy.  Could be the next COF - can't wait.
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02563.jpg)

Farmer D

Lynette here is a pic of Tahitian Bronze Radiance Bush.  I am spraying it religiously with SN to promote branch and leaf growth but extremely slow results.  What would be the best adjectives to describe the form of this one?
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02564.jpg)

Farmer D

Bridal Path which is another first for me. It has a little bit of bud damage which is a shame as the colors really stand out , I have had loads of bud damage lately but I do seem to be finally getting on top of it .

David, did you ever figure out what was causing your bud damage?

Darren, another one that blooms like crazy is Creole Belle. The bush is a little floppy though.

Cindy's Heart and High Voltage
(http://i56.tinypic.com/vgjw5g.jpg)
Creole Belle and Voodoo Queen
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2ywfmgi.jpg)
Beautiful trio
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2j4ar8x.jpg)

wow darren...that really is a sparce and lanky looking bush...the flower is really nice though!....

nice blooms everyone...darren ..sea of tranquility..is so pretty....and doll ..cindys heart is always georgeous!...I have one coming in fall...here are some blooms from the last couple of days...satin pillow is one that I picked up from a local nursery...lynette

the rest....

wow, great plants and photos everyone. kristen, congrats on your new seedling. love the color. who are the parents.

and here is an intense benevenue from today. this is the deepest color i have had on this one. how does it compare to those who have this plant.

louis

I think my best High Voltage so far, and I have had a seedling bloom from a seed I was sent from America, I got 20, 5 germinated and this is the first.

Thanks Lou, It is a Belle du Jour x Saffron.  I have a bunch more from that same pod going too.  David, cool bloom, who are the parents?

Don't know Kristen, all the seeds got mixed up at customs, mind you of the 5 or 6 names that where written down I had never heard of them [ I think they originally come from Tahiti]. Didn't bother me as I am just growing for curiosity and pleasure.
I am sort of glad that only 5 germinated and got me wondering how on earth you and a few others manage with room, each seed eventually takes up as much room and needs the same care as a named cv from Charlie, as you seem to get an awful lot of seeds I could see that being a problem.
As for the plant I am quite pleased, an unusual mustard color and the bloom lasted 2 days which was nice.

Fantastic blooms everyone!  Such wonderful colors and pizzaz...

That Bienvenue is outrageous Louis.

John your Voodoo Queen is amazing.

Lynette you have such a wonderful array of colors - all of them!

David that is a fabulous High Voltage bush you got there.

Blooms from last couple of days...

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02591.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02603.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02575.jpg)

High Voltage
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02570.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02602.jpg)

Flickering Flame
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02599.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02598.jpg)

The Path
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02597.jpg)

Acapulco Gold
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02593.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02566.jpg)

Crystal Pink - day 3
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02572.jpg)

All That Jazz
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02571.jpg)

Sea of Tranquility - day 3
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02573.jpg)

Rodeo Drive
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02589.jpg)

Surf City
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02585.jpg)

Farmer D

As usual Darren all very nice,  that Flickering Flame seems to be getting even better and is becoming one of my favourites to see.
Its pretty much ditto with Lynett except her Wild Allure is my favourite, that would be number 1 on my wishlist.

Nice ones Darren, funny to see some in pots from you!  :)  It took me by surprise!

Cherokee Princess on a cloudy, rainy day
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2m818pt.jpg)

Pretty CP John!

Here are some from today.  Simple Pleasures and Gator Pride.  Also, CH with only 2 pads and a guest.

The last Voodoo Magic bloom didn't open all the way.  I didn't know why.  Then today the same thing.  So I investigated it.  It was stuck together.  The edges of the petals were glued together, and because I waited till tonight to investigate, they were dried up too.  So I ripped them apart, and the bloom just spread its wings, battered and broken.  VM has about 20 tiny buds on it!  Hopefully thy don't all stick together.  Has anyone had this happen?

Also, the same Simple Pleasures, just after a day in out intense heat and through the roof humidity.  What a huge change!

Took some late day photos of Gator Pride, looks like Simple Pleasures isn't the only one that's hating this supreme heat!  The color is just amazing.  It looks almost green on the edge. 

Tigerama got yellow just from today!  Looks like my morning is gonna be filled with finding some good permanent shade for all my babies!!

Hey Kristen, glad I could still throw a surprise out there for some of you.  I have 6 permanent potted hibiscus along with another six Tahitians that are being slowly brought back from the brink.  The good news is that I think most of my Tahitians are already outgrowing their 1 gallons since I barely water them and they yellow very easily (need more space for better drainage is my guess).  Also picked up half dozen water meters to help me out.

You got your blooms finally going on now!!!

That Simple Pleasures is wild with the change in one day (love that heat!).  Also Gator Pride and Tigerama are looking really awesome.  Purple is my favorite color so right on target there.

A few from today...

Midsummer Night
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02713.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02715.jpg)

cool shot - almost like a mirror image of each other
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02721.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02716.jpg)

The Path (day 2)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02717.jpg)

Sea of Tranquility
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02718.jpg)

Rise and Shine - 1st bloom of the season
Such a fun bloom!!!
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02720.jpg)

Farmer D

Here are a few of mine blooming.

Some Like it Hot:

Flickering Flame

Tangerine Dream

Fabulous

Muy Caliente

April Showers

Snowy Sky

Whisper Soft

Hi Darren and everyone,

I assume Darren's last photos show the same way for everyone - not as photos but as Photobucket messages saying "Bandwidth Exceeded". That means the photos are too large a file size and Photobucket is refusing to send them to the forum.

Very large photo files also have other consequences for forum readers. Those with very fast DSL connections get the pages in a reasonable time but those international readers or anyone with a slower connection can wait for 5 minutes or longer for a page to load. I sometimes open a page with a lot of photos and know it will take several minutes to load so I do something else and come back to it later. We all LOVE the photos, and this is not meant to discourage in the slightest Darren or anyone from posting photos, but we can still get the great photos without the long download times if some changes are made in how the photos are posted.

All that is needed is for the photos to be reduced in file size and/or in dimensions. This is really easy to do with any photo software. Cindy or I would be more than happy to help anyone learn to do it with whatever software you have. Just write to office or to my personal address and we will work with you to figure it out.

There is another problem, too, with the photos that are not uploaded the way that the forum is designed to do. This one I dread. When photos posted from Photobucket or some other service are moved within Photobucket, or if the user changes services, all these photos will disappear from the forum and leave big gaps in the messages and pages for the many people who will be reading the forum in the future. This is because the forum has to go to Photobucket or wherever the photos are uploaded on the internet and retrieve them every time a forum page with photos is opened. If you use the forum photo upload system instead, then the photos are stored at our website and there is no problem retrieving them from another site.

So, my plea is for people to start using the forum photo upload. It is easy to do and will preserve the forum photos for people to see for years to come. First fix your photo so it is not so large. Then click the "Additional Options" button located just below the screen you type your message in. Click "Choose File" and it will show you your computer files and you select the file on your computer that is to be uploaded. Try it a couple of times and it will become second nature.

If you can't figure it out, we still want to see your photos but any help along these lines will be appreciated by Cindy and I.

Thanks much,

Charlie

I would like to apologize to everyone for that brief mishap.  I exceeded the memory allowed to be uploaded to photobucket for the month.  Now fixed for the next 2 yrs and I will make sure I reduce the megapixel sizes on my camera before uploading them to match the limits on the forum downloader.

Hopefully this will make it a lot quicker for those with slower connections.  Most of my previous pics are in the 500 - 600 kb range with some smaller and larger at times.

Please let me know if the photos have not been restored, looks fine on my desktop but my iPhone is still not showing them so not totally convinced yet.

Again my apologies.

Farmer D

LJG it's great to see your blooms today!!! 

Wow, some fantastic varieties there and in ground as well.  I was always curious what a more mature SLIH bush looks like, and the blooms are really nice.  Muy Caliente is gorgeous as well.  You have some very nice landscaping in your backyard - thank you for sharing!!

Again Charlie and everyone I apologize for the early mishap - it's been a crazy week here and I didn't catch that in time.

Today's blooms (should load faster I hope as I used the lowest setting on my camera)

Rudolph (1st bloom ever)
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02768.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02769.jpg)

Miss Congeniality
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02770.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02771.jpg)

Valentines Day
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02773.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02774.jpg)

High Voltage
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/DSC02772.jpg)

Farmer D

Wow so many nice blooms...doll luv the cp...kristen how exciting ..finally some beautiful blooms...lg...very nice..really like the tangerine dream..that is one on my wish list...and darren ..I just luv sea of tranquility...i missed it on the last update,  but I put it on my wish list...hopefully six inch...here are some blooms from the last couple of days....lynette

the rest.....

and finally the rest :)

Thanks Darren. I am like you to where almost all plants will go into the ground.

Did you have hibiscus during the 2007 freeze? I had mostly the common stuff but a few of the nicer ones. All the tropical varieties died. The usually seen ones all made it. So I know someday I will be heart broken when I wake up to a blow-torched landscape again. But it will be fun until that day comes :)

Yeah, Len, that's the dilemma in all the states where you can "normally" grow hibiscus outdoors. My outdoor garden had some young and some very old exotic hibiscus planted in it during the last big freeze. The temps went to 27F and the younger plants were damaged or some killed. But, the woody old plants with thick trunks survived with mostly tip damage and came back fine the following year. I did run water all night when it was that cold since the water out of the pipes is way above freezing and helps protect the the tropicals. This is one of the extra advantages of installing a drip system with drippers for every plant.

Anyway, if we catch a break for long enough the hibiscus could be old and woody enough to survive.

Charlie

High Voltage and Voodoo Queen

I have some tasty ones for ya today!  My Blue Heaven made her first appearance.  Got some bush photos to go along with the bloom photos.  I like when everyone shows the bush also, makes you see what other bushes look like. 

My Blue Heaven was a 7.5" bloom.  Moonstruck also showed up today at 8" and Saffron at 8.5".  I crossed MBH x Moonstruck both ways, and Saffron x MBH. 

It was a learning experience for me for sure. Next freeze I will time the sprinklers accordingly as you did. I am lucky as I live on a hill in Vista and rarely get below 35. That one night I hit 28 in the coldest part of the yard. Since that event in 2007 I have developed a canopy and improved my soil and fertilization schedule. So my plants are stronger now and more protected.

Cindy's Heart

Kristen, it's really fun to see the progress of your tree standard, and using My Blue Heaven - wow! It is a good strong grower so should work out fine. Such a unique flower, too.

John D, that Cindy's Heart of yours is sure cranking out the hot weather flowers.

Darren, thanks for making the effort on the photos. We all love seeing yours. One day I hope to see them become a permanent part of the forum but until then I'll enjoy them day by day and hope they don't disappear!

Charlie

Charlie, MBH is a very strong grower.  Its gonna make a great standard.  Im not sure how tall I should let it grow before I start the "tree" process...  Right now its 3.5'. 

In this 100º heat and awful humidity, I have everyone in the shade.  I went out just now to call the cat back inside, probably out there 30 seconds, and already sweating.  It was only 10AM too!  Aweful.  MBH was only one day bloom, but that doesn't mean anything because so was Saffron!  This Heat!  I think next week should be better.

Charlie, Since I have them all in the shade, do you think that they are all going to be ok?  I mean there is still the heat.  Ill water with supernova in a little bit (none of them are dry though).

Charlie, CH is the best variety for hot climates.
Here is a pic of my CH bush.
I had 3 blooms total today.

Everyone just great blooms...from Moonstruck to Cindy's Heart to Wild Allure and all the others are just all fantastic!!!!

Today's goodies...

Acapulco Gold Triplets

Valentines Day

Caterpillar ravaged Flickering Flame - and I didn't find this one yet either!!

Farmer D

What a shock I had when I saw this today, I have really been suffering with the most tiny blooms, 3 inch Bright Horizon and Chariots of Fire for example, so scratching my head allot to figure out whats wrong and then I get a 7inch Valentines Day.

Wow, David... The size is surprising, but the color is amazing (such a dark red eye, it looks black)!  :o

Love that pic of the Acapulco Gold triplets.

High Voltage and Cindy's Heart

Creole Belle and Voodoo Queen

nice blooms everyone...kristen  ..very nice my blue heaven!..darren always luvin your alcapulco gold...here are a few blooms... :D

a few more...

What a weekend I have had, my arms are nearly dropping off, the hibs I received this year are growing like crazy and room had to be found. The big palm tree in the photo had to be moved behind the wall, it took 4 of us to lift it and  create more space for Valentines Day and Bridal Path at the front, so I never noticed my Crinkle in Time come a nice darker pink color till the evening.

John your Voodoo Queen has such defined rings of color.  I absolutely love it!

Lynette that Melon Melange is the nicest one I've seen yet.  Great shots of it too and that Haute Couture is a real beauty - just gorgeous blooms all around.

David your garden is a work of art.  If I ever had to permanently live outdoors that would do and then some...

Today's blooms...

Picante - 2nd day still got that super orange with pink eye look
Scarlet Beauty
Flickering Flame
Valentines Day and Lavender African Daisy being neighborly

David you said earlier this week that you were getting really small blooms on some of your CVs including Chariots of Fire.  My COF recently has gone to all minis and the new branch growth has become a little yellow and veiny looking.

Guess what...for the last month I have gone back to the recommended amount of booster and sure enough my cvs are slowly reverting back to the slow growth and yellowing issues I had before with a lot less blooms.  So maybe yours need some extra something to tolerate your climatic conditions as well to get the larger size.  I wouldn't be shy to experiment a little, it sure helped me out.

A few more...

Hot Pepper
Acapulco Gold
Black Dream Twins
Flickering Flame

Farmer D

Darren for sure you are 100% correct, other than the food I have eliminated just about every other possibility, I have them in shade , sun for 1 hour sun for 4 hours but still small blooms. Now I have finally sorted out my potting mix I have got lovely healthy big plants so its a bit of a shame.
The Booster I ordered is at Customs so fingers crossed there, I did yesterday get hold of some Kelp which is high in Potassium 1-14-34 so I am going to give that a go if Customs say no.
I did have one huge Valentines Day bloom the other day, first 7 incher I have seen so I am doing something right.

I dont get to many second day blooms with the sun here, but its very dull outside and I have a second day Crinkle in Time.

Today I'm showing pictures of blooms and bushes.  All the bushes need a bit of work with the exception of Purple Magic...  this cv is infamous for its terrible bush but with tons of relentless pruning and staking, look what you get!  I'm currently working on that with these others.  :)

I should start a thread on this, as I'm super anal about bush shape.

Summer Shore, Buttercup, Valentine's Day, Hot Pepper, and Purple Magic.

Last 2, Hot Pepper and Purple Magic

Hey Jordan great blooms!!!  That Purple Magic is sensational as well as your other blooms.  Really nice to see the bushes too, I hope others show pics from time to time of theirs as well.

Your Hot Pepper plant really surprises me as it is so different than mine.  I might be crazy but I wonder if that is Hot Pepper.  The leaf shapes and bloom don't look much like what I've seen for that CV before.  I included a pic of mine (I'll probably update this pic as it isn't the best angle due to sunlight) for comparison.  The leaves on mine are rather round and the blooms have a rather round and reflexed look to them.  Either way yours is really nice and great to see anytime.

Today's blooms...

Tahitian Bronze Radiance - the bronze is really starting to come through now

Rodeo Drive

Tahitian Purple Splendor

Acapulco Gold Triplets with mutant bloom

Farmer D

Jordan I  agree with Darren, when I first looked I thought thats not Hot Pepper, of course I am usually wrong if my efforts at the mystery game are anything to go by.  It was the leaves that made me think twice, mine are nearly all rounded and none come to a point like yours, there is a similarity with the bloom but its also not like mine or any other I have seen, be interesting to hear what Charlie says and I have added a picture of my Hot Pepper leaves.

I thought it looked like Muy Caliente.

Here is Muy Caliente, plus Gator pride, Sweet 16, Tangerine Dream (this one is very bright orange and almost glows in the garden) and an ancestor.

So many great photos from all over - wonderful way to wake up!

As for the Hot Pepper question - I think we are seeing the result of different growing conditions. My big plants of Hot Pepper look most like Jordan's as can be seen in the photos below. One is from the greenhouse and one is from our living room in Fallbrook. Notice the difference in the leaves - same pointed shape for most of the leaves but a lot more serration of the leaf edge in the greenhouse photos. The greenhouse is hot with lots of shade paint on the roof while the living room is mild with only a few hours of afternoon sun. The leaves of Hot Pepper may take on a different shape and smaller size in full sun situations. I've certainly seen that in other hibiscus varieties.

Hot Pepper is one of the best branched hibiscus we grow. All our plants get a lot of pruning because in the greenhouse the response is rapid. In outdoor hibiscus gardens like Darren and Len have in southern CA it is less tempting to prune a lot because the response is slower and winter may set in before the plants grow back sufficiently. Anyway, if Hot Pepper is pruned you get the type of bushes seen in Jordan's and my photos - lots of stems and leaves and quite attractive.

My best guess is that all the photos shown here of Hot Pepper are really Hot Pepper but showing the effects of different growing situations.

Charlie

Jordan, nice job with that Purple Magic!!!  I am always a little reluctant to offer that variety due to the bush but the flower is so nice we keep making a few of them every year.

Charlie

That Muy Caliente is gorgeous. I might have to add that to my wishlist.

Cindy's Heart in the hot Texas sun.

Wow Charlie, if that is Hot Pepper I am amazed at the absolute difference in bloom appearance.  I wouldn't have guessed that different growing approaches could cause that drastic a difference in appearance.  Really cool though as it adds that much more variety to each CV.  Also great for the mystery game too.

Here is a pic of HP for me today - still can't believe it is the same CV...

Farmer D

John we should start a campaign to change Texas' state flower to Cindy's Heart.  That bloom is just plain awesome - and being a heat lover makes it perfect for TX state flower.

Jordan I forgot to mention that your Valentines Day has such rich colors and fabulous pattern to it.  To me that is the perfect VD.

Farmer D

Farmer D

Darren, your Black Dream is awesome. Mine was blooming well in the spring but doesn't seem to like the hot weather.

Texas is really proud of their bluebonnets, so no chance of that happening. But when my CH seedling blooms I think I will call it Texas Heart.

I love that name, can't wait to see it soon hopefully.

I bought my Black Dream as a 2 gallon last yr so it seems to tolerate all weather very well.  I'm not sure how old or big yours is but as time goes by it will impress you more and more.  The prettiest blooms are in the cool weather, gets more of a brick red in heat.

Farmer D

I bought my Black Dream last year also as a 2 gallon plant but right after the hot weather. I moved it up to a 3 gallon pot this spring.The bush is doing fine but it won't set any buds. I think next year I will plant it in the ground. My Voodoo Queen almost died last summer from the heat and was completely defoliated by the time spring came around. I stuck it in the ground in full sun and it is thriving now.

That Purple Magic is great. Mine is real leggy for some reason and it is in mostly full sun too. It looks nothing like the picture shown here. Nice job.

Same with the Black Dream. Looks great and now must be added to the list.  :o

Some from yesterday and the day before.

Some more Sleeping Beauty and Space Oddity.

Quite possibly my new favorite bloom!  Rum Runner.  First bloom yesterday.  It was 9" (we have had some mild temps the last 2 days, so that may be why)  Here is a sequence of how it changes through the day and a half it was open.

A group shot of all the goodies, and a very impressive Voodoo Magic bush.  I had to open each of the VM blooms as they were all glued shut, so there was some damage to them.  I dont know why it is doing this.  But there are a ton of blooms and buds on this 2' bush.  And a Voodoo Queen

Kristen those are awesome pics.  All your blooms are so colorful and pretty.  You sure had to wait a while but now you're getting some payoff.  

Space Oddity & Rum Runner are awesome blooms both having good fading action.  I hopefully will have some SO pics soon too.  Your CH plant looks so healthy and happy.  Keep sharing your amazing blooms and bush pics.

Today's blooms...

Farmer D

A few more...Farmer D

Some bush pics...left to rt

Bridal Path, Flickering Flame, Chariots of Fire (4'2"), Bonnie Lass, Rainbow Sherbet, Scarlet Beauty

more bush pics...left to rt

Bon Temps, Apricot Cookie (hiding in the shadow), Black Dream (4' tall), Palm Springs

more bush pics...Left to rt

Acapulco Gold (4'7"), High Voltage, Venetian Brick, All That Jazz, Hot Pepper, Valentines Day, Vin Beaujolais, Rise & Shine (covered by my Plumeria Tree).

more bushes...SP is the smaller

one last pic...

foreground is The Path lft of my Lime Tree, tall lanky one behind is Some Like it Hot and to it's rt is Electric Orange

Farmer D

wow everyone  great blooms... kristen your garden is really going now...really nice....... and darren ..always awsome blooms...really liked the shots of your garden...here are some of my blooms..lynette

a few more...

and one more

Thanks Lynette and Darren!  D, Love the bush shots.  Great idea.  I think it is cool to see what everyone else gets for a bush with some of the same cv's I have, to compare. 

Lynette, I just got my first Voodoo Queen bloom, it was about 7".  Your photos are great.

Darren, love The Path.  I love seeing your photos of it.  I have a really crappy grafted plant of it and it has always struggled (obviously not from Charlie).  I am seeing some buds on it, but they are taking forever!

Super bush photos, Darren. It looks like more varieties are filling in nicely for you. Your goal of having all big full bushes is admirable though hard to achieve outside the tropics. It's a big help to me to see which ones do well.

I agree that your Hot Pepper looks a little too different for conditions to explain it. But if not Hot Pepper, than what is it? I still think it probably is Hot Pepper but wish I had another one to send to you to compare it with. Unfortunately it is out of stock now. There will be quite a few offspring of Hot Pepper blooming for the first time this summer and next. I'm hoping for the same good bush qualities with bigger flowers in other colors.

Charlie

Lynette, I love your Firestorm bloom.

Cindy's Heart and Voodoo Queen

Great feedback Charlie.  Ironic I thought my HP was the standard look but now I guess it is the oddball?  I've attached an early morning pic of it (All That Jazz behind it) to give a better look at it.  Remember it is still in the process of filling in it's leaves so in another month I expect it to be much fuller and will update.  Since day one it has had really round leaves and loves to branch especially with SN spraying.

As for the goal of nice full bushes, again I am inspired by the world garden pics from Australia that show what hibiscus can do when planted in ground and successfully grown for several years in what I would think is a climate more similar to interior So Cal valleys.  I am really happy with the progress made so far this year as I am now seeing a lot of last year's slow growers start to get going.

Hats off to you for realizing way back when that the bushes are as important as the blooms.

Lynette your blooms are insane!!!

They are all bursting with such wonderful colors and I couldn't pick a favorite if my life depended on it.  Wow, wow, wow!!!  Pure pleasure to look at...

Today's blooms...

Farmer D

Farmer D

No blooms at the moment, but as there has been a lot of talk about bushes lately I thought I would show mine. The first picture are what I call my full sun cv's, the leaves are paler but they are still quite full and lush, at 12 o clock in this pic is Valentines Day, this cv is going to be huge. In the second picture these cv's get more shade, they are much darker and more full and are growing like crazy, i finaly after 3 years have sorted out my potting mix and the result is huge fast growth.
In the third picture I have tried to capture as many as I can, and the more you look to the bottom of the garden the more sun they get, what i really need is that Plumeria tree to hurry up and grow.

Sextuplets!  Superb...

David, your potted bushes are looking so fine. It really shows what can be done if one persists and figures it all out. Nice job all around!

Lynette, that Melon Melange flower shows why we kept it - very pretty! Also glad to see that bright Firestorm. Our bushes of that one are excellent in the greenhouse - how's it growing for you? Wish it would root but it's reluctant. Ah well.

Darren, I'm curious about Daisy Mae. Is the bush showing any of the qualities of Chariots of Fire yet? I'm hoping it will as it matures.

Charlie

Just wanted to thank those who have made an effort to provide permanent photos to the forum by using the attachment option. Some of us miss the bigger photos previously sent so here's a suggestion. When resizing before attaching, set the shortest dimension of the photo to 600 pixels and let the longer side be automatically set by the photo editing software. That gives a nice compromise between download speed and providing full details in the photos when viewed by forum visitors.

Charlie

Everything came in pairs today

And a couple of old garden variety favorites

Darren thanks for the comments...yours are likewise spectacular!.....really liking miss congeniality....doll firestorm is wonderfull...starts out really orange...then softens a little and the colors become more defined....charlie it is in the ground...started out a little slow but now is growing very well...and seems to tolerate the heat and the cold....doll luv the twins.....darren sextuplets...wow

some blooms from today....

the last....

Spring in Simi Valley (Southern California) was cool and not helpful to my hibiscus.  The weather is back to normal in July and with weekly fertilization, the hibiscus are doing well.

Acapulco Gold
Dark Nebula
Bon Temps
Blue Ballerina
Rockets Red Glare

Gator Pride
Simple Pleasures- Beginning of the morning
Simple Pleasures- Same flower at the end of the day

John those are amazing pairs.  They are all so lovely and beautiful - I had kind of the same today too.

Awesome blooms once again Lynette, are a majority of your plants in shade due to the hotter conditions inland compared to me being about 5 miles from the coast?

David welcome aboard and wow what a fabulous start with some stunning blooms.  I hear you regarding the cool start to the season we had here.  I'm sure the rest of the country is quite jealous though.  Keep those wonderful pics coming and thanks for sharing.

Today's blooms...

Farmer D

Farmer D

Charlie you're right on with Daisy Mae.  I definitely see early signs of the same type of traits as Chariots of Fire.  This plant just wants to grow and bud a lot.  But what stands out for me is there is a strength to this plant that few others I have show.  It is kind of hard to explain but each new area of branch growth is like it's own mini-plant.  So you can see how this CV is already showing the ability to move towards a full monster bush mode.  

It will be a scary sight when this plant gains some more size and maturity.  With all of those super bright yellow blooms it might just glow at night or something.

My goal right now is to see my blooms on the Google Earth satellite shot of my street.  Unfortunately the latest pic was in winter but you can clearly see some of my CVs even without the flowers.

Is that shot downloadable cause it would be pretty funny to post on here one day!

Farmer D

darren alot of mine get morning and later afternoon sun and are shaded by trees in my yard.....some on my porch   but quite a few get a lot of sun....I planted simple pleasures in the ground where it gets all day sun and is doing great...also melon melange ....confection perfection..soft spot.. ...hot pepper..bridal path..daisy mae...living legend...and  a few others ..get  mostly sun all day  and are doing very well....I will take some pics of my yard and post them....a lot are really budding up..so hopefull next month will have some new ones to post.....here are some pics of my yard...

as you can see I am quite addicted :-\

Lynett I love it, its like an English cottage garden, haha made me feel a little homesick this morning. Every evening I sit in my garden and have one beer, well I think if I was sat under that tree I may wel have two, lovely thanks for showing.

thats funny david....I enjoy it.....thanks

David W I forgot to mention that your most recent set of pics shows some of the healthiest looking plants I've seen yet.  All of your careful observations and persistence is really paying off.  Make sure you keep updating you world gardens page as your garden is improving by the day.  Fantastic bushes - I'm just as motivated by your pics too!!

Here is a fun shot of my plumeria in full blossom with some hibiscus underneath enjoying the shade.  Plumeria is a slower grower but in a few years you'll be there.  Mine is 5 years old and it likes the HVH fert & booster, hates winter weather but this year didn't lose all it's leaves for the first time.

Farmer D

Lynette your plant pics are wonderful.  That is a really cute and fun set up you have there.  Some of your bushes I'll have to ask which they are as they're looking might impressive.

The one in the square pot on your front walkway and the one in the long oval pot by your tree.  Both are looking very full, love to know which those are...

A few more pics from today now that the sun is out...

Farmer D

darren ....the one in the square pot is hot pepper....it  bloomed a lot last week....the oval pot is valentines day.....I get something different blooming everyday....as they get bigger Im like you...hoping to see several blooming multiples. each day....so many have several buds...I want them al to bloom at once...what a pic that would be....I think your area.. probobly is the best weather.for them..

Bridal Path  and a cutting of Chariots of Fire , I have 4 of these cuttings and I am going to bunch them together later for the Holliwood look.

Compassion - Has turned out to be a very heat tolerant variety.

First of all, everyone, great photos and plants. it would be next to impossible for me to comment on everyone.

all are outstanding.

i have a lot of blooms in the greenhouse, but i have posted them before, however, here is james bond, a truly spectaculat bloom. it never ceases to amaze me, the bloom last three days without fading.

this is a nice one.


btw, i am linking the photo images from one of my web sites. please let me know how your download speed is, too slow and i will reduce the size.
louis

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/7-30-11-bond/bond.jpg)

Im seeing this beautiful James Bond just fine Lou.  But Im also just next door, not across the big pond.  What a beauty!

(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x377/mphquicksilver/Picture2-7.png)
(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x377/mphquicksilver/Picture1-13.png)
here is my first Cindy's Heart & Heaven Scent , I'v been trying to load the pictures off the monitor but it says their to big I'll keep trying I'll eventually figure it out , I did it a long time ago .

STUNNING blooms MPH!!!  Absolutely gorgeous-- flowers and photos!  :o  

David it' always a pleasure to see Bridal Path.  That one likes the petaloid action.
Your COF colors are really nice, I love the color bleed on them.  It really is a great CV as all the blooms are constantly changing and something new each time.

John you Compassion is so soft and beautiful.  Who would have thought that it would be heat tolerant??

Louis you really like Bond, James Bond a lot!!  It's quite the bloom to see anytime.  I wouldn't mind seeing some of your others if you have any spare time!  Your blooms are always exquisite no matter how many times you post.

Mike congrats on your first blooms there.  Boy that Cindy's Heart has such nice form.  How long did it take for yours to first bloom?  Mine is growing quickly but you know it can never be fast enough...

Today's blooms...

Fantastic Patrick, so clear. Like Louis says they are all brill at the moment.

A very overcast day here and a nice dark Acapulco Gold.

Sherlocks Mystery in the background.

Darren, that is an interesting looking Midsummer night.  So different from the other photos I have seen of it?  Really pretty! David, great AG!

Darren, that Midsummer Night is beautiful.
David, your Acapulco Gold looks awesome with those darker colors.

My 3 best bloomers.

awsome blooms everyone...here are some from today.... ;D

the last....

Lynette and David your BP & AG are both so full of color.  Fabulous!!

I agree with you Kristen & John, this latest Midsummer Night bloom is really cool.  This CV really shows a lot of different looks with the blooms.  They are really temperature and light responsive so they're always changing.  Lots of fun.

Today's blooms..

Check out Picante - this is the best bloom yet for this one with gold spotting on the edges and it hasn't even been that hot here but just so pretty and unexpected.  This CV has also really impressed me and the bush is really a good one.

Farmer D

Black Dream is an amazing CV.  Today's blooms came out so black and it is now August??  Also the black was almost like a swirling giant eye with light rays. This plant blooms multiples non stop, is a monster and gave me zero problems in winter.  Highly recommended.

Farmer D