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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #135 on: March 20, 2012, 10:15:11 AM » |
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Tons of buds but few flowers. Nighttime temps still frequently in the low 40s and these outdoor plants don't like it much. Simple Pleasures day 2 and day 3 and its bush. Living Legend day 3 or 4 and its bush. Eye of Kali just opening at about 9 AM.
Erny
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #136 on: March 20, 2012, 12:10:50 PM » |
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Erny, are those normal temps for this time of year?
A pic of my Cindy's Heart bush. I guess I am going to be forced to move it as the thieves keep stealing the blooms off of it.
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #137 on: March 20, 2012, 12:30:04 PM » |
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Erny I hear you concerning the lower night temps. Feb & Mar temps were a little below avg yet our rainfall was way below avg. Last two nights in Hollywood was 40 & 41F which is about as cold as it gets before I start to get concerned.
Your SP bush is going to be a mindblower in a few months when those buds all start blooming. That is going to be a sight to behold - can't wait! How old are those two bushes you posted pics of today? My SP bush is so small - got it fall 2010 as the smallest 4" but it has been a real steady grower.
John that is really a shame if someone is stealing your blooms. Does it happen consistently at a certain time of day/night. Just wondering if any critters around your neck of the woods there...
Really pretty AG - Charlie you're right about the colors gaining in richness.
Farmer D
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #138 on: March 20, 2012, 12:34:36 PM » |
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Darren, the colors on your blooms do seem to be getting more intense.
The blooms always disappear between 3 and 4pm. It's the kids walking home from school. They seem to have a fondness for CH. They usually leave the others alone. At least they have good taste.
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #139 on: March 20, 2012, 01:18:51 PM » |
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John, I think the night temps are a little lower than usual but it has been quite variable. Last week we had a three or four day stretch when they only got down to a low of 53-55 at night.
Darren, I put Simple Pleasures and Living Legend in the ground at the same time which I'm guessing was about 5 years ago. LL has grown well and is an attractive bush but SP is off the charts in the bush department. At close to 6' tall and 4' wide it is twice as big as LL. It is so densely branched that it looks like a hedge. Apparently I lucked out and happened to put it in a spot it really likes.
Erny
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #140 on: March 20, 2012, 04:17:51 PM » |
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Erny that hedge look is exactly what I'm shooting for with my bushes. Which direction do those plants face? I'm curious if they get morning or afternoon sun or something else. Have you thought about increasing the amount of spraying for SP to see what effects it might have to get a proportional bud count for the crazy amount of branches it has? Also have you seen that Ross Estey bush near your home that you photographed a few months back? That has me very excited and interested to see what a really mature bush can do all winter long. My guess is it bloomed all the way thru winter till now and I bet the owner probably does nothing more than make sure it is watered along with the rest of their landscaping. A couple more blooms opened today...Prosperity is just so pretty.  Farmer D |
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #141 on: March 20, 2012, 07:35:55 PM » |
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Darren, your Prosperity sure is a beauty. I can't wait to get the one I ordered in January.
SP and LL are in a line of bushes at the front of our house facing due south. From spring through fall they are partially shaded by two fairly large plumeria. In winter the plumeria are just sticks so they get a lot of direct southern sun then. Here are some pictures I took in October and November when the plumeria were still full of leaves and flowers. I hope these will show the positioning although I didn't take the photos with that in mind.
I haven't checked out the huge Ross Estey for a few weeks but the last time I did it looked like the owner had pruned it back some. It's such a fast grower that I'm sure it won't be long before it is filled out and covered with blooms again.
Erny
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #142 on: March 21, 2012, 10:48:40 AM » |
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The rain here is keeping everything really wet. So far for this year we are already 9" ahead of our normal rainfall.
San Diego Sun
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #143 on: March 21, 2012, 03:05:59 PM » |
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Darren, here are two comparison pictures I took today to contrast with the earlier ones showing the plumeria in late fall.
Erny
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #144 on: March 21, 2012, 03:17:17 PM » |
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Creole Lady today just after opening at about 9 AM in sun and in shade. Then the same flower at 3PM in sun and shade to show how it fades--but still pretty. Last, second day Eye of Kali.
Erny
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #145 on: March 21, 2012, 03:31:11 PM » |
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Signs of spring in southern California:
First a sea of geraniums beneath a large red camelia on the left, a pretty climbing rose on the arbor with a large white azalea behind and a small Georgia's Pearl on the right.
Next a view of the azalea from the other side.
New leaves appearing on plumeria
Hens have finished molting and resume putting out one egg each per day.
Erny
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Steven
Posts: 4
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« Reply #146 on: March 21, 2012, 05:10:36 PM » |
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 Open today. Believe it's either BienVenue or The Path. Was mislabeled and sent instead of what I actually ordered(not HVH), but I like this much better! |
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #147 on: March 21, 2012, 06:41:42 PM » |
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Erny you have Chickens?!! Awesome! What breed you keeping? I was thinking about getting a few, nothing beats fresh eggs  That Creole Lady is quite nice, I also found that one to be pretty hardy, coming back from setbacks easily. |
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Mike
Posts: 180
Cabot Arkansas
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« Reply #148 on: March 21, 2012, 06:46:09 PM » |
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Hi everybody
It's raining over here & kinda cool , I had a Belle De Jour bloom today with a real dark pink !
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #149 on: March 21, 2012, 09:04:04 PM » |
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Steven, that's a really nice bloom. I'm no expert but I'd say it is not The Path.
Mike, your Belle du Jour is showing its true colors. Are you growing it indoors or in a greenhouse? Mine is in the ground outdoors and has been giving me nothing but really red flowers all winter.
Chris, we have four hens that were bred for their egg laying. I think the two whites are Leghorn hybrids and the two brownish reds are hybrids of Rhode Island Reds. You're right that nothing beats fresh eggs. The chickens are easy to keep and relatively cheap to feed. And I get a four egg omelet every day.
Erny
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