March flower photos of the day

[davidwood]

Its a real struggle in the garden at the moment, hard to believe only a few weeks ago I was having multiple 7 and 8 inch blooms, haha now I am happy with a single 5 incher, but one cv that doesn't care one jot how hot and dry it is that's Pineapple Sundae.

[helixturnhelix]

Wow great blooms everyone!

David, I am really liking the two toned eye on pineapple sunday.  I like the more golden look cosmic gold shows as well, I have the opposite problem of you in that they are usually orange for me since my weather is very cool.  

Charlie, those blooms are fantastic, I always like to see more pictures of the newer CVs, I especially like Carmel Dawn, you can tell from the picture that one is really special. 

Deb, always like to see blooms from a fellow northerner using artificial lights.  I really love the amount of control you get using this method. I almost prefer it to growing outside since the conditions are consistent and you can really observe the outcome of changing one variable.  I also managed to get my hands on Heart of my Heart, I'm really happy I was able to replace the one I lost. 

Darren, looks like the mild winter is paying off in more summery looking blooms earlier

Kristen, I really like Heavy Metal, another that eludes me.  I do like the more compact bush of that one...

[Nievesgirl]

Deb , That is why I love RRG !!!!! Its just so nice when it blooms.

Cindy's heart looks nice John ! Erny your southern Nights blooms look amazing. I love seeing really upright blooms that are flat. ( with all the cvs I have I do not think I have any that bloom like that).

Everyone has some nice pictures for sure. Charlie Carmel dawn is my cup of tea.

[davidwood]

Slowly the nice pictures from everyone seem to be coming, it must be really warming up over there.
All small blooms for me now but still lovely colours, and how Bridal Path can be as lush large and green as it is with this sun blazing on it amazes me, Rainbow Sherbert and Hot Southern Nights are the others.

[Charlie]

David, I guess the rainy season is over in Vietnam? Your photos still look super.

Carmel Dawn is pretty special as you guys observed from the photo. All we've been able to do so far is propagate some plants for stock. Next round will provide some to offer if all goes well.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Nice ones Everyone!

Charlie, I agree, Carmel Dawn is a beauty!  And the name couldn't be a better fit!  I also love the big ones!  Something about having a monster bloom.  I don't have any that get over 9" on a good day, I may need one of those that are a constant 10" you offer. lol!  When people come over they freak out when they see all the colors of these blooms, but they cant seem to wrap their minds around the size too!  Like my summer garden is a freak show to all the commoners!  Haha.

David, I always love your Rainbow Sherbet! Yours seems too look so dramatic.  Love it!

Deb, oh my goodness!  Yes!  Your RRG is spectacular!  I thought I didn't care for that cv much.  Wow!  I stand corrected!  your bloom makes my mind spin!!!!  Beautiful!

Chris, Thanks.  Heavy Metal is one of my favorites.  The bush is TINY!  it blooms nicely and quite regularly on a 1' bush that is branching on its own very nicely.  Its strong and lush, and doesn't seem to need too much special care.  Good one for my winters!

I found some spider mites on my mothers house plants in her bedroom (where my biggest hib bushes are) so yesterday I had to take them all in her shower... what a task.  I took the bloom off my CH seedling and took it home to shoot in a better light.  This is the third day for this third bloom on this seedling.

I also have a new seedling.  REALLY deformed.  But the leaves on the plant are also long and deformed towards the top.  On the bottom the leaves look normal.  Not sure what is going on.  Here is the best shot I could get, looks like cool coloring, but horrible form!

[helixturnhelix]

Thats great that Carmel Dawn is in the will have more cuttings stuck phase.  It is such a nice looking color and looks like it has heavier texture.  I know you said one parent is Cranberry Muffin, any idea who the other is?

Kristen, looks like your seedlings blooms are maturing nicely, the form looks good  same with the color.  Next you need to share some cuttings of it to see how it does for others  

As far as the deformed seedling is concerned, I had the same thing happen to me with one of my plants.  Are you by chance using Epsom salts?  When I accidently spilled too much Epsom salts on my plant and observed this for the next few weeks deformed leaves and flowers.  All you need to do if you are seeing this is to flush the pot and do not add anymore epsom salt as long as the leaves are looking deformed.  Once you have a few normal ones again, you can lightly apply the epsom salts again.  I think that this is due to an overdose of either magnesium or sulfur.  Easier to do with these nutrients because you arent water as much because of the weather, so they are not being flushed out or used as quickly as they are in warmer weather. 

[Darkhorse]

Gorgeous Bridal Path David!  And Kristen...  interesting...  the colors on the seedling look great though!  If the deformation can be resolved you might have yourself a pretty nice flower!

[Doll]

David, your plants look like they are dealing with the heat quite well.

Kristen, I love your CH seedling.

Temps are getting into the 70s most days now. A Daisy Mae today.
You know it's spring when the little green anoles start showing up everywhere.

[Ernest]

Dittoes on David's plants, Kristen's seedling, and Carmel Dawn.

John that's a really pretty Daisy Mae and I love the lizard shot--looks like he could do a Geico commercial.

Got my third bloom this week on young Hot Southern Nights plant. On the left is Pinot Noir just about to show its first bloom. On the right is Sparkling Water just starting to bud.

Erny

[davidwood]

Very nice Erny, HSN in that last photo doesn't half look like Confection Perfection.

[davidwood]

David, your plants look like they are dealing with the heat quite well.

Not to bad John and certainly better than last year, March April and May are the toughest months for my Hibs, virtually zero rain and no cloud cover in the afternoons, experience has taught me that watering twice a day makes a big difference, so I go out and give some a top up at 1pm, the Hibs appreciate it allot and I get a hell of a suntan ha ha.

[Doll]

Erny, it's very impressive to see those bloom at such a small size.

David, the hottest months here are June, July and August. I usually have to water mine 3 times a day during those months.

[Ernest]

David, I usually try to take one picture in the sunlight and one in the shadow for comparison. Some show up better in one or the other. The last one there is in the shadow and does look cosiderably more pink--much like Confection Perfection.

I almost missed this one today--Lady in Waiting hiding back under her own leaves. The last two are the first bloom ever on Magnifique and are not looking like any picture I have ever seen of that cv.

Erny

[davidwood]

David, the hottest months here are June, July and August. I usually have to water mine 3 times a day during those months.
[/quote]
John when you water are all 3 a full watering? or just a top up from the main one. For example I will give Electic Orange 4 pints in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, Bridal Path 8 and then 2, I wonder if its best to equal it out? or perhaps I should give even more water.
June July and August are the hottest months here also but you get relief with cloud cover, rain and even higher humidity[often in the 90s], unlike now, very dry and about 75% humidity[ it really is like living in a sauna haha].