2012; the year in review

New plants this year include potato tree, palms, macho ferns, caladiums, wart fern to name of few. All of which performed very well. They stood up to the sun, wind and rain of southern Florida. The solanum macranthum, however, should be placed with some shelter from wind, if it's at all wilted in a breeze, the leaves will get shredded by the nasty spikes the plant sports. Still, it's a beautiful shrub-- huge leaves offer generous shade and the papery light purple flowers have a sweet scent. If I were gardening 'in terra' it would definitely be one to try. The palm offers light dappled shade for the begonias. It's canopy is large enough to create a feeling of an understory for part of the terrace. I also have baby foxtail, healthy, but it's got a lot growing up to do. Palms have turned out to be an appropriate addition to the garden; very wind resistant, they need sun, etc. Bougainvillea are another obvious choice. The more S Fl sun it gets, the more color it puts out. It has been installed on every side; handrail, walls, etc. 

[ Planted some large square planters with bougainvillea today- 2 colors each wart ferns and a fish tail fern for good luck. Repotted another magenta bougainvillea today that had been sorrily planted from the get go. I was able to tie the branches up and kept a good deal of the branches. I put a second magenta with it in the pot. It had been planted in its plastic pot with some slices in the sides and the botttom cut off. The soil was matted around Don't do this. Just plant the damn thing with the proper drainage in some good soil].

The blue ribbon however goes to an unlikely character; a shrub-like begonia, b U402. It's stems are succulent and one would assume it would be easily tossed by the wind, burned by the sun, drowned by the rain.. not only does it survive whatever's thrown at it, its habit is lovely and the small pink-ish white flowers, which have begun to appear, are charming. I can stick a stem anywhere, if the soil is reasonably friable, and it will thrive. It is available if you look around, but if you live in the Fort Lauderdale area and would like some cuttings please email me. In terms of tough begonias, that thrive on the terrace, b Arte Hodes (thicked-stemmed 'pig skin' type) is a vigorous specimen. I am looking forward to some blooming.

Blue ribbon winner 2012, year of the water dragon; b. U402 a Venezuelan species shrub-like begonia. Takes a lickin' and keeps on kickin'. 

The snake slithers hither

The year of the snake, brings with it, more bougainvillea. 

Summer snap dragon (angelonia augustifolia), a slightly
tamed wildflower. Served as a pretty 'filler'

.

More later.

Festivus

We are having some friends over tomorrow to celebrate this coniferous holiday and my garden is looking exhausted. I moved one pot here another there to hide bare spots, purchased eight small pots of snapdragons, yellow and a coral red and 2 other larger plants with very pretty blue jets of flowers (blue Angelface?) , they look like pretty weeds. Re-potted the rubber plant into one of the black plastic barrel haves that I paid 19$ for at HD. Tucked it in with some very rich, black soil. The thick dark (almost black) leaves of the rubber plant provide a nice contrast to the sprays of fern and bromeliad and the rather bare bougainvillea.

Keep a rubber in your pocket, the thick, glossy, almost black leaves offer a tropical counterpoint to the lighter, feathery ferns and bamboo.

Broken bones

I reported recently that the potato tree suffered a sudden wilt on one of its 2 trunks a week ago or so. I grabbed the trunk to turn the pot today and the skin on the trunk came off in a slimy mess in my hand. I cut into the wood a bit and the wood was brown. I grabbed the trunk and was able to twist it off at the base which didn't look sick. I mixed up a copper bath and drenched the poor thing. We'll see if the copper will protect the rest of the tree. The growth still growing on the plant looks vigorous.

We'll see how it recovers from the amputation of the gangrenous limb. Shown is the remaining arm, looking no worse for the loss of it's twin. It will probably send up some new branches fairly quickly (i'm guessing) it has a mature root system. The wayward snapdragon for color.   A fern of some sort would probably dress the base of the tree right nicely. Creeping fig and cereus background, with wart fern in adjacent square planter. 

Party on pagans (it's winter solstice time!)

Although a magic day, this the shortest of the year, I won't be sad to see the darkness of winter begin it's forced march toward longer days-- and more time in the garden.

The past week has been clear, although somewhat warm at the beginning of the week (70's) the temperature took a precipitous fall into the upper 40's last night. Had to postpone tennis until later in the morning. Anyway, regarding the sun-- it's been drying things out and I had the pleasure of watering a good many pots in the pm.    Though I had to pour a few water cans earlier in the week on blood orange and bamboo and pandora / jasmine / bougainvillea grouping in the center handrail planters at night after work.

I have a small variegated bougainville that's been planted for 2 years now in a very pretty light blue glazed ceramic pot. Unfortunately.. after my application of granular Protect and Feed it has dropped most of it's leaves. It could be a coincidence, the problem is a pest of some sort, but probably not. Too much pesticide for the potted bougie. Happily there are buds poking out on the branches. It has a pretty habit and I've kept it small-- maybe a future bonsai specimen? One thing I've learned with the variegated leaves, highlighted with a bright lime green is NOT to overdo the nitrogen. It will turn the leaves a solid green. When in full (variegated) foliage and bloom this thing is a charmer.

Not in bloom here but the lime highlight of the leaves still very pretty

Let us now praise famous queens.

A facebook posting by a friend brought back memories of this remarkable beauty, the International Crysis. 

 In spite of the demands that must have come with being a glamorous icon, International Crysis made time to help many a young addict stay away from drugs a day at a time. 

A showgirl  in her dressing room (the pyramid club?)-- shear magic

No mas nada

Warm day. Pondering the garden in the last breathes of daylight, everything still here. Put sprigs of U402 in pots newly planted. I have a wonderful pot FULL of the little begonia. Such a pretty habit. I'll post pics.

Southerly eve

Life expectancy of a blog?

Work has been grinding and the daylight fleeting. We are six days away from the winter solstice.The journey then begins back around the track to summer time. Not sure if that will inspire more blogging or not. Growth as it begins in the late winter here (March) is indeed exciting and will undoubtedly inspire some reporting. It has been hard to bring myself and spend an hour typing about the my wards.

I'll soldier on.. today, I pulled out the pelletized form of Bayer Protect and Feed. You, imaginary reader, must think I'm sick using this pesticide (is it really necessary..? ) yes, it is necessary. The bougainvillea are almost all bare of foliage, though they are putting on a refreshing show of color. Of course, being the intuitive genius that I am (not) I nonchalantly measured a wildly approximate application of the poisonous food. I did use sense and water in well. I was  a little disconcerted to see that the pellets immediately began to dissolve-- they were not the time release granules I was hoping for.  As always, we shall see. I wish I could report exact measurements of fertilizer, mixture of soils, etc. that might be of use to the gardener who stumbles upon this note in a bottle, but I don't. Perhaps it might be of comfort to know that my plants are usually quite forgiving and I think they know I am trying. It had rained early this am so some of the pots under the eaves had already been watered. After watering in bougies, I followed up doing planters and bamboo pot. I am going to cut way back on the water for the bamboo, I think I've been overdoing it hence the rotting culms. However, perhaps the rotting culms might turn out to be a blessing as it will take longer for the rhizomes to explode the beautiful pot it's current home.

Bought this white bougie last week at home depot. I hope for some healthy growth during summer time. It is such a pretty color. I really need to dedicate some study time to learn more about the most effective care to promote foliage and blooms.

Now here is a tidbit that a fellow terrace/ patio gardener in Zone 10b might use- try a bowl o' burle. A Mexican unglazed bowl with some nice soil and some cuttings of the philodendron Burle Marx. The leaves are thick and glossy green. The plant will grow up and over the bowl, making a nice specimen. It is however, very cold sensitive. anything below 40 will knock the wind out of it's sails. 

Last but not least for this posting is one of my favorite views.. looking west over an outline bamboo and bird-of-paradise.

guten nacht mien leibchen

Bless my garden (please) St. Fiacre

Yesterday. Spent the last 6 hours of light playing house. It all began, as it often does at home depot.. I bought 2 black plastic faux barrel shaped pots. The black color would hide them as they were to be tucked in the back and cost about 19$ per. There were for replanting the macho ferns which had way outgrown their cheap plastic containers.. drilled 5 holes using .5" drill bit.  I pulled out one of then machos from behind bamboo. So much can happen in the human mind at once.. I had to move several of the major pots to get back so that immediately afforded me a new avenue to sweep fallen bamboo  blades. But, this was after I extracted a rubber plant that I had growing through the handrail for the past year or so. It was looking a little dizzy from the street and I've been meaning to get a grip on the leggy bleeding heart that was next to it in the planter.

The rubber plant redux

 To my surprise, the bleeding heart was putting out some white racemes, they grow from the end of the vine, so I did not trim them. Now, I moved the macho fern out onto the operating table and shaved it down to 1" stubble. Began filling trash bag.. swept out the area against the western wall next to tall purple bougainvillea and the pot in which another macho shares with a bird-of-paradise. I move the mini-bracted magenta bougainvillea to transplanting spot on other side of terrace. It was going to finally move into a jarra, not too much larger than it's existing container, but enough to surround the root ball with new, loamy, black, fertile soil.

La jarra 

 While sweeping behind the bamboo, however, I took a good look at some of the bases of rotted culms that hide tried to grow recently but had rotted on their way up. Also had 2 instances of the upper branches of existing culms dying. Fortunately, they were smaller branches and the other foliage with the bare spot made when I trimmed off the dead. I had given the Buddha belly a copper fungicide bath a few days ago. Something in my gut tells me it's over-watering that's encouraged some fungus.. so I'm going to let it dry out until blades are nice and curled- hoping it that copper will nip further rot in the rhizome.

Off to work. No time for good grammer.  More later.

Early to rise

Up early enough to sweep up a bag of leaves and petals, shuffle some pots around. Fed some with pesticide / plant food. Fed croton and pot of Burle Marx with fish emulsion. It's supposed to be deodorized with mint, but it smells something awful, rotting offal- but good for the soil.

I'm wondering about the palm. Just because it was there for the stealing doesn't necessarily mean it's the most appropriate in terms of the size it might end up. It's pretty having the feathery canopy offering some shelter from the sun. Hopefully it will fill out before growing to high.

Garden time time

Sunny day, went to Palm Hammock to look at begonias. I finally had my coupon punched 5 times and I can get 20% of my next purchase. I was ready for a new begonia, but I realized I was too tired of having my heart broken by having gorgeous begonias rot and die on me to buy. It came to me standing in one of the hot houses, the air was perfectly still, humid and filled with bright direct light, that's where they want to be. Or in some shady nook in a fabulous garden in Coral Gables.  I did looked at a fishtail-like fern.  They wanted $55 for a 3 gal. It was beautiful, but the price put me off a little. Ferns do well on the terrace. One would think the salty air, sun etc wouldn't encourage growth, but to date they've done quite well. I should say that I do have some begonias still kicking, one Arte Hodes-like pigskin types, one of the white flowered b grandis, one b 'DOC' a Tim Anderson hybrid. U402 just won't leave me alone, I love it. Also, still have some caribbean queen poking it's head up in the orange pot.

Pandorea jasminoides Charisma charming the handrail. Only positive things to say about this simple, cottage vine.

I've posted pics of this girl before. She's come into blooom again and there's something very elegant about a deep, shiny emerald leaf and a simple white blossom, the scent of which, on a still, humid night is intoxicating. Might the steroidal 10-52-10 be coaxing this flush of blooming?

Wet air blowing in off the sea

Soft cloudy light with a playful westerly breeze. Sat outside for dinner, and the rain began lightly blowing into a nice drink for the garden by nightfall.  

and far away

Winter nears

Late autumn evening zone10b



Love is a mini bracted thing

No futzing around with this good boy. Food, water and sun; Let the form of the plant grow as it will.

I LOVE orange colored bougainvillea

10-52-10

Watered blooming plants with Miracle Gro Bloom Booster. The orange and coral bougainvilleas are really going at it. Moved the climbing philo against interior wall, It's sending out it's clinging tendrils and I want to see if and how it will go the shady wall under the portico.

I would like to pull out the large plumeria and plant another palm with a mass of wart ferns around it. I think the warts are clingers that would be very interesting on the wall if they would, very least they'll form an interesting mound of fern.

A plethora

¿Cuál es tu favorito?

Gibby's ghost

The increasing shortness of the coming winter days has cut sharply into my time on the terrace, however my pruning shears found time to cut sharply into the solanum macranthum yesterday. I think they must get some sadistic pleasure in cutting back so hard. The potato tree demands great respect when handling as it's barbs are serious and will pierce if given a chance. I cut the trunk(s) into 6-8" pieces. I want to dry them and try planting them as a plumeria.. I haven't heard of that being best practices for propagating but I wasn't able to find much info at all about growing the potato from cuttings. I have grown it before from cuttings, though it seemed to take quite a while to plant.

Finally had time to water everyone in deeply. Fertilized with fish emulsion the orange, bamboo, jasmine and one of the macho ferns.The wonderful philodendron that J Durko had yanked off a tree and gave me, has been getting burned in the winter sun (which stares straight at us now that it is lower in the southern sky). I gave it a few months to see if it was simply getting acclimated but it's clear they are understory plants that probably perform in slightly shadowed light. I would like to empty a large pot that I had a large plumeria in and plant the climbing philo and some wart fern and put it under the portico roof, as was done with the night blooming cereus. Perhaps it would grow up the wall and onto ceiling? or it may take to having it's top cut and sending up other shoots that would spread out over the wall. Too much work to do that today. We have a 4 day holiday weekend coming up, maybe that will inspire me.

Visualize world peace and a botanic garden for Broward County-- specifically, visualize the botanic garden being on the piece of land where Gibby's steak house used to be. You needn't have gone there for the visualization to be effective. Though they had THE BEST fresh bread, cesar salad with an overpowering amount of garlic and anchovies (yum) meat was good, but the strawberry shortcake was unbelievable, and they gave you a nice big piece. It was an old school steak house. Now, it would make the perfect spot for a public garden, canopied with tropical hardwoods, understoried with ferns, begonias, philodendrons, orchids, palms.  Of course, I will be dead by the time it is fully grown in but what a nice bit of love to leave behind. Visualize the garden please.

Chores

Spot watered. Laying off the fertilizer. I lost two new canes of the coccinea as it has been cooler and wet that past few days. They began to rot at the bottom of the cane. I removed them. The larger, woodier canes seemed fine. I was told to be careful of overwatering this one, I see why. 

The orange and coral colored bougainvillea are just busting out all over. The purple bougies has suffered from defoliation in the past few weeks. mmm..  

The palm at the end of the mind

Something has burned my croton slightly. The leaves have lost their deep green lustre. I think I might have dowsed them with the bloom booster. the knockout amount of phosphate probably responsible. I've got to be more careful!!

Palm Saturday

Started the day watering here and there. The bougainvillea leaves are getting eaten by moths (I'm assuming--I see them flitting around in the early am and late pm) drenched them with some systemic pesticide. The potato, blooming right nicely, is getting too tall, and leggy. I am loathe to cut it back now as the warm growing season is passing into sunny but cooler. Not sure how it will grow back. May have to do it anyway. 8' with a canopy on a 10' wide terrace is to be reckoned with. (terrace is 10' x 35'). '

Planted palm today. It sits up higher in the pot than in the busted 5gal paint can. Might be too big, a good experiment. Made a run to Home Depot for more potting soil. Did a circle around palm section. A $16 foxtail palm caught my eye. Slapped it in a light blue pot. Bought some mulch too and went around doing some much needed mulching.

Needed to make room for the palm experiment, the 12' plumeria got the ax-- at least down below this year's growth. Again, we'll see how things grow in as we slide into winter. The winter solstice is coming up.

The fading light

The early darkness of late fall leaves me no time in the garden after the commute back from work.  I recently bought some MiracleGro 10-52-10 bloom booster with which I'm drenching the blooming plants in the am. It's gotten slightly cooler, tonight we're in the mid  60's but the days have been clear and beautiful.

Trailer park trash (this garden's new treasure)

 Discovered this handsome wench at a condemned trailer park nearby. It's was planted in a 5 gal paint can filled with sand (parched) which the roots had exploded. Until planting, i've wrapped it in a garbage bag into which i've poured in some chelated palm food water to hydrate it. The lower fronds have a rusty yellowing. This stray needs some food.

 

 I've wanted a palm on the terrace for some time. I'll be able to secure it near handrail where it will live, replacing the large plumeria. The canopy is too large to be against the wall of the building. Palms, of course, are one of the most wind tolerant plants there are, so blow wind blow. The serrated fronds might do right nicely in providing some dappled sun for begonias.  

 

 

It ain't a floridian terrace without no palm. i've made it.

 

I went to my pot source the next day for a handsome, more suitable home. $150 but nice looking. Pots of a larger size are expensive, fiberglass aren't much cheaper and I wanted a nice looking, heavy, glazed pot with nice big drainage holes. It will offer plenty of room for the debutante to grow into. I'll give the root ball, which has irregular strands of roots flailing about into a neat, though not too tight of a ball. I'll have to figure out a way to stabilize the plant until it grows in enough to support itself. Unlike the pottings i'm used to, this is top-heavy and there'll be a learning curve.

 

 

  25 gal? I'll post when the planting is done.

 

A few days catching up to do

It's been sunny and hot here. Beaten by work, I've had to scramble to water selectively-- I have been using the water can of late. Bamboo of course needs water every 2 days or The potato tree is striking with bouquets of bluish-lavender, papery flowers, but it requires at least a 3 L can a day, blah blah. The bougainvillea also are quite thirsty. It's a wive's tale that bougies like poor, dry soil.They like water, nice soil, pesticide as moth love them and of course sun. They don't seem to mind being in the same pot for years. One bougie I have, has minitature magenta bracts and a 5" diameter trunk. It's several years old, planted in a 3gal pot and can stay there for a few more years as per Richard Lyons, who has a very special nursery in Homestead.

Anyway... They have closed a 4 acre trailer park (in the middle of eastern Fort Lauderdale, fairly nice real estate). My friend Adrian went prowling through in my Prius on the dirt roads that intersect the place. I came across a Christmas palm that was bursting out of a 5 gal  bucket. About 12-15' high, we crammed it into the back hauled it onto the terrace. It looks FABULOUS.  Went out to Flamingo Road nursery and bought a 25-30 glazed post, the glaze is  bleached, rust stained tan of various shades. Haven't potted yet. I'll post pics as soon as the sun goes down enough for pics.

Naptime. More later.

Try a little tenderness

Only time and energy to keep most everyone watered and fed.  A lot of blooming out of bougainvillea, pandora vine, plumeria, some shy blooming by begonias and gardenia. There is plenty of rich, full leafiness around the walls. Creeping fig is beginning to cover several walls. etc. life goes on and on.

Ciao Manhattan? (never)

Not a lot to report lately. The some cool weather blew last night, it is a beautiful, clear day out though breezy. Having grown it fairly densely, the garden protects itself. If a 6’ begonia can fair a near tropical storm winds of a few days ago, perhaps it’s time to try some rhizomatous begonias again. I have several climbing philodendrons going some already attached 2 other pots flush against the wall ready for clinging tendrils to take hold—and they will take hold strongly. I would say they are philo ‘monstera’, the leaves look have the same incised leaves but given the incredible diversity of the family who knows what exactly they are. Jesse Durko pulled some off a tree as we went around the nursery in a golf cart one day.  

Wishing friends in NYC safe passage.

The morning after

Hurricane Sandy has passed after some consistent rain and hard wind. There was nothing to do but sit on my hands and see how the plants would fair. I was especially fearful for the begonia coccinea- would the canes brake, would the rain of 4 days be too much and rot the roots? Everyone seemed to have faired very well. The little bit of wind damage came today when the wind shifted from northeasterly to a northwesterly- bringing with some cold air-- 70's.

It is an interesting phenomenon that after 3 days of rain, some of the plants still need to be watered. So I watered and fed with a mild protect and feed wash, there have been some bite marks in the bougie leaves. How to have beautiful lush garden? Get everyone cranked up on some fertilizer. Party !! Get 'em  tweaking on some Miracle Gro!

One potato..

 

A subtly scented bouquet of the solanum macranthum tree

Floriferous and real grower! She needs food and regular water, the large leaves transpire quite a lot. Don't let it wilt too much as the sharp needles on the back of leaves and branches will rip the leaves at the slightest breath. Keep a close eye for pests, one in particular, probably some sort of mite, is veracious and it takes weeks after treatment for the new growth to grow in completely. I use a diluted douche of Bayer protect and feed every 2 or 3 weeks. Bottom line; this one takes some care but it's gigantic leaves and beautiful papery blossoms make it a real spectacle on the terrace-- and it can provide shelter for those under it's skirts.

Early AM duties

I've spent the past two early mornings feeding. Tuesday was fish/guano/superthrive. Today, simply SUPERthrive. I used the f/g/s tea on 'Arte Hodes' to no obvious ill effects. Most everyone got some food, except large ferns. I need to proffer a meal to them as soon as I have time. Purple bougainvillea is looking good, new sprouts breaking out on the branches soon to become purple bracts.

The PM sun gets ready for evening

First things first

I had gone to Home Depot yesterday to look for a wooden trellis that could be sunk into the large 12' plumeria pot to keep the wind from bending the branches too much, they will break. I found that and then went to peruse the fertilizers. I bought a gallon of 6-1-1 fish emulsion. Organic fertilizer with healthful bacteria that enriches the soil seemed important. Bougain, the specialty food for bougainvillea sold by the IBG (international bougainvillea growers) supposedly with 'meaningful' amounts of micronutrients was several products down so I bought a five pound bag. Not cheap-- but the bougainvillea are all dying to bloom and need some food to do so. Got up first thing this morning and got busy. All bougies were fed and watered thoroughly. These have delicate roots that can get burned. B. coccinea also got just a powdering of the fertilizer as it's good for bloomers. I've had to move coccinea out from under portico into a sheltered area but it's going to take more sun. Maybe too much. The wind was just too pushy next to pilaster.

Lucky number sleven

Respectable wind coming in from the NNE .. temperatures in the upper 70's. Flushes of heavy showers followed by still hot to the touch sun. Yesterday wet from rain at 7a, I took advantage of already dripping drainpipes (that pelt my neighbors below) and watered everyone in heavily. Even when it seems to have rained hard and long, the foliage of some of the plants keep the soil underneath from getting a good soak. This would not happen in the ground of course. The drip line around the canopy of the plant would provide plenty of moisture. I'm noticing more agressive growth from the bamboo of late... it has filled out quite a bit. I'm thinking that it might by from the SUPERthrive.. my feeding routine is soo unscientific that it's hard to say. I mix in fish n poop with the Super so maybe it's a combo.

I want to buy a palm tree to use as a foundation specimen on the east side, to provide shelter for begonias, etc.  Pygmy dates would be good, they sell fairly mature groups of three to a 25gal bucket. I could leave it in the pot, with some camoflage in front. But the sharp needles would have to be carefully trimmed. I've seen it done. The airy foliage would provide somewhat of a break from the direct sun. A pot of 3 alexander might work. It would work next to SE pilaster chained (discreetly) to the handrail.

Love saves the day

Below, please enjoy seeing a philodendron (planted in a large pot with my blood orange tree) climbing up the wall, intertwining it's clinging roots with creeping fig. I think it's imperative to grow vines on the walls of a garden. If, of course, your condominium will allow it. There are work arounds if not. I'm not  sure how high up the wall the wind will allow the philodendron to climb, but it's wonderful to see for myself the ability of particular types of philodendrons to cling tightly to boring, hard, hot masonry. Cover your garden walls. I now have night-blooming cereus, creeping fig and this philo currently. More to come.

Cooling green softens hard concrete

 In the midst of hurricane strength power poles, aging strip malls, and factory roofs. I am ever so grateful for the generosity and comfort this oasis has shown me.

 The terrace after 2 years. Again, notice creeping fig and night-blooming cereus under the light at left, vines allow the masonry to be incorporated into the garden.

An elegant gal

Tied straighter and gangly branches pruned (more to come here). Looking forward to shapely floriferous growth. It is a stately begonia.

Broke fast

Broke fast of 30hrs first things with a biscuit egg, cheese, sausage treat. Followed with masas de puerco with sauteed red onions and black beans for lunch. Chicken Madeira, asparagus, spinach for dinner. Low carb cheese cake.

Smaller plant stand from storage with some U402, aurelia and croton cuttings (which have begun to grow nicely). 

Judicious pinch back on coccinea. Leggy branches too far away from it's cane got the snip. Cleaned up pots, misc. odds and ends. Took them to storage along with a fairly large plant stand, a rounded rectangular shape. I brought back a smaller planter stand, in which I placed an aurelia (in a pretty fluted pot) and a U402  that I have had growing under the orange tree for some time. Terrace looks clear at least, I will always have a problem with soil stain on the tiles and the run-off  onto neighbors terraces below when I water.

A fast one.

Hard to pick out coccinea from plumeria but you get the idea of placement around pilaster. The begonia is on inside with brother plumeria covering it's back. b 'Carribean Queen' rhizomes in center of table, handsome b. 'Red' in blue bowl in backgroud.

Having to fast today for a procedure. Oh my stomach is crying for the near non-stop snacks of nuts and yogurt, Atkins's bars and rich creamy coffee I usually stuff myself with. My plants however, are not fasting. It's a nice sunny day, a beautiful break from the 12 hour downpours which have bullied us off and on (more on) over the last few weeks. As always, the plants use the water efficiently and grow. But a bright sunny day can do no one any harm! I've tied up the coccinea on it's bamboo supports, with non-stick garden plastic tape that gives with as the plant grows. I'm not sure if I should trim the smaller branches leaning out from the main part of the plant. I read online that trimming a cane, with a very restrained hand will prompt the plant to send up new canes. Back to my fasting and their breakfast. Fed the bougies a light mixture of the Bayer protect and feed. If i don't do this the new leaves will be eaten and not develop into colorful bracts. Fish poop for the blood orange pot and handrail planters with pandora vines and jasmine. Iron, acidifier and Miracle Grow for the crotons and gardenia. Didn't water bamboo, though it's blades are curling. I've notices that some of the culms that came up straight rather than having the distinctive bulbous culm, have begun to swell at the joints, I think they do this when they are dry but the root ball is not completely dry-- to preserve water. I'm only guessing here.



All's quiet on the eastern front

The ocean breeze hits my terrace from the east south east. The only sheltered spot for the new species cane b. coccinea  is behind one of the two pilasters on the terrace. However, even here it is susceptible to being blown about by the easterly breeze. So, I moved the large 12'+ plumeria from the east side of the terrace to the adjacent side of said pilaster. It bends to the breezes offering a decent wind break. Double bonus, the digitate form of the white plumeria's leaves provides some dappling of the stern morning sun.

At times, a restless wind. A real challenge for begonias on il terrazzo. 

Bring out the body bags

As per a suggestion I've put the b. coccinea (in it's originial pot) in a large pot weighted by stone. I had to un-pot a large bromeliad, a very large, sharply serated bromeliad that grows to 5' across in the ground. It was quite a specimen, but too big for the terrace. The sawtooth edges of the leaves could probably have been used to cut wood. It turned into quite a job. I had to chop up the bromoliad to make it manageable. There was quite a lot of soil in the pot leftover, had to bag all of this with plugs of soil pulled out to plant the wart ferns. I had visited a local nursery and had bought 3 small wart ferns, which I planted each in one of the bougies. They should grow in nice like.

Cobalt

Deep cobalt pot for b. 'RED'. Simply placed potted plant into heavy pot with drainage. I want the begonia to become tightly pot bound before re-potting.

 



Tie me up, tie me down

b. coccinea following the suggestion of a fellow gardener from C. FL this girl is about 6.5' or more at it's highest, which might be a problem in the wind, hopefully a sheltered, sunny spot will be found for home. A little leggy now, but with some very careful, selective pruninng the habit will become more dense. Hopefully, I'll get the beautiful pink flowers a good deal of the year. I bought this at Living Color Nursery on Griffin Road-- $89. Pricey, but it is a mature plant.

A mighty cane indeed

Extra "terrace" strial labor

 

My outside work has required extra effort of late. I've not had the heart to put in a post, the needling of stress can promote taciturnity.

However, on a happier note, as the weather has turned slightly cooler, a flush of color is sweeping over the terrace. The bougies are beginning to fluoresce; magenta, purple, orange. The handrail  planters which where were renovated with 3/4 new soil (while still planted) seem happy to have the new rich soil.  The fish-tail ferns I planted with them have a healthy vigor to the eye.

In my experience, plants do not resent a sharp cut back in their roots. Depending on the plant-- some tend to respond quite well; croton, bougainvillea, gardenia, jasmine. I take the gardenia out of it's 26" pot every 2 years or so and clean up the root ball significantly. Re-pot with some nice expensive potting soil and she's off. I transplanted a large bougainvillea a few months back and while (ever so gently) pulling it out of the pot, at least 1/2 - 2/3 of the delicate root system got knocked off. Replanted in some good soil, it grew back better than ever. (I disagree with the mantra 'bougainvilleas like benign neglect'.  In the ground that would make more sense. The ground soil provides some sort of protective moisture and nutrients, in a pot however, good soil, regular water, a regular pesticidal bath paves the way to a full  flush of color)

However, leave begonias alone until you have the rhizomes crawling out of the pot. I'm don't have a lot of experience with canes. Although begonias can be surprising sturdy when it comes to sun and rain.. their root systems can be delicate and an unwilling plant will die if not left well enough alone at least they have at my awkward hand.



Here's a rhizomatous that will grow up and out of it's pot --Selph's Mahogany. Not to everyone's taste, it is one of my favorites. The flower stalks in the late winter and spring appear to fly out of the upright rhizomes.
 

 

Back to the flowers; the giant white florets of the plumeria, quite numerous now, would lend themselves well to a bridal bower, their petals are a very clear white with the very slightest hint of yellow toward the center.

It's a  rainy day here today. About a week ago, I scattered some time-released fertilizer high in nitrogen and tends to promote acidity. The rain off and over the last few days has enabled the croton and the gardenia to suck up the nitrogen. Their leaves take on a deeper green with a nice sheen to them.

In defiance to the leaden sky, a sprightly green



The objects of my desire

I assume the commercial growers of bougainvillea spray insecticide on their plants in the field.  Mine certainly suffer constantly from pests. I am going to dedicate one watering every 2 weeks to pest control by putting in a tablespoon of Bayer Protect in 3L of water. This will include the potato tree which seems to be quite susceptible to getting eaten up.

Having said this, the bougainvilleas are beginning to flower. The magenta is in the midst a big flush. The purple hanging over the handrail are putting out shyly as is the orange. The plumeria are in full bloom and the newly planted pandora vine has a beautiful flower on it with buds on the way.

b. 'DOC' a new hybrid from PHOE

b. 'Doc' catching a few rain drops. First time using a plant stand in the garden. It will probably rust soon enough, but that wouldn't be a bad thing I'm guessing. It boosts Doc up to a good height- to catch the sun while in a sheltered inlet of larger plants and become a focal point. The white plant stand isn't as distracting from a distance. I might have to paint it.
Spent a few hours cutting around the root of bougainvillea in planters. I pulled out 2/3 of the soil (a thatch of tiny capillaries). I replaced this with a rich potting soil full of humus and a moisture control substance. In this new rich soil, I also plopped in some fish-tail ferns as the bougainvillea trunks looked too bare. It was lightly raining so I took the opportunity to swab the decks. Probably no complaints about excessive water gushing from my drain pipes as I swept out dirt and leaves with the rain already falling.

Houston Begonia Society-- great resource

BEGONIA PARADISE

Another at PHOE should have asked the name. I'll post when I find it.
a rhizomatous with mallet leaves.. and very distinctive spotting..mmmm

Palm Hammock Orchid Estate

The slight cooling of the weather inspired a trip to Palm Hammock-- it's begonia time. I'll post picks tomorrow of begonia 'Doc' which I bought. More later. Photos: me of course.

They did not pave this parking lot-- it's still paradise

In hothouse #2, begonia acetosa and friends

Hungry mouths

There is just the slightest hint of cooling here. Some sort of catepillar has alit and has been eating orange leaves as well as the solanum macranthum. Big bites. Going to Palm Hammock Orchid Estate tomorrow. The cooling weather will lend itself to a handsome new begonia.

Time flies like the wind, white flies seemed to have been blown away

It must have been during the battering of wind and rain during tropical storm Isaac that the whitefly population was decimated. It gives me a profound sense of peace to see this miracle. The back of the bird-of-paradise leaves that used to be covered with furry colonies are now smooth and a glossy green. Perhaps we'll get a break from these sorry inventions for a while. A cool winter would drive another nail into their coffin. No love lost here.

Croton cuttings and the amazing regeneration of a tortured bougainvillea

Cuttings of my favorite (and only) emerald yellow-veined croton are being eased into the sunlight. They started in deep shade. Look forward to larger pots of this. 

The bougainvillea, almost completely stripped down now has buds appearing, trying their hardest to burst out of the woody trunks. Plants are compelled spit out new green. Inspirational. 

We've been having hot, sunny days, punctuated by thunderstorm in the afternoons. Still having to water, especially bougies under the portico as they don't get the rain. They are not in large enough planters.. Got some figuring out to do there. 

Bromeliad 'Zebrina Surprise' pup is growing up nicely, about 2/3 or so the size of it's mother. 

The buddha belly bamboo has had a few periods of needing water, one of the new culms has shriveled. Perhaps with some more regular watering, it will continue to come up. 

Dark, loud storms in the pm

Looking west after a muscled pm shower

A little more on Plumeria

Though it's growing in some serious sun (full southern exposure to the tropical sky), this plat has grown too tall, too quickly-- probably too much water and / or food



This plumeria has grown in densely. It is tight in it's pot-- which makes it easier to handle water. I do feed it but rarely.

 

Nyctaginaceae Castrati

This will be an interesting experiment. Stripped the bushy purple bougainvillea into 3 tall stalks (behind potato tree), almost completely bare. Notice one stem tied to left of trellis. It had grown in a loop so I had to start over and bend it as straight as possible and tie to trellis. Having started over, I can pay a lot more attention to the shape of the plant. Pleach against corner walls?  The middle branch was crossing the taller branch on the right, so I pulled this into a better position and tied it into place to train growth correctly. The branch on the right has obviously been stripped on side branches and tied tightly to the wall. Ultimate goal is to have an overhang of beautiful purple bougainvillea in the winter. It may take a year for that. It was a hard, hard pruning. I'll post progress. Interesting to see how long it takes to fill in.

Before- see right corner for a beautiful bougie before radical surgery:


Sloshed Bayer Feed and Protect on potato tree, bougies, jasmine, bleeding heart. I've been watering with fish/poop and Superthrive more regularly. Feeding the plumeria too much causes leggy growth. It is not a very demanding plant in terms of water or food.

Bad dog.. didn't lift a paw to help in the garden. Stayed in the A/C all day.