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