August 2009 Archives
August 31, 2009
Let there be white...a whole week's worth!
This is my self proclaimed white Angel Trumpet week! From today through Labor Day each one of my daily featured brugmansia seedlings will be white. I'll kick off white week with today's featured seedling, a cross between brugmansia Masquerade and Inca Sun.
We know where the curly pigtails came from. Masquerade is a beautiful petite triple white with curly tendrils like the ones pictured here.
A few weeks ago I posted a photo from the reverse of this cross, where Inca Sun was the mom. I have a bunch more seedlings from this cross yet to bloom and I'm hoping at least a few will show some color.
We know where the curly pigtails came from. Masquerade is a beautiful petite triple white with curly tendrils like the ones pictured here.A few weeks ago I posted a photo from the reverse of this cross, where Inca Sun was the mom. I have a bunch more seedlings from this cross yet to bloom and I'm hoping at least a few will show some color. August 30, 2009
Another glimse of sunshine...
Orange Sunshine that is. Here's a bloom from another Angel Trumpet seedling from the cross of brugmansia Orange Sunshine x Pink Smitty. The first bloom to open on this seedling was a stuffed one as you can see below.
The remaining blooms in this initial flush were more stacked. The blooms lasted for several days under our hot Florida sun and they filled the air with a pleasant fragrance at night. If it maintains those traits during the rest of the summer I'll make some crosses with it this fall.
I noticed buds on several more seedlings from this cross should open this week and several appear to be doubles. The waiting game begins...
The remaining blooms in this initial flush were more stacked. The blooms lasted for several days under our hot Florida sun and they filled the air with a pleasant fragrance at night. If it maintains those traits during the rest of the summer I'll make some crosses with it this fall.
I noticed buds on several more seedlings from this cross should open this week and several appear to be doubles. The waiting game begins...August 29, 2009
Interesting, but not sure if worth keeping
This hybrid brugmansia cross between Orange Sunshine and Pink Smitty has already produced a bunch of single white Angel Trumpets. This week one of the seedlings finally produced some color. The blooms are sort of an off white rimmed with yellow.
This cross is one of several where I decided to grow out an entire seed pod so I could document the great diversity in blooms from a single cross. In this case it was a mixture of seeds from several pods of the same cross, resulting in about 100 plants.
The reason why I may not keep this one is because the blooms look like wet tissue paper in the heat. Once the sun starts to set they perk right up though.
I'll post another bloom from this group of seedlings tomorrow.
This cross is one of several where I decided to grow out an entire seed pod so I could document the great diversity in blooms from a single cross. In this case it was a mixture of seeds from several pods of the same cross, resulting in about 100 plants.The reason why I may not keep this one is because the blooms look like wet tissue paper in the heat. Once the sun starts to set they perk right up though.I'll post another bloom from this group of seedlings tomorrow.
August 28, 2009
Pretty in pink...
While I'm on the subject of unknowns, here's a beautiful double pink Angel Trumpet that came into bloom this week. It is missing its tag but hey, when you look as nice as this brugmansia does, who cares who your parents are.
This one will be a keeper for sure. I plan to chop up a portion of it this weekend to see how easy it propagates.
This one will be a keeper for sure. I plan to chop up a portion of it this weekend to see how easy it propagates. August 27, 2009
Unknown, but not forgotten
For various reasons i have a bunch of Angel Trumpet seedlings growing that have either lost their tags or the tag has faded beyond recognition. Just because I don't know their parentage does not mean the brugmansia is not worthy of keeping or breeding.
Here is an unknown white that has been blooming like crazy this summer.
I'm not sure I'll use it for anything, but I feel it is worthy of at least planting in the yard and letting it grow.
Here is an unknown white that has been blooming like crazy this summer.
I'm not sure I'll use it for anything, but I feel it is worthy of at least planting in the yard and letting it grow.
August 26, 2009
Less than a handful...
Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is a mini as you can see by the photo below. It is the result of a cross made between brugmansia Goldfinch x Rubirosa. The plant itself is not a mini in any way and is actually over 6 feet tall in a 3 gallon pot. The blooms are nothing special, but they do have a good substance and hold up well in the heat.
I'll keep this one around for a while to see if the blooms remain small.
I'll keep this one around for a while to see if the blooms remain small.Guardian of my angels...
I wonder what is going through this little fellow's mind as he gazes towards this trumpet. Hopefully he is eying one of the caterpillars or slugs that have been munching on my leaves!
August 25, 2009
How sassy will this one be?
This is the third seedling of this Angel Trumpet cross of brugmansia Sassy x Tiara to bloom. Both of the previous two seedlings had single blooms and only one was worthy of watching. Now this one can join its sibling in my watch zone.
Seeing how this is the first bloom for this seedling, we'll have to wait a few more bloom cycles to see how the bloom matures and what the final color will be.
Seeing how this is the first bloom for this seedling, we'll have to wait a few more bloom cycles to see how the bloom matures and what the final color will be.Coming home to lotsa blooms!
Sorry for the lack of new seedling posts, but I had to head out of town for work. After five days on the road, I was pleasantly surprised to come home yesterday to lots of new angel trumpet blooms. Many are just common whites, but several are worthy of posting on here and watching for the rest of the season.
Stay tuned for today's featured seedling...
Stay tuned for today's featured seedling...
August 20, 2009
An orphan worth keeping...
Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is a carry over from 2008. It was a "missing tag" brugmansia so its parents are unknown. Last fall I planted it in my yard because I felt it was worthy of watching. During the winter it froze down to the ground but has quickly rebounded and is back in bloom again.
It has lots of traits that make this one a keeper. The blooms are thick and hold up well in the heat, the color is rich, and it has a nice fragrance. With so many new single pinks under my watch, now I will have to see if this one is ultimately worthy of registering and releasing to the public.
What do you think?
It has lots of traits that make this one a keeper. The blooms are thick and hold up well in the heat, the color is rich, and it has a nice fragrance. With so many new single pinks under my watch, now I will have to see if this one is ultimately worthy of registering and releasing to the public.What do you think?Hey fella, slow down!
The monster moths were out pollinating my angel trumpets at dusk and caught me by surprise. I'm so used to using auto-focus on my camera so I'm having trouble capturing a good picture of these guys. I need to remember to switch to manual focus when they are out and up the shutter speed. I'm not giving up until I get some crisp photos of these workhorses in action!
August 19, 2009
Well at least its not white...
Now that many of my Angel Trumpet seedlings are beginning to bloom, I seem to find a couple new double whites each week. It was great to finally stumble across a double with color last night.
This is the result of a cross between brugmansia Lady Liberty and Seminole Moon. It had a nice butter yellow color that I am hoping will darken some as time goes on.
I will probably watch this one for the rest of the summer and then cross it back to some color this fall.
This is the result of a cross between brugmansia Lady Liberty and Seminole Moon. It had a nice butter yellow color that I am hoping will darken some as time goes on.I will probably watch this one for the rest of the summer and then cross it back to some color this fall.August 18, 2009
Hey, what happened to those yellow genes?
This Angel Trumpet cross involving the double white brugmansia Sweetheart and the single bright yellow/orange Herenhauser Gold just opened last night.
This is the first seedling from this cross to bloom and I know I have more out there in waiting. Hopefully at least one of them will display the best genes of both; Sweetheart's form and durability with the color of Herenhauser Gold.
This is the first seedling from this cross to bloom and I know I have more out there in waiting. Hopefully at least one of them will display the best genes of both; Sweetheart's form and durability with the color of Herenhauser Gold.August 17, 2009
Tonight's bug du jour, or ground control to Mr. Fred...
This giant moth is like the B52 of the moth world. Nothing is more unnerving during a late night stroll than to have one of these monsters buzz by your head. The cool part is that their eyes glow a bright red. I hope to get some better pictures of them in action soon.
Last night's wide bodied bloom
This wide-bodied Angel Trumpet bloom is the result of a cross between brugmansia Creamsicle and Mountain Magic.
Measuring over 10 inches across, this one is a real attention grabber. While it had the droops in the heat of the day, it quickly bounced back as the afternoon cooled off.
I wonder if the color will deepen to that of Mt. Magic when cool weather arrives???
Measuring over 10 inches across, this one is a real attention grabber. While it had the droops in the heat of the day, it quickly bounced back as the afternoon cooled off.
I wonder if the color will deepen to that of Mt. Magic when cool weather arrives???August 16, 2009
Fred versus the cats, round 4....
I'm beginning to think this is a battle I'm never going to win. The cats are back and they are hungry as hell. Good grief, it was just a week or so ago that I resorted to chemical warfare to get them under control...or at least I thought I did. I guess that's the price you pay when you have a yard full of blooming plants... Meet another curly child from Cassie
An Angel Trumpet cross involving brugmansia Cassie's Curls almost always results in curly offspring. The seedling pictured below has an unknown father but you can still see mom's curly tendril genes carried forward. This particular seedling had about 10 blooms open in its first bloom cycle and the overall look was quite striking.
I'm growing out lots of crosses involving Cassie's Curls and I'm expecting some exciting results this fall. Stay tuned...
I'm growing out lots of crosses involving Cassie's Curls and I'm expecting some exciting results this fall. Stay tuned...August 15, 2009
When color beckens...
Every so often an Angel Trumpet has blooms whose color beckons you from far away. This cross from brugmansia Rubirosa x (Peanut x Mt. Magic) was one of those.
I must have had a dozen seedlings blooming in the same general area, but this one stood out from a hundred feet away.
If it is this dark in the heat of summer, I wonder how intense the color will be when the weather cools? This will be a watcher for sure.
I must have had a dozen seedlings blooming in the same general area, but this one stood out from a hundred feet away.If it is this dark in the heat of summer, I wonder how intense the color will be when the weather cools? This will be a watcher for sure.August 14, 2009
Brugmansia Rubirosa x Rachel
Here's a nicely formed pink Angel Trumpet that bloomed this summer. It is a cross between brugmansia Rubirosa x Rachel.
I plan to let this one grow for a while to see how it performs.
I plan to let this one grow for a while to see how it performs.August 13, 2009
Momma's boy....
Another new yellow Angel Trumpet that bloomed recently was from a cross between brugmansia Ludger's Windsong and Lady Liberty. This one has a strong resemblance to its momma, Ludger's Windsong.
I'm keeping this one around to cross back to Lady Liberty this fall.
I'm keeping this one around to cross back to Lady Liberty this fall.
August 12, 2009
Once again, another bug du jour
I knew I could not make my rounds tonight without running into some type of creature. Tonight's find was a nice plump grasshopper eyeballing a hibiscus bud for his midnight snack...
Yellow, yellow and more yellow...
I've had several new yellow Angel Trumpet blooms this month and this is one that may be worthy of watching. It is a cross of brugmansia L'Amour and the classic Charles Grimaldi.
It has a nice form, substance and fragrance.
I wonder what the color will be like when the weather cools?
It has a nice form, substance and fragrance.
I wonder what the color will be like when the weather cools?August 11, 2009
and yet another bug du jour...
Tonight's creature of the night is this rather interesting yellow garden orb weaver spider. Usually I find these things the easy way by running into their webs at night followed by the sensation of feeling 8 legs scurrying across my face!
Maybe this will end up being a daily feature after all?
Maybe this will end up being a daily feature after all?
Pink plus yellow equals orange
When you cross Angel Trumpets you never know what to expect. Here's a cross of brugmansia Little Miss Lili x Jamie's Monkey Business. LML is one of the darkest pinks I have. Under the right conditions it almost appears red. Jamie's Monkey Business is a bright yellow with plenty of orange genes in its family tree.
This one certainly has Little Miss Lili's form. I'm not sure what I will do with it, but any colorful, well shaped seedling that blooms during a hot Florida summer is worthy of watching.
This one certainly has Little Miss Lili's form. I'm not sure what I will do with it, but any colorful, well shaped seedling that blooms during a hot Florida summer is worthy of watching.
Monday night bug du jour
I hope this will not become a regular feature, but when I stumble across a new creature during my nightly stroll through my field of brugs, I just have to share it....and there never seems to be a shortage of creatures here in Florida. I'm always amazed at how many sets of eyes I see when I walk around at night with a headlamp on. It's the ones I don't see that scare me!
Tonight I found this locust emerging from its old skin. I'm not sure if they actually eat brugs so I left him be. I must say they do have a beautiful set of wings!
Tonight I found this locust emerging from its old skin. I'm not sure if they actually eat brugs so I left him be. I must say they do have a beautiful set of wings!
August 10, 2009
and the winner is.....
This Angel Trumpet bloom from the brugmansia cross of Mountain Treasure x (Miss Caylie x Genevieve #7)!
It was the winner of this weekend's best new seedling to bloom in the heat of summer competition. When I first spotted this bloom Saturday afternoon I expected it to remain white as the five or six seedlings that already bloomed from this cross had.
When I made my rounds on Sunday I was pleasantly surprised to find color. I like the curly tendrils and form so this one gets to hang around for a while. The fact that the blooms showed no sign of wilt in the hottest part of the day shows that is has great potential.
It will be interesting to see if the color deepens when the weather cools in fall. I'll be watching!
It was the winner of this weekend's best new seedling to bloom in the heat of summer competition. When I first spotted this bloom Saturday afternoon I expected it to remain white as the five or six seedlings that already bloomed from this cross had.
When I made my rounds on Sunday I was pleasantly surprised to find color. I like the curly tendrils and form so this one gets to hang around for a while. The fact that the blooms showed no sign of wilt in the hottest part of the day shows that is has great potential.
It will be interesting to see if the color deepens when the weather cools in fall. I'll be watching!
tonight's bug du jour....
While out for a moonlit stroll amongst my Angel Trumpets tonight I stumbled upon this handsome fellow. He was working his way up my Snowbank brugmansia plant.
I'm used to seeing the green praying mantis around my plants but I think this is the first time I spotted one this color.
He was on a mission to climb up to the top of this five foot tall plant.
I asked him to pray for blooms on this plant and he kindly obliged!
I'm used to seeing the green praying mantis around my plants but I think this is the first time I spotted one this color.
He was on a mission to climb up to the top of this five foot tall plant.I asked him to pray for blooms on this plant and he kindly obliged!
August 9, 2009
I need to inject some color genes in this one...
Here's a cross just begging for some color. This is a brugmansia cross of New Orleans Lady x (Angel's Flight x Charming). The first couple of blooms in spring aged to a nice apricot, but during our hot summer the blooms have been white/cream with perhaps just a hint of apricot. As you can see it has great genes in the mix so I have kept this one to use for some fall crosses. It already has a pod from a cross I made in early Summer with a single bright yellow/orange Angel's Flight cross I have growing.
Sometimes it throws a stacked bloom like the one below, but most of the blooms so far have been nice and full like the one above.
Sometimes it throws a stacked bloom like the one below, but most of the blooms so far have been nice and full like the one above.
August 8, 2009
Worthy of watching...
This new Angel Trumpet seedling is worthy of watching for a few more bloom cycles to see what it does. It is a cross between brugmansias Rubirosa and Desiree. As the bloom matures, the color deepens from the color displayed in the picture below. If my Desiree plant ever decided to bloom, I would cross it back in hopes of getting a couple more skirts on her.
August 7, 2009
Dazed and confused....
Dazed and confused is a great description for these Angel Trumpet blooms. This is the first seedling of my cross between brugmansia Inca Sun and Masquerade to bloom. While I was hoping for an ever-blooming yellow Masquerade type, I'm not quite ready to give up hope. I have a bunch more from this cross that will be blooming this year and hopefully at least a couple will be worthy of holding over. I also plan to cross any keepers I have from this cross back to Inca Sun.
August 6, 2009
Talk about re-curve!
This new seedling's blooms have a most unusual look to them. They have some major re-curve going on and from a distance the blooms are unlike any blooms I have seen before.
This seedling is from a cross of Mountain Treasure x New Orleans Lady.
As you can see, the blooms also have a quilted pillow look to them from below. As the blooms aged they had a hint of apricot to them. I'm sure they will color up more when the weather cools off.
The blooms were just unusual enough that i decided to keep this one around for a few more bloom cycles to see what it does.
As you can see, the blooms also have a quilted pillow look to them from below. As the blooms aged they had a hint of apricot to them. I'm sure they will color up more when the weather cools off.
The blooms were just unusual enough that i decided to keep this one around for a few more bloom cycles to see what it does.
August 5, 2009
Death to cats!!!!!
Not the feline type, I like four legged cats. I'm talking about the linear cats, as in caterpillars!
This summer I have been fighting what appears to be a losing battle with these pests. I've already had three major infestations and with all the moths and butterflies I've seen flying around the past couple of days, I'm sure the 4th is only a week or two away.
Last week I resorted to chemical warfare in hopes of knocking them down fast. Spraying is a pain in the butt! It takes close to 50 gallons of spray and 3-4 hours of time for me to spray all my angel trumpets. If I have to spray the in-ground yard plants as well, add a couple more hours to the task.
That is why I say DEATH TO CATS!
This summer I have been fighting what appears to be a losing battle with these pests. I've already had three major infestations and with all the moths and butterflies I've seen flying around the past couple of days, I'm sure the 4th is only a week or two away.
Last week I resorted to chemical warfare in hopes of knocking them down fast. Spraying is a pain in the butt! It takes close to 50 gallons of spray and 3-4 hours of time for me to spray all my angel trumpets. If I have to spray the in-ground yard plants as well, add a couple more hours to the task.
That is why I say DEATH TO CATS!
....and for those of you who like them small.
This petite little beauty surprised me when it started blooming last week. The blooms measure less than 3" across and there were lots of them.
This a cross between Mountain Treasure and Naughty Nick. The color is rich and the blooms hold up extremely well in the heat. It has a light fragrance in the early evening.
Despite its size, this seedling impressed me with a mini-flush for its inaugural blooms. I think I'll move this one up to a larger pot and keep an eye on it for the remainder of the season.
This a cross between Mountain Treasure and Naughty Nick. The color is rich and the blooms hold up extremely well in the heat. It has a light fragrance in the early evening.Despite its size, this seedling impressed me with a mini-flush for its inaugural blooms. I think I'll move this one up to a larger pot and keep an eye on it for the remainder of the season.
August 4, 2009
For those of you who like them big...
If you like big blooms, then this seedling is one for you. It is a cross between Adeline, a large double pink brugmansia x Miss Emily Mackenzie, perhaps the largest of the single pink Angel Trumpets.
This monster sized bloom measures at least 10 inches across! Despite its size, the blooms hold up very well in the hot Florida sun.
As you can see in the second picture, the blooms carry forward the curly tendrils from their father.
This is the second year of observation for this one and I'll decide by fall if it is worthy of registering and naming.
August 3, 2009
Back on track.....
I hope!
For the past few months I have encountered major web issues with our current host that has rendered my blog useless. Hopefully that is behind me know and I can start posting again. I think my blog will be a useful tool for posting pictures and comments on new brug seedlings as they evolve.
After this past winter's devastating freezes, my seedlings have rebounded and almost everyday I am greeted with new blooms. Watch for plenty of new pictures starting this week!
For the past few months I have encountered major web issues with our current host that has rendered my blog useless. Hopefully that is behind me know and I can start posting again. I think my blog will be a useful tool for posting pictures and comments on new brug seedlings as they evolve.
After this past winter's devastating freezes, my seedlings have rebounded and almost everyday I am greeted with new blooms. Watch for plenty of new pictures starting this week!
