October 2009 Archives
October 31, 2009
What a difference a day makes....
Yesterday I posted a photo of an unknown double white Angel Trumpet. I checked it out tonight and it looked like a completely different bloom. Here it is now -
I wonder if it will get even darker when the plant matures? This one will be a watcher for sure!
And what a difference a couple of hours makes with this one. I shot a picture of this shredded bloom for my Halloween post this afternoon and went I checked on it tonight, it was pink!
I wonder if it will get even darker when the plant matures? This one will be a watcher for sure!
And what a difference a couple of hours makes with this one. I shot a picture of this shredded bloom for my Halloween post this afternoon and went I checked on it tonight, it was pink!Halloween Angel Trumpet blooms
Seeing how today is Halloween, I figured it would only be appropriate to post a few pictures of blooms fit for Halloween.
and another....
and the scariest of all -
and another....and the scariest of all -More things blooming than just Angel Trumpets
While it may appear the only thing I have blooming right now are Angel Trumpets, that is hardly the case. Because of my hybridizing efforts I just pay more attention to my brugmansia than other things in my yard. My favorite late season flowering tree is the Silk Floss tree.
It started blooming about 6 weeks ago and will continue on for another
3-4 weeks. The blooms are large and colorful, and the trunk has giant
spikes, making this tree a real eye catcher.
It started blooming about 6 weeks ago and will continue on for another
3-4 weeks. The blooms are large and colorful, and the trunk has giant
spikes, making this tree a real eye catcher.A golden Angel Trumpet overachiever.
This new Angel Trumpet seedling has stood out from the rest from its very first set of blooms. The first blooms were all split and quite unusual looking. It sure redeemed itself with its second flush with well-formed blooms bursting with color.
The result of a brugmansia cross between Inca Sun x (Bert x unknown), this seedling has not stopped blooming since the first buds appeared.
This new seedling is destined to be a winner. I just wish it would stop blooming so I can grab some cuttings to root without feeling guilty of destroying blooms!
The result of a brugmansia cross between Inca Sun x (Bert x unknown), this seedling has not stopped blooming since the first buds appeared.This new seedling is destined to be a winner. I just wish it would stop blooming so I can grab some cuttings to root without feeling guilty of destroying blooms!For reference I decided to add this picture of the first blooms on this seedling from earlier this summer. Quite a difference!
October 30, 2009
Angel Trumpets with a mysterious past...
I have a bunch of brugmansia seedlings with missing or unreadable tags. Just because the parentage is unknown, it does not mean the seedling is not worthy of keeping. I spotted a couple of unknown Angel Trumpet blooms this afternoon that earned a second glance. The first is a single pink that stood out because it has a very fat corolla tube.
The second was a double white whose tendrils appeared to glow. The golden tipped tendrils do not show in this picture though.
The second was a double white whose tendrils appeared to glow. The golden tipped tendrils do not show in this picture though.A Brugmansia marriage from across the pond...
Although not quite the outcome you would expect from this Angel Trumpet cross between German Brugmansia Friemersheim x Super Spot, it is still a striking bloom. This flower had a nice golden color and form, and the ruffled edges make it stand out. Seeing how this is the very first bloom for this seedling, I'll watch it for a few more bloom cycles to see how it evolves.
October 29, 2009
Ready for action....
These moths are gearing up for another feeding frenzy. Even though we're still experiencing record heat, plenty of open blooms are available for them to feed on.
I need to study up on moths so I can ID the ones I encounter.
I need to study up on moths so I can ID the ones I encounter. A long stretch for an Angel Trumpet
I spotted this new Angel Trumpet bloom today that has to be one of the longest blooms I have ever spotted on a seedling. It is from a brugmansia seedling involving a cross between Pink Beauty and Double Peach. It is just over 20 inches long from the receptacle to the end of the bloom! You can compare it to the normal size white bloom on the right.
An Angel Trumpet that will brighten up your day
This beautiful Angel Trumpet bloom is from seedling #7 from a cross between brugmansia Jacyana x The Chief. I had a total of eight seedlings from this cross bloom last year and I carried three of them over to 2009 to watch. This seedling is a vigorous grower and is currently over 8 feet tall. Another seedling from this cross has similar blooms but has stayed less than 4 feet tall, earning it a slot on my "To be registered" list for this fall.
October 28, 2009
Just when you thought it was safe to go out at night...
Meet the scourge of my garden, the slug! I have been at war with these guys all summer...a war I doubt I'll win. When I go out to explore my plants at night I always have a camera in one pocket and a scissors in the other. This poor guy got to experience both!
An Angel Trumpet that stacks up
Here's another Angel Trumpet seedling from the cross between brugmansia Orange Sunshine x Pink Smitty. You may recall from previous posts that this is a cross where I'm growing close to 100 seedlings from the same cross in order to document the broad range of blooms produced.
At first glance this seedling did not do much for me. But after it had 5-6 blooms open at once, it stood out. The blooms are large, snow white, and all have separated or stacked skirts. It is a vigorous grower and the blooms are holding up well in our still summer-like weather.
Not sure what I will do with this one, but for now I'll let it grow.
At first glance this seedling did not do much for me. But after it had 5-6 blooms open at once, it stood out. The blooms are large, snow white, and all have separated or stacked skirts. It is a vigorous grower and the blooms are holding up well in our still summer-like weather.Not sure what I will do with this one, but for now I'll let it grow.October 27, 2009
A Safari with Angel Trumpet Genevieve
Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is an offspring from a cross between brugmansia Genevieve x Safari. The plant is vigorous, the blooms are substantial and fragrant, and it is thriving in the heat. I'll cross it back to Genevieve this fall in hopes of producing a Genevieve style bloom with color.
October 26, 2009
Angel Trumpet Shooting Star kisses Creamsicle...
Angel Trumpet Shooting Star kisses Creamsicle and the results look quite nice! This Angel Trumpet seedling is the result of a cross between brugmansia Creamsicle and Shooting Star. Not bad for a first bloom.
I'm sure the next blooms will be even more spectacular. I took these photos last night and I'm anxious to see what they look like today.
I'm sure the next blooms will be even more spectacular. I took these photos last night and I'm anxious to see what they look like today.A warm Florida Welcome to my new readers!
I would like to welcome my new blog readers that came over from Blotanical.com. Thanks for the nice comments. Please visit often to see what surprises my hybridizing efforts produce.
I had a major event over the weekend so I missed a couple of days of new bloom pictures. I'll make uip for it this week by posting a few extras. I'm heading out now to see what is blooming this morning.
I had a major event over the weekend so I missed a couple of days of new bloom pictures. I'll make uip for it this week by posting a few extras. I'm heading out now to see what is blooming this morning.
October 23, 2009
This Angel Trumpet seedling needs color to survive
The second seedling from this cross from brugmansia Bergfeuer x Super Spot just came into bloom. It has the same long tendrils as the first seedling, but is lacking in color.
Even though the color is weak, it still has a nice form and pleasant fragrance. This one may be taking after its father, Super Spot, whose color is influenced greatly by the environment. When you compare it to its sibling that bloomed last month, it is really going to have to impress me in the next few weeks to earn a place in my keeper zone.
Even though the color is weak, it still has a nice form and pleasant fragrance. This one may be taking after its father, Super Spot, whose color is influenced greatly by the environment. When you compare it to its sibling that bloomed last month, it is really going to have to impress me in the next few weeks to earn a place in my keeper zone. October 22, 2009
A wild and crazy looking Angel Trumpet
Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is the 7th seedling to bloom from a brugmansia cross made by Volker Sanders involving Color Point x Double Dark Rosetta. There's no color in this one but it does have a wild and crazy looking bloom. The blooms are nice and plump and so far this plant has remained much smaller than the other seedlings from this cross.
This seedling starting blooming last fall, but had to be cut back to the ground following last winter's freeze. It is planted in the ground and seemed to take forever to rebound from the freeze. I plan to cross it back to a Color Point x Angel Flight seedling I have that has some nice color. I would like to see this bloom in a nice orange color.
This seedling starting blooming last fall, but had to be cut back to the ground following last winter's freeze. It is planted in the ground and seemed to take forever to rebound from the freeze. I plan to cross it back to a Color Point x Angel Flight seedling I have that has some nice color. I would like to see this bloom in a nice orange color.October 21, 2009
Nice job trying to hide...busted!
And squashed, sorry.
A jewel of an Angel Trumpet
Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is a carry over from 2008 that I plan to name and register this fall. It is the result of a J.T. Session's brugmansia cross involving Goldfinch x Peanut.
As you can see, the blooms tend to stay horizontal or slightly nodding. The tendrils start out sort of wild but over the course of a couple of days they completely re-curve back.
The blooms are petite and compact, like its father, Peanut. I remember the blooms staying a light pink last winter, and then once warm weather moved in they became much darker. Check back in late November for the official introduction of this beauty.
As you can see, the blooms tend to stay horizontal or slightly nodding. The tendrils start out sort of wild but over the course of a couple of days they completely re-curve back.The blooms are petite and compact, like its father, Peanut. I remember the blooms staying a light pink last winter, and then once warm weather moved in they became much darker. Check back in late November for the official introduction of this beauty.Sleeping beauty...
It is nearly impossible to take a midnight stroll without seeing a bunch on chameleons napping. This guy was smart enough to sleep up on the top of a stand alone plant, making it hard for him to be a midnight snack for the resident snakes.
October 20, 2009
An Angel Trumpet showing off some American Pride...
Today's featured Angel Trumpet is from a cross between brugmansia Mountain Magic x American Pride.
The blooms are a nice butter yellow color with great form. They also have a nice fragrance. I'll leave this one alone and see how it performs this fall/winter.
The blooms are a nice butter yellow color with great form. They also have a nice fragrance. I'll leave this one alone and see how it performs this fall/winter.October 19, 2009
A stealth moth
Now I see where the military found the design for the stealth bomber...
Minus the antlers of course...
Minus the antlers of course...A Goliath of an Angel Trumpet
Here's an Angel Trumpet seedling that is one Goliath of a plant. Towering over 10 feet tall, this brugmansia cross involving Painted Lady and The Chief is nearly twice the size of other seedlings started at the same time last summer.
It is still trying to get its act together. The majority of the blooms are doubles, but it does throw out an occasional single bloom from time to time to confuse me. It has been blooming on and off all summer so the heat does not bother it. I noticed last night that the a couple of the blooms are aging to a light apricot color. This must be a response to the cool weather that just moved in.
This one will stay in the watch zone for now, mainly because it is too big for me to do anything with. :) Its trunk is as big around as my arm and even though it is growing in a 4 gallon pot, it is firmly entrenched in the ground and it will take an axe to get it out of here.
It is still trying to get its act together. The majority of the blooms are doubles, but it does throw out an occasional single bloom from time to time to confuse me. It has been blooming on and off all summer so the heat does not bother it. I noticed last night that the a couple of the blooms are aging to a light apricot color. This must be a response to the cool weather that just moved in.This one will stay in the watch zone for now, mainly because it is too big for me to do anything with. :) Its trunk is as big around as my arm and even though it is growing in a 4 gallon pot, it is firmly entrenched in the ground and it will take an axe to get it out of here. October 18, 2009
An Angel Trumpet that came back from the dead
Here's another Angel Trumpet that was carried over from last year's watch zone. It is a seedling from a cross of brugmansia Bernstein x New Orleans Lady.
This seedling is blooming for the first time this year after coming back from the dead following last winter's freezes. I think it is still worthy of watching and crossing back to its father, New Orleans Lady.
This seedling is blooming for the first time this year after coming back from the dead following last winter's freezes. I think it is still worthy of watching and crossing back to its father, New Orleans Lady.October 17, 2009
If looks could kill....
Need I say more?
Angel Trumpet Southern Charm gets Jazzed up
Today's featured Angel Trumpet bloom is from a brugmansia cross involving Southern Charm and Jazzy. This bloom was holding up well in the heat and has a nice fragrance. I think I'll cross it back to a nice double orange this fall and see what happens. I'm not sure if I still have my Southern Charm plant but if I do, I'll cross it back as well when it blooms.
October 16, 2009
An Angel Trumpet Pot of Gold
Just before dusk tonight I spotted this rainbow illuminating the sunset lit sky. The real pot of gold at the end of this rainbow is the cool weather that is moving in on Saturday.
Two oranges make salmon in the world of Angel Trumpets
What color bloom would you expect from a brugmansia cross with Shooting Star and Naughty Nick, a salmon one of course! You would think crossing two oranges together you would end up with orange kids. That's not the way it works though in the world of brugs. The nicely formed blooms on this seedling start out a light pink and then turn salmon.
I remember Naughty Nick being a cross between Creamsickle and Rosamond,
and Rosamond has Rothkirch as it's mother. Shooting Star has an
unknown father but if i was betting man I would say the salmon genes came from Naughty Nick.
I'll let this one hang for a while. Hard to toss them when they look this good.
I remember Naughty Nick being a cross between Creamsickle and Rosamond,
and Rosamond has Rothkirch as it's mother. Shooting Star has an
unknown father but if i was betting man I would say the salmon genes came from Naughty Nick.I'll let this one hang for a while. Hard to toss them when they look this good.October 15, 2009
The one that didn't get away...
While I was out making my rounds tonight, I stopped to inspect some new seedlings that appeared to be a midnight snack for a snail/slug. I started scanning the area in hopes of finding the culprit when I noticed the tail of a snake protruding from a flat of plants. It caught me off guard so I sort of jumped back, caught my breath, and grabbed my camera. I thought it was sort of strange that the snake was not paying any attention to me and appeared to be focused on something else. When I gazed into the viewfinder I found out why...it was focused on dinner, a nice plump chameleon.
Before I could react and try to save my friend, the snake had grabbed him and started its death roll.
Sixty seconds later he had a mouthful.
Now where was this guy when I needed him, like right after I spotted that Cuban Tree Frog?
Before I could react and try to save my friend, the snake had grabbed him and started its death roll.Sixty seconds later he had a mouthful. Now where was this guy when I needed him, like right after I spotted that Cuban Tree Frog? The one that got away...
A week or so ago I posted picture of an unknown tree frog I thought may have been a Cuban Tree Frog, an invasive species that has gained a foothold here in Florida. If found we are supposed to catch and destroy them. The previous frog I spotted ended up being a native one so I let it be.
This afternoon I spotted another tree frog that seemed odd to me. After snapping a few photos I went inside to see if i could ID it on the web.
Much to my surprise this one fits the description of the Cuban Tree Frog so I ran outside to capture it. Of course it was nowhere to be found when I got outside. At least now I have a better idea of what to look for the next time I see an unusual looking tree frog. I learned the two things to be on the lookout for are the over-sized toe pads and warty, toad-like skin on their back. If you are able to catch one, you'll also see that the skin on its head is fused to their skull and will not move.
If you live in the Southeast and want to know how to ID a Cuban Tree Frog, checkout this link. Cuban Tree Frog Info
This afternoon I spotted another tree frog that seemed odd to me. After snapping a few photos I went inside to see if i could ID it on the web.
Much to my surprise this one fits the description of the Cuban Tree Frog so I ran outside to capture it. Of course it was nowhere to be found when I got outside. At least now I have a better idea of what to look for the next time I see an unusual looking tree frog. I learned the two things to be on the lookout for are the over-sized toe pads and warty, toad-like skin on their back. If you are able to catch one, you'll also see that the skin on its head is fused to their skull and will not move.
If you live in the Southeast and want to know how to ID a Cuban Tree Frog, checkout this link. Cuban Tree Frog Info
An intriguing Angel Trumpet seedling with unknown parentage
Why is it that the unknown brugmansia seedlings are always the first ones to catch your attention? When I first saw this Angel Trumpet bloom I knew it was going to be one to watch. At first it had a marbled look to it. Although I was hoping that look would stay, I knew from past experience that total color would prevail.
As the bloom matured, the color deepened. This bloom is also unique in its form. Most doubles and triples have a long corolla tube, while this bloom has a stubby one that fans out early.
The bloom was stuffed, but that is quite common when double/triples bloom for the first time. The plant is quite vigorous with large, deep green leaves.
I think it is going to a heavy bloomer too. New buds are already forming even though it still has a couple more buds about to open. This one will be watched with great interest.
As the bloom matured, the color deepened. This bloom is also unique in its form. Most doubles and triples have a long corolla tube, while this bloom has a stubby one that fans out early.The bloom was stuffed, but that is quite common when double/triples bloom for the first time. The plant is quite vigorous with large, deep green leaves.I think it is going to a heavy bloomer too. New buds are already forming even though it still has a couple more buds about to open. This one will be watched with great interest. October 14, 2009
Tonight's Angel Trumpet sentry
Look out bugs, this guy is hungry and he's keeping watch over my brugmansia tonight!
A nice pink Angel Trumpet seedling with great parents
Here's a nicely colored pink Angel Trumpet that has been blooming in our record heat. It is from a cross between brugmansia Rubirosa and Sam. With parentage like that you would expect this seedling to be one to watch. I'll let this one try and impress me this fall when I decide which of the dozens of single pinks I'm watching make it to the keeper zone.
October 13, 2009
Time to get back down to earth in my world of Angel Trumpets
It is hard to top yesterday's featured Angel Trumpet so I figured I would post more a traditional Aurea style bloom to bring us down to earth. Here's a new bloom form a seedling from a cross involving brugmansia Rosamond and Pink Smitty.
The blooms are thick textured and nod horizontally. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing with this one but for now I'll let it be and see what it does this fall.
The blooms are thick textured and nod horizontally. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing with this one but for now I'll let it be and see what it does this fall.October 12, 2009
My favorite Angel Trumpet seedling this summer.
This Angel Trumpet seedling has to be the most promising one I'm growing this summer. It is from a cross between brugmansia Rubirosa x The Chief.
It bloomed for the first time last fall and has been putting on a non-stop show of blooms. The blooms are always triples, they love the heat, and they have a great fragrance.
Of the more than 50 seedlings I've had bloom from crosses involving "The Chief", this one is by far the best.
A special thanks to Liz Ficthl for making these seeds available and of course to Volker Sanders from Germany, who provided Liz with the seeds that created "The Chief".
It bloomed for the first time last fall and has been putting on a non-stop show of blooms. The blooms are always triples, they love the heat, and they have a great fragrance.Of the more than 50 seedlings I've had bloom from crosses involving "The Chief", this one is by far the best.A special thanks to Liz Ficthl for making these seeds available and of course to Volker Sanders from Germany, who provided Liz with the seeds that created "The Chief".Where is our fall weather???
Geeze, what's up with this weather. I went out at 12:30am to look for new blooms and the temperature was 81 degrees out!!! That is about 10 degrees warmer than it should be for this time of year.
Orlando set a new record high of 93 on Sunday. It was actually a couple degrees warmer out here in Clermont.
The good news is that a cold front is supposed to come down next weekend and drop our temps down to the normal zone for October.
I'm ready!
Orlando set a new record high of 93 on Sunday. It was actually a couple degrees warmer out here in Clermont.
The good news is that a cold front is supposed to come down next weekend and drop our temps down to the normal zone for October.
I'm ready!
October 11, 2009
Cuttings, cuttings, and more cuttings...
This weekend I decided to make a dent in my fall propagating schedule and here's the result:
I ended up filling 48 trays of assorted Angel Trumpets. Each tray has 50 cells so that equals 2,400 potential brugmansia plants. Add that total to the ones I did a few weeks ago and I'll already have over 3,000 liners ready to pot up in spring. That number should double next month when I start phase two of my propagation schedule.
I ended up filling 48 trays of assorted Angel Trumpets. Each tray has 50 cells so that equals 2,400 potential brugmansia plants. Add that total to the ones I did a few weeks ago and I'll already have over 3,000 liners ready to pot up in spring. That number should double next month when I start phase two of my propagation schedule. A classy Lady Liberty Angel Trumpet shows off her babies
After a couple days of featuring double pink Angel Trumpets, I decided its time to display this nice double white that came into bloom earlier this week. These blooms are from a seedling from the brugmansia cross of Lady Liberty x Meloncholy Baby.
So far the blooms have stayed snow white with no influence of color from its father, Meloncholy Baby.
The blooms have staying power in the heat and this seedling likes to bloom. As these blooms are fading it already had another flush of buds in the wing.
So far the blooms have stayed snow white with no influence of color from its father, Meloncholy Baby.The blooms have staying power in the heat and this seedling likes to bloom. As these blooms are fading it already had another flush of buds in the wing.October 10, 2009
Another double pink Angel Trumpet compliments of Butterfly
Here's another nice double pink Angel Trumpet with brugmansia Butterfly as the mom. It is a carry over from last year that I have been watching this summer. This seedling is from a Brenda Delph seed cross of brugmansia Butterfly x (Teri Shiavo x Earth Angel).
I plant to cross it back to both Teri Shiavo and Earth Angel when the weather cools. I'll decide this fall if it deserves to be named and registered.
I plant to cross it back to both Teri Shiavo and Earth Angel when the weather cools. I'll decide this fall if it deserves to be named and registered. October 9, 2009
Well this is a strange one....
I ran into a really strange spider having a snack tonight. The spider was not as strange as its small iridescent blue web embedded within its larger web. The blue web almost appeared to glow. I have never seen anything like that before. Perhaps the spider had a lunch of fireflies earlier hence the glowing web???
Daydreaming with my Angel Trumpets
Today's featured Angel Trumpet bloom is another seedling with Daydreams as the father. It's a brugmansia cross involving Butterfly and Daydreams.
It had a quite impressive first bloom in our 95 degree heat. Nice color, nice form, and great staying power. Looks like another one to watch this fall!
It had a quite impressive first bloom in our 95 degree heat. Nice color, nice form, and great staying power. Looks like another one to watch this fall!October 8, 2009
Close encounter with some hairy knees..
Whoa, look what I almost ran into tonight...a nice big ole banana spider!
This is the time of year when these guys appear everywhere. There's plenty of flying bugs around for them to eat so they get big fast. Now that I have a mental marker where this web is, I leave him alone because I know I will not run into it again.
This is the time of year when these guys appear everywhere. There's plenty of flying bugs around for them to eat so they get big fast. Now that I have a mental marker where this web is, I leave him alone because I know I will not run into it again. An Angel Trumpet with lots of colors
Today's featured new Angel Trumpet bloom is from a cross between brugmansia Miss Ellie and Daydreams. This is the second seedling from this cross to have multicolored blooms. The blooms start out with the light pastel colors of cream, peach, and salmon.
As the blooms mature the colors deepen and the blooms still maintain their multicolor look. Last year I had another seedling from this cross bloom with the same coloration, except the blooms were all triples. It was my most watched seedling from last year. Unfortunately I over fertilized it this summer so it is currently recovering in some fresh new soil.
This one will be moved to my watch zone to see how it performs in the long run.
As the blooms mature the colors deepen and the blooms still maintain their multicolor look. Last year I had another seedling from this cross bloom with the same coloration, except the blooms were all triples. It was my most watched seedling from last year. Unfortunately I over fertilized it this summer so it is currently recovering in some fresh new soil.This one will be moved to my watch zone to see how it performs in the long run.
October 7, 2009
This Angel Trumpet needs a curling iron...
I'm not sure where these long tendrils came from, but they sure would look better if they had some curl to them! Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is from a cross between brugmansia New Orleans Lady and Mountain Magic.
I'm hoping the color will flush out the green in the corolla tube the next time it blooms. If not, it will be destined for the compost pile this winter.
I'm hoping the color will flush out the green in the corolla tube the next time it blooms. If not, it will be destined for the compost pile this winter.October 6, 2009
A tale of two Smittys, an Angel Trumpet two for Tuesday!
Seeing how I posted today's seedling so early in the morning, I figured why not make this a "two for Tuesday" and post another new Angel Trumpet seedling? Better yet, I'll post two more! Actually it's just a single photo with two unique blooms. Both are seedlings of a Brugmansia cross between Pink Smitty and an unknown father. One is a double and the other a single. While it appears they are growing on the same plant, they are actually on separate plants growing side by side. Actually there are about 30 Pink Smitty x ? seedlings growing side by side, but these are the first two to bloom.
I found the double one to be quite attractive. Its mother should be blooming soon so I'm going to do a real time comparison between this double and Pink Smitty the next time it blooms.
I found the double one to be quite attractive. Its mother should be blooming soon so I'm going to do a real time comparison between this double and Pink Smitty the next time it blooms.You better look before you grasp!
When gardening in Florida you know it is always best to look before you grab something....or you may regret it. This friendly, and beautiful wolf spider was just hanging out on the side of a tray of rooted cuttings. Wolf spiders are quite common around here and this one is just a baby. When full grown their leg span can equal the width of your hand!
Wolf spiders are a beneficial spider because they love to eat roaches. Believe it or not you can actually hear them crunching away while they hold a large roach and munch on the head and torso. If you shine a light on them at night their eyes reflect ruby red. Living in an old wooden house I have learned to coexist with them. This can really test your heart when you wake up at night feeling something walking across your face. By instinct, you grab it and sling it away only to hear a loud thud when it hits the opposite wall. In just a matter of seconds you realize this was not a nightmare but rather an actual, real life experience. Needless to say it make take some time, and perhaps even a few beers, before you are able to go back to sleep.
Wolf spiders are a beneficial spider because they love to eat roaches. Believe it or not you can actually hear them crunching away while they hold a large roach and munch on the head and torso. If you shine a light on them at night their eyes reflect ruby red. Living in an old wooden house I have learned to coexist with them. This can really test your heart when you wake up at night feeling something walking across your face. By instinct, you grab it and sling it away only to hear a loud thud when it hits the opposite wall. In just a matter of seconds you realize this was not a nightmare but rather an actual, real life experience. Needless to say it make take some time, and perhaps even a few beers, before you are able to go back to sleep.
I'm really liking this Angel Trumpet seedling
This Angel Trumpet seedling has been an over achiever since it first bloomed in early summer. It is the result of a cross between a brugmansia Jacyana x The Chief seedling x an unknown father.
I grew out about a dozen Jacyana x The Chief seedlings from seeds I obtained from Liz Fichtl. All but three were trashed, and of those remaining three, only one is a "keeper" that I plan to register this fall.
The mother of this seedling was the only Jacyana x The Chief seedling that bloomed white, all the others were yellow/orange. The white blooms were nothing special, but I decided to grow out the unknown seed cross because of the parents.
I do not think this seedling has been without a bloom all summer.The blooms are large and plentiful with a pleasant fragrance. This seedling has lush foliage and has remained pest free all summer. This weekend it will get chopped up for propagation. Based on the outcome of that, it may end up on my "to be registered" list.
I grew out about a dozen Jacyana x The Chief seedlings from seeds I obtained from Liz Fichtl. All but three were trashed, and of those remaining three, only one is a "keeper" that I plan to register this fall.
The mother of this seedling was the only Jacyana x The Chief seedling that bloomed white, all the others were yellow/orange. The white blooms were nothing special, but I decided to grow out the unknown seed cross because of the parents.
I do not think this seedling has been without a bloom all summer.The blooms are large and plentiful with a pleasant fragrance. This seedling has lush foliage and has remained pest free all summer. This weekend it will get chopped up for propagation. Based on the outcome of that, it may end up on my "to be registered" list. Thought I may have to exterminate this one
It has been a while since I reviewed "Florida's Most Wanted" list for invasive species. When I first spotted this tree frog tonight I thought I had a Cuban Tree Frog in my midst, which meant death had to be imminent. Fortunately for Mr. Tree Frog and my conscious, I made a mad dash to the web for a positive ID before acting. Mr. Tree Frog turned out to be a common variety and was left to enjoy his perch amongst my brugs.
October 5, 2009
This brugmansia is having a bad hair day
Here is another Angel Trumpet seedling from a cross I made between brugmansia Masquerade and Inca Sun. While I was hoping for yellow, the snow white blooms and their wild and crazy tendrils still grab your attention.
This bloom has a very strong resemblance to its mama, Masquerade, and looks like a keeper for sure. It will definitely be crossed back to Inca Sun this fall.
This bloom has a very strong resemblance to its mama, Masquerade, and looks like a keeper for sure. It will definitely be crossed back to Inca Sun this fall.
October 4, 2009
Another Angel Trumpet with petite blooms
Sometimes it is a challenge to capture the true colors of an Angel Trumpet bloom. That is the case with these blooms from a cross between brugmansia Tootsie x Little Miss Lili.
The blooms start out a pale pink and then mature to very deep pink like their father, Little Miss Lili.
The plant is large, towering almost eight feet tall, but the blooms are petite.
The blooms start out a pale pink and then mature to very deep pink like their father, Little Miss Lili. The plant is large, towering almost eight feet tall, but the blooms are petite.October 3, 2009
Hang in there!
While most of the chameleons I stumble across at night are sleeping on a leaf in a horizontal position, this guy decided to live life on the edge by sleeping vertical. Hang in there my friend!
A new Angel Trumpet bloom that forgot who its parents were.
This Angel Trumpet bloom is certainly not the bloom you would expect from this cross between brugmansia Shooting Star x New Orleans Lady. Shooting Star has small single orange blooms and New Orleans Lady has large double cream to orange blooms. None the less, these blooms are impressive and have earned this seedling a spot in my watch zone.
October 2, 2009
Nap time....on a bed of spines too!
During lunch I captured this photo of a tree frog snoozing away (until I woke him up) at the base of a leaf from a star potato tree. This young tree has thorns along with the prickly spines you see in the photo. I guess this guest did not mind the spines because he was quite comfy where he was at.
An Angel Trumpet that jazzes things up
Brugmansia Jazzy is one of my favorite yellow Angel Trumpets. As a result I made a bunch of crosses with it last year. Here is a bloom from a seedling from a cross mother nature made, brugmansia Jazzy x an unknown father.
The blooms have a slight resemblance to Jazzy but are much larger. The color of Jazzy is a bit deeper yellow/orange than this one, but most likely the color of this bloom will deepen when the weather cools down. I have lots of jazzy seedlings I expect to bloom this fall so this one may end in the compost pile by winter.
The blooms have a slight resemblance to Jazzy but are much larger. The color of Jazzy is a bit deeper yellow/orange than this one, but most likely the color of this bloom will deepen when the weather cools down. I have lots of jazzy seedlings I expect to bloom this fall so this one may end in the compost pile by winter.
October 1, 2009
Arachnophobia, not me!
I'm usually good when it comes to dodging spiders at night, but not tonight. You learn quickly to always look forward, not down when you are walking around in the dark or you will run smack dab into a spider web. Tonight I did just that, but fortunately it was more a side-swipe and the spider remained in his web. No big deal, it was just a small one anyways...
A mellow yellow Angel Trumpet
I've had several Angel Trumpet seedlings from this cross of brugmansia L'Amour and Charles Grimaldi bloom so far and all are single yellows. Many look almost identical to Charles Grimaldi, however this one stood out because of its smooth lines. I'm already watching a couple of earlier seedlings from this cross, and now this one will join it's siblings in my watch zone to see how it performs in the long run.
