January 2010 Archives
January 25, 2010
Brown, brown and more brown...
This is a continuation of yesterday's post showcasing an assortment of freeze damage plants from my yard.
I'm not sure if my monstera suffered stem damage or if just the foliage was damaged.
I doubt I'll have any fresh pineapples till fall.I guess I won't be serving fresh pina coladas to my guests this summer.
My thumbergia vine was putting on quite a show when the freeze struck. I also have several types of passion flower vines mixed in with this mess. I noticed one was not even phased by the cold. I'll have to identify it when it blooms.
This zamia, or cardboard palm as it is often called, suffered a major setback.
I'm not sure if my monstera suffered stem damage or if just the foliage was damaged.
This beautiful purple orchid tree was just about ready to bloom. I know I will have to cut it back at least half this spring.
Anyone who grows passion flower vines knows what a challenge it is to keep them under control. Maybe this freeze was a blessing in disguise for this one. This variety had climbed to the top of the palm trees and was getting ready to cover my house.
These philodendrons look really sad. I need reduce this planting by half and I have put if off for a couple of years. Looks like this spring will be an ideal time to cut them back.
I doubt I'll have any fresh pineapples till fall.I guess I won't be serving fresh pina coladas to my guests this summer.
From blue to brown in just one night! Oh well, plumbago will bounce back quickly after I cut it back.
My golden yellow tabebuia tree does not look that great right now. I'm not sure if the wood was damaged. I hope not because it is my favorite spring flowering tree.
My thumbergia vine was putting on quite a show when the freeze struck. I also have several types of passion flower vines mixed in with this mess. I noticed one was not even phased by the cold. I'll have to identify it when it blooms.
This zamia, or cardboard palm as it is often called, suffered a major setback.
Well that is enough depressing photos for now. Tomorrow I'll post my post freeze brug pics. They will really depress you.
Anyone want to join me for a yard cleaning party next month?
Anyone want to join me for a yard cleaning party next month?
January 24, 2010
Death is in the air...
The smell of death is the air as plants damaged by Florida's recent devastating freeze succumb to Mother Nature's wrath. The visual impact is bad enough without the need to max out the senses with the smell of decaying foliage.
I thought I would share some pictures of the ugliness in my yard. At least I have enough evergreen plants scattered around to balance out the signs of death.
My dog Inga blends in well with many shades of brown the freeze has generated. Here you'll see brunfelsia (foreground) and tibouchina (background) showing severe damage.
I guess I should not expect any bananas this spring.
The clerodendron (right) really took a beating. The acacia on the left will have to be cut back to the ground.
My yard grown brugmansia look like death warmed over.
The gold dust croton is one of the hardier types of crotons and it also succumbed to the cold this winter.
It would be cool if this Ixora would keep this nice bronze color year round.
This giant king sago is going to need a major pruning next month, something I am not looking forward to because of the serrated stems.
I'll use my lawn mower to trim the asparagus fern. I have large beds of sprengeri plus some smaller plantings of meyer (below).
More photos to come....
Continue reading Death is in the air....
January 18, 2010
Oh my aching back.....
You may have noticed I'm a few days behind on my posts. The reason is because I managed to accidentally step into a hole, knocking my back out of whack in the process. :( The hole was one from a large potted brug plant I yanked out of the ground so I could protect it from the freeze.
I have been unable to sit at my computer for more than a few minutes at a time so posting has not been high on my priority list.
I'm hoping tomorrow will be better...
I have been unable to sit at my computer for more than a few minutes at a time so posting has not been high on my priority list.
I'm hoping tomorrow will be better...
January 15, 2010
My own personal ice palace!
Last week's freeze was the biggest cold event in over 20 years according to the local media. I'm hoping that it will be at least another 20 until we have another one! For those of you who do not think it gets very cold in Central Florida, I thought I would share a few photos from my winter wonderland here in Clermont.
Citrus really took a beating this time. I spot checked a bunch of oranges on scattered trees and all showed signs of cold damage.
I had to rely on constant watering to protect my large Angel Trumpet seedlings growing in the open. With several consecutive nights of 10+ hours below freezing, ice accumulated quickly.
Even though I turned the sprinklers off when the temperature reached 37, piles of ice were still present when I had to start the sprinklers up again after sundown.
While an acre of glistening ice may have been a beautiful sight to some, now that the temperatures are back to normal it is not a pretty sight at all.
The photo above gives a whole new meaning to the term "Frozen Orange Juice". Those oranges had accumulated over an inch of ice during the course of the evening. I'll be busy squeezing lots of oranges this weekend, filling my freezer up with fresh OJ. Once an orange suffers freeze damage you have 7-10 days to use it before it spoils.
This is a new cactus called "icicle cactus". Cool, isn't it! :)
I hope this is the last external garden ice I have to see for quite some time.
Citrus really took a beating this time. I spot checked a bunch of oranges on scattered trees and all showed signs of cold damage.I had to rely on constant watering to protect my large Angel Trumpet seedlings growing in the open. With several consecutive nights of 10+ hours below freezing, ice accumulated quickly.Even though I turned the sprinklers off when the temperature reached 37, piles of ice were still present when I had to start the sprinklers up again after sundown.While an acre of glistening ice may have been a beautiful sight to some, now that the temperatures are back to normal it is not a pretty sight at all.The photo above gives a whole new meaning to the term "Frozen Orange Juice". Those oranges had accumulated over an inch of ice during the course of the evening. I'll be busy squeezing lots of oranges this weekend, filling my freezer up with fresh OJ. Once an orange suffers freeze damage you have 7-10 days to use it before it spoils. This is a new cactus called "icicle cactus". Cool, isn't it! :)I hope this is the last external garden ice I have to see for quite some time.
January 14, 2010
On the grid
Now that the temperatures have warmed back up to the 60's, the lizards have thawed out and are back on the move. This little guy was soaking up some sun on an empty plant bench.
January 13, 2010
Orange, but not orange enough!
I'm not sure what to think of this new Angel Trumpet seedling. It is a cross of brugmansia Bernstein x New Orleans Lady.
If it had the bright orange color of brugmansia Bernstein it would be a winner for sure. Better yet, a new Orleans Lady style bloom with Bernstein's color! Maybe a cross back to its parents will do the trick?
If it had the bright orange color of brugmansia Bernstein it would be a winner for sure. Better yet, a new Orleans Lady style bloom with Bernstein's color! Maybe a cross back to its parents will do the trick?January 12, 2010
A razzle-dazzled Angel Trumpet
This new Angel Trumpet seedling certainly fits the definition of razzle-dazzle, "showiness, brilliance, or virtuosity in technique or effect, often without concomitant substance or worth".
The seedling is a cross between brugmansia Axel Rose x Ludger's Windsong. The crazy tendrils are a carry-over from its father. I wish it was a deeper yellow, but you never know how the color will develop when warm weather arrives in a few months.
The seedling is a cross between brugmansia Axel Rose x Ludger's Windsong. The crazy tendrils are a carry-over from its father. I wish it was a deeper yellow, but you never know how the color will develop when warm weather arrives in a few months.January 11, 2010
A Creamsicle Brugmansia
Today I'm featuring a new Angel Trumpet seedling that has brugmansia Creamsicle as its father. Looking at these two blooms side by side you can see where the Creamsicle part fits in. The newer bloom on the right is cream colored while the older bloom is orange. Combine the two and you have a Creamsicle!
Meet today's featured seedling, a cross between brugmansia Rubiline x Creamsicle. The blooms pictured below are about 2 days apart in age.
Meet today's featured seedling, a cross between brugmansia Rubiline x Creamsicle. The blooms pictured below are about 2 days apart in age.
January 10, 2010
A toasted new Angel Trumpet
Today's featured Angel Trumpet bloom has edges and tendrils that almost appear as if they have been toasted. The blooms are from a cross between brugmansia Axel Rose x Mountain Magic.
Even as the flower matured the color did not extend past the outer edges of the bloom and the tendrils. The bloom had a nice shape and was long lasting. It will be interesting to see what this one does the next time it blooms.
Even as the flower matured the color did not extend past the outer edges of the bloom and the tendrils. The bloom had a nice shape and was long lasting. It will be interesting to see what this one does the next time it blooms.January 9, 2010
Frozen Florida Orange Juice Anyone?
With record setting cold blanketing Central Florida this week, nothing was spared from Mother nature's wrath.
This orange tree happened to be on the outer fringes of my outdoor brugmansia growing area and got caught by my sprinklers during the sub freezing weather. The sprinklers were on to provide a protective ice blanket for my brugmansia during the freezes.
I'm not sure if it has gotten cold enough to damage the citrus yet, but many of my brugs took a beating. We have a hard freeze warning in effect for the next couple of days so the worst may be yet to come. Tonight's forecast predicts the lowest temperatures of the winter and seeing how it is has only reached 34f by noon today, it does not look good.
I'll have a better idea of the extent of the damage a couple of weeks from now.
This orange tree happened to be on the outer fringes of my outdoor brugmansia growing area and got caught by my sprinklers during the sub freezing weather. The sprinklers were on to provide a protective ice blanket for my brugmansia during the freezes. I'm not sure if it has gotten cold enough to damage the citrus yet, but many of my brugs took a beating. We have a hard freeze warning in effect for the next couple of days so the worst may be yet to come. Tonight's forecast predicts the lowest temperatures of the winter and seeing how it is has only reached 34f by noon today, it does not look good.
I'll have a better idea of the extent of the damage a couple of weeks from now.
January 8, 2010
An Angel Trumpet under a Seminole Moon
Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is from a brugmansia cross of Seminole Moon X (Candida Pink x Creamsicle). As you will see in the photo below, the blooms start out a cream color with long tendrils.
Over the next couple of days, the blooms age to a nice soft orange and the tendrils re-curve dramatically.
I'm not sure what the future has in store for this one so I may cross
it back to a strong double orange brugmansia like Langenbuscher Garten.
Over the next couple of days, the blooms age to a nice soft orange and the tendrils re-curve dramatically. I'm not sure what the future has in store for this one so I may cross
it back to a strong double orange brugmansia like Langenbuscher Garten.January 7, 2010
Two classic ladies join forces in this new Angel Trumpet
Here's a beautiful new pink Angel Trumpet with classic brugmansia form. It is from a cross involving brugmansia Rosalie x Rachel.
This brugmansia seedling's blooms were long lasting, had great coloration and a pleasant fragrance. Although there are lots of nice single pinks available in the U.S., there is plenty of room for improvement in disease & pest resistance and heat tolerance. This one is worthy of watching for another season to see if it raises the bar.
This brugmansia seedling's blooms were long lasting, had great coloration and a pleasant fragrance. Although there are lots of nice single pinks available in the U.S., there is plenty of room for improvement in disease & pest resistance and heat tolerance. This one is worthy of watching for another season to see if it raises the bar. January 6, 2010
Brugs on Ice...
My field of Angel Trumpets has turned into a Winter Wonderland as the icicles glisten under the Florida sunshine.
Of course this is no Winter Wonderland for me, it is devastating to say the least. It is too early to tell what the extent of the freeze damage is, plus another hard freeze is forecast for tonight with more cold weather moving in on the weekend.
With temperatures finally above freezing, the sprinklers are working hard to melt the protective cover of ice that was formed overnight. They ran from 11:00pm last night to 10:00am this morning.
The rooted brugmansia cuttings below were waiting to be moved up to 4" pots for spring sales. When I checked on them when during lunch, it looks like the ice worked its magic and kept them from being severely damaged.
Of course this is no Winter Wonderland for me, it is devastating to say the least. It is too early to tell what the extent of the freeze damage is, plus another hard freeze is forecast for tonight with more cold weather moving in on the weekend.With temperatures finally above freezing, the sprinklers are working hard to melt the protective cover of ice that was formed overnight. They ran from 11:00pm last night to 10:00am this morning.
The rooted brugmansia cuttings below were waiting to be moved up to 4" pots for spring sales. When I checked on them when during lunch, it looks like the ice worked its magic and kept them from being severely damaged.
An Angel Trumpet with Southern Charm
Brugmansia Seminole Moon carried its color genes over to this Angel Trumpet seedling, but it sure would have been nice if Southern Charm's double bloom genes would have had an equal influence. Today's featured Angel Trumpet seedling is a cross between brugmansia Southern Charm x Seminole Moon.
I plan to cross this one back to a few doubles this spring to see if i can squeeze a couple of nice double orange seedlings out of the combined gene pool.
I plan to cross this one back to a few doubles this spring to see if i can squeeze a couple of nice double orange seedlings out of the combined gene pool.January 5, 2010
A giant Angel Trumpet with super-sized blooms
Here's an Angel Trumpet seedling carry over from last year. It is a cross from brugmansia Pink Beauty x Native Habitat Double Peach.
This brugmansia, with its super-sized blooms, put on such a show last year that I just could not stand to toss it out. This past Spring I planted it in my yard where it has been performing nicely ever since.
The blooms start out white and then slowly age to a nice peach color. While it is blooming you end up with white, peach, and in-between colored blooms on the plant at the same time. This Angel Trumpet likes to grow tall and is a perfect candidate to grow as a standard. I'm still not sure if I will register this one or just leave it grow in my yard. It is a real attention grabber when it flushes out with blooms.
Right now I dropped the plant down to the ground so I could cover it in advance of the mega-freeze that is grabbing hold of Florida this week. If it survives the freeze, it will earn its keep for sure.
This brugmansia, with its super-sized blooms, put on such a show last year that I just could not stand to toss it out. This past Spring I planted it in my yard where it has been performing nicely ever since.The blooms start out white and then slowly age to a nice peach color. While it is blooming you end up with white, peach, and in-between colored blooms on the plant at the same time. This Angel Trumpet likes to grow tall and is a perfect candidate to grow as a standard. I'm still not sure if I will register this one or just leave it grow in my yard. It is a real attention grabber when it flushes out with blooms.Right now I dropped the plant down to the ground so I could cover it in advance of the mega-freeze that is grabbing hold of Florida this week. If it survives the freeze, it will earn its keep for sure. January 4, 2010
A snow white Angel Trumpet for a cold as snow day
As cold as it is down here right now, I'm giving in and featuring an Angel Trumpet seedling that is white as snow to match this crazy cold weather. Today's featured brugmansia seedling is from a cross between American Pride and Dorthea.
As you can see, this seedling proudly displays its blooms horizontally. The blooms are very thick textured and have a porcelain like appearance.
This seedling was a consistent bloomer this fall and its aurea style blooms make it worthy of carrying forward for future hybridizing work.
As you can see, this seedling proudly displays its blooms horizontally. The blooms are very thick textured and have a porcelain like appearance.This seedling was a consistent bloomer this fall and its aurea style blooms make it worthy of carrying forward for future hybridizing work.Mother nature wreaks havoc on my Angel Trumpets.
This year is off to a frigid start as cold air plummets south and puts Florida in a deep freeze. We have already had two nights of below freezing temperatures and now the forecast shows below freezing temperatures through the weekend.
This is how Rosalie looked this morning when I went out to check on my brugs.
I rely on sprinklers to protect a large percentage of my new seedlings. I started the sprinklers at 1:00am last night and kept them on till 10:00am this morning. It will most likely be the same scenario tonight.
I also have lots of my special brugs under the cover of frost cloth and plastic, and also a bunch stashed away in a large enclosed trailer.
I hate cold weather!!!!!!
This is how Rosalie looked this morning when I went out to check on my brugs.
I rely on sprinklers to protect a large percentage of my new seedlings. I started the sprinklers at 1:00am last night and kept them on till 10:00am this morning. It will most likely be the same scenario tonight.I also have lots of my special brugs under the cover of frost cloth and plastic, and also a bunch stashed away in a large enclosed trailer.
I hate cold weather!!!!!!
January 3, 2010
Mounds of snow?
Thank goodness no, but the billowy white frost cloth sort of gives the appearance of snow mounds from a distance.
With a long spell of cold weather in the forecast this week, I covered many of my in-ground brugs with frost cloth. Hopefully this will provide a few extra degrees of warmth, enough to keep them from experiencing the freeze damage they would incur if I did not cover them. The large covered plant on the right in the photo below is a 8 foot tall Cherub. It was just getting ready to have a major flush of blooms. :(
I'm using overhead sprinklers to protect a large majority of my potted seedlings. This means I have to turn the sprinklers on when the temperature hits 33, and then continue to run the water until the temperature rises to 37 in the morning. Ice will form, but as long as the water continues to flow and the ice continues to form, the plants should survive. The ice actually forms a protective blanket over the plant keeping the temperature right around 32-33. If the sprinklers were to stop while it was still below freezing, the temperature would drop quickly and the plants would receive severe damage.
With a long spell of cold weather in the forecast this week, I covered many of my in-ground brugs with frost cloth. Hopefully this will provide a few extra degrees of warmth, enough to keep them from experiencing the freeze damage they would incur if I did not cover them. The large covered plant on the right in the photo below is a 8 foot tall Cherub. It was just getting ready to have a major flush of blooms. :( I'm using overhead sprinklers to protect a large majority of my potted seedlings. This means I have to turn the sprinklers on when the temperature hits 33, and then continue to run the water until the temperature rises to 37 in the morning. Ice will form, but as long as the water continues to flow and the ice continues to form, the plants should survive. The ice actually forms a protective blanket over the plant keeping the temperature right around 32-33. If the sprinklers were to stop while it was still below freezing, the temperature would drop quickly and the plants would receive severe damage.
An Angel Trumpet to warm up this freezing morning
With temperatures hovering close to freezing this morning, I thought I would feature a nice warm yellow Angel Trumpet seedling to brighten up the day. Today's Brugmansia seedling is from a cross between Axel Rose x Mountain Treasure.
As you can see, this beautiful Angel Trumpet seedling starts out as a nice soft yellow and then slowly ages to medium orange. When you combine the color, form, and substance of this bloom, it is easy to see why this one will be carried forward to watch in 2010.
As you can see, this beautiful Angel Trumpet seedling starts out as a nice soft yellow and then slowly ages to medium orange. When you combine the color, form, and substance of this bloom, it is easy to see why this one will be carried forward to watch in 2010.January 2, 2010
An Angel Trumpet proves its points
Good thing the tendrils on this Angel Trumpet bloom are not sharp! Today's featured brugmansia seedling is from a cross of Apricot Reise x Rubirosa.
With its long pointed tendrils and rather industrial looking bloom, this seedling better calm down and smooth things out if it wants to survive in the competitive single pink keepers division.
With its long pointed tendrils and rather industrial looking bloom, this seedling better calm down and smooth things out if it wants to survive in the competitive single pink keepers division.January 1, 2010
I hate cold weather...and so do my Brugs!!!!
Well it looks like we are going to start the new Year off with a bang! The National Weather Service has just issued freeze warnings for Sunday and Monday mornings.
This graphic above is the forecast from AccuWeather.com. I like Weather Underground's forecast better, a low of 31 for both Sunday and Monday mornings. Two degrees can make a big difference with my Angel Trumpets. I have found Weather Underground to be historically more accurate around here than AccuWeather.
Well, I know what I'll be doing on Saturday. Time to pull out the trusty frost cloth and make sure my sprinkler heads are clean.
Bbbrrrrhhhhhhhhh!!!
This graphic above is the forecast from AccuWeather.com. I like Weather Underground's forecast better, a low of 31 for both Sunday and Monday mornings. Two degrees can make a big difference with my Angel Trumpets. I have found Weather Underground to be historically more accurate around here than AccuWeather.Well, I know what I'll be doing on Saturday. Time to pull out the trusty frost cloth and make sure my sprinkler heads are clean.
Bbbrrrrhhhhhhhhh!!!
An unknown Angel Trumpet kicks off 2010
I thought I would jump start 2010 with a bright and cheerful Angel Trumpet. Here's a bloom from an unknown brugmansia seedling grown out from a bunch of unmarked seeds sent to me by German Hybridizer Volker Sanders.
.
Not knowing what may be in this seedling's gene pool, I have already made several crosses to other blooms on this plant. Check back next year for an update. :)
.
Not knowing what may be in this seedling's gene pool, I have already made several crosses to other blooms on this plant. Check back next year for an update. :)