March 2011 Archives
March 22, 2011
Spring is officially here, the Florida Dogwoods are in bloom!
It is always great to see the Dogwood trees in bloom because you know that spring has officially arrived.
Central Florida is on the southern fringe of the dogwood tree's preferred growing zone. The colder it is the winter, the better the dogwood trees will bloom in the spring. After our recent record breaking winter, my dogwood trees are really putting on a great show.
They are also loving this great weather as much as I am!
Central Florida is on the southern fringe of the dogwood tree's preferred growing zone. The colder it is the winter, the better the dogwood trees will bloom in the spring. After our recent record breaking winter, my dogwood trees are really putting on a great show.They are also loving this great weather as much as I am!March 21, 2011
Meet the David & Goliath of Angel Trumpets
Brugmansia come in all shapes and sizes and here's a good example of extremes in size. The larger pink Angel Trumpet is an Ecuador Pink x Rothkirch seedling. The mini-white below it is from a cross involving Naughty Nick x Cleopatra.
The Naughty Nick x Cleopatra seedling is one I first featured in my garden blog back in December of 2009. The petite blooms are only a couple of inches across and typically have at least three skirts. While the blooms are small, the plant is a giant. I have no plans to register it, but will keep it in my hybridizing program in hopes of developing small plants with small blooms.
The Naughty Nick x Cleopatra seedling is one I first featured in my garden blog back in December of 2009. The petite blooms are only a couple of inches across and typically have at least three skirts. While the blooms are small, the plant is a giant. I have no plans to register it, but will keep it in my hybridizing program in hopes of developing small plants with small blooms.March 20, 2011
The exotic shows in this new Angel Trumpet seedling
The one Angel Trumpet I use in my breeding program more than any other is Brugmansia 'Inca Sun'. The reason being is that Inca Sun is considered to be ever-blooming, unlike most Angel Trumpets that bloom in flushes every 4-6 weeks. Here's a promising new seedling that just bloomed from a cross I made between Brugmansia Angels Exotic x Inca Sun.
I have about 40 seedlings from this cross growing and about half have bloomed. So far three of the seedlings have been placed in my watch zone and this one will soon join them. This cross has yet to produce anything but white blooms, but I'm still holding out hope some of Inca Sun's yellow genes will dominate one of the remaining seedlings.
What makes this seedling stand out from its siblings is that the blooms are quite large. It also has a nice fragrance and the bloom's thicker texture gives it lasting power. Of course I have already crossed this one back to its father, Inca Sun. With any luck, about this time next year you will see the results.
I have about 40 seedlings from this cross growing and about half have bloomed. So far three of the seedlings have been placed in my watch zone and this one will soon join them. This cross has yet to produce anything but white blooms, but I'm still holding out hope some of Inca Sun's yellow genes will dominate one of the remaining seedlings.What makes this seedling stand out from its siblings is that the blooms are quite large. It also has a nice fragrance and the bloom's thicker texture gives it lasting power. Of course I have already crossed this one back to its father, Inca Sun. With any luck, about this time next year you will see the results.March 19, 2011
More Angel Trumpet gold appears
Here's another golden yellow Brugmansia seedling that recently bloomed. Unfortunately the tag is so faded that I cannot make out the cross.
What makes this seedling worth watching is that the blooms are quite fragrant, thick in texture and smaller in size. I also like the ruffly look of the bloom and its curly corolla teeth.
Although this Angel Trumpet bloom appears to have a hint of orange in it, the bloom stayed yellow through its entire life cycle. You know me, I hate to leave a good bloom un-pollinated, so I went ahead and pollinated this bloom. :)
What makes this seedling worth watching is that the blooms are quite fragrant, thick in texture and smaller in size. I also like the ruffly look of the bloom and its curly corolla teeth.Although this Angel Trumpet bloom appears to have a hint of orange in it, the bloom stayed yellow through its entire life cycle. You know me, I hate to leave a good bloom un-pollinated, so I went ahead and pollinated this bloom. :) March 18, 2011
There's Angel Trumpet gold in my garden
This Angel Trumpet seedling has some of the nicest yellow blooms I have seen. The seedling is from a cross involving Brugmansia Sommerzauber x Cassie's Curls.
The blooms remind me of Brenda Delph's Andrew's Gold. So far the blooms have stayed yellow and not aged to orange like many yellows tend to do.
This seedling has great parentage with Monika Gottschalk's Sommerzauber as pod bearer. The father, Cassie's Curls is one of my favorite single orange brugmansia. What was exciting about this Brugmansia seedling was that it's first bloom cycle was a flush of about 10 blooms.
As you would expect,I have already pollinated all of these blooms and their pollen has been spread around various cultivars in my collection. It's mother, Sommerzauber is in bud now so you can be certain a couple of those blooms will be dusted with pollen from this beauty when they open.
The blooms remind me of Brenda Delph's Andrew's Gold. So far the blooms have stayed yellow and not aged to orange like many yellows tend to do. This seedling has great parentage with Monika Gottschalk's Sommerzauber as pod bearer. The father, Cassie's Curls is one of my favorite single orange brugmansia. What was exciting about this Brugmansia seedling was that it's first bloom cycle was a flush of about 10 blooms. As you would expect,I have already pollinated all of these blooms and their pollen has been spread around various cultivars in my collection. It's mother, Sommerzauber is in bud now so you can be certain a couple of those blooms will be dusted with pollen from this beauty when they open.
March 17, 2011
How to deal with a home invader...
It's easy, just catch them with a trap and transport them away to a new location!
Recently I started noticing my cat's food was disappearing at an astonishing rate. My cat is not a big eater so I knew something strange was going on. Perhaps the half eaten dog biscuit I found in the kitchen sink should have been a tip-off as to who was to blame.
I borrowed a small animal trap from a friend and set it up in my kitchen before going to bed. A few hours later I awoke to a ruckus as this rather jumbo sized raccoon was trying to find a way to escape from his new home. Later that morning I drove him a few miles away from my house and released him. I reset the trap again for night two and low and behold, his mate ended up in the trap as well! It has now been over a week since I captured these two and so far no other creatures have ventured into the trap.
I live in our old family home that was built in the 20's, and it happens to be in a somewhat state of disrepair. Unfortunately it is really not a challenge for a creature to find a way to infiltrate my living space.
Now I need to move the trap out to my brug growing area where a family of armadillos is reeking havoc.
Recently I started noticing my cat's food was disappearing at an astonishing rate. My cat is not a big eater so I knew something strange was going on. Perhaps the half eaten dog biscuit I found in the kitchen sink should have been a tip-off as to who was to blame.I borrowed a small animal trap from a friend and set it up in my kitchen before going to bed. A few hours later I awoke to a ruckus as this rather jumbo sized raccoon was trying to find a way to escape from his new home. Later that morning I drove him a few miles away from my house and released him. I reset the trap again for night two and low and behold, his mate ended up in the trap as well! It has now been over a week since I captured these two and so far no other creatures have ventured into the trap.
I live in our old family home that was built in the 20's, and it happens to be in a somewhat state of disrepair. Unfortunately it is really not a challenge for a creature to find a way to infiltrate my living space.
Now I need to move the trap out to my brug growing area where a family of armadillos is reeking havoc.
March 16, 2011
It's a yellow Angel Trumpet fiesta!
The past few weeks I have had bunches of angel trumpet seedlings bloom for the first time, including an abundance with yellow blooms. One of the standouts from the yellow group was this seedling from a cross between Brugmansia Rosalie x Inca Sun.
With their shiny glaze, the blooms almost appear to made out of porcelain.
What I really like about this seedling is that it appears it took the best traits of both its parents, Brugmansia Rosalie and Inca Sun.
The blooms are a very bright yellow with great form and substance.
This will certainly be a seedling to watch this summer. Seeing how both Rosalie and Inca Sun thrive here in Florida, I expect this one to do the same.
I like it when a new brugmansia seedling produces a mini-flush during its first bloom cycle. I've already placed this one in my hybridizing program and pollinated most of the blooms in its first flush. Quite often the crosses do not take when you pollinate a seedling's first ever blooms. When I was making my rounds last night I was surprised to see that seven of the crosses appear to have taken.
I also used the pollen from this cross to pollinate and bunch of other cultivars. I'm looking forward to seeing what beauties the second generation produces.
With their shiny glaze, the blooms almost appear to made out of porcelain.What I really like about this seedling is that it appears it took the best traits of both its parents, Brugmansia Rosalie and Inca Sun.The blooms are a very bright yellow with great form and substance.This will certainly be a seedling to watch this summer. Seeing how both Rosalie and Inca Sun thrive here in Florida, I expect this one to do the same.I like it when a new brugmansia seedling produces a mini-flush during its first bloom cycle. I've already placed this one in my hybridizing program and pollinated most of the blooms in its first flush. Quite often the crosses do not take when you pollinate a seedling's first ever blooms. When I was making my rounds last night I was surprised to see that seven of the crosses appear to have taken.I also used the pollen from this cross to pollinate and bunch of other cultivars. I'm looking forward to seeing what beauties the second generation produces.March 12, 2011
Up, up and away
As the Friday sun was setting I was out amongst my brugmansia plants looking for blooms to pollinate. I just happened to glance towards the east and saw a rocket heading skyward. I'm only about 60 miles from the space center and as long as the sky is clear, launches are easily seen.
If you look at the very top of the photo you can see the rocket. Because this rocket was carrying a spy satellite, there was no advance notice of the launch. I'm sure going to miss the shuttle launches when they end.
If you look at the very top of the photo you can see the rocket. Because this rocket was carrying a spy satellite, there was no advance notice of the launch. I'm sure going to miss the shuttle launches when they end.March 10, 2011
This Brugmansia seedling is a keeper for sure
Now on its second year in my watch zone, this Angel Trumpet has earned itself keeper status. It is a Brenda Delph cross of Brugmansia Terri Schindler Shiavo x New Orleans Lady.
The blooms are medium in size and carry New Orleans Lady pleasant scent.
The coloring is also similar to that of its father, New Orleans Lady. All the blooms pictured here were sliced open for pollinating following this photo session so I do not have a decent picture of a fully colored bloom.
I crossed this seedling back to both of its parents and I know for sure the New Orleans Lady cross took. More blooms should be open early next week and I plan to select some pollen that may help bring out a deeper orange color in the blooms. I noticed Brugmansia Terri Schindler Shiavo should be in bloom at the same time and you can be assured it will be crossed back to this one.
This seedling should have a name and be officially registered by fall.
The blooms are medium in size and carry New Orleans Lady pleasant scent.The coloring is also similar to that of its father, New Orleans Lady. All the blooms pictured here were sliced open for pollinating following this photo session so I do not have a decent picture of a fully colored bloom.I crossed this seedling back to both of its parents and I know for sure the New Orleans Lady cross took. More blooms should be open early next week and I plan to select some pollen that may help bring out a deeper orange color in the blooms. I noticed Brugmansia Terri Schindler Shiavo should be in bloom at the same time and you can be assured it will be crossed back to this one.This seedling should have a name and be officially registered by fall.March 9, 2011
Brugmansia Angel's Sweet Summer is ready for summer
Brugmansia Angel's Sweet Summer is gearing up for summer by blooming almost non-stop since our warm weather moved in last month. This Angel Trumpet was introduced by Anne Kirchner-Abel and it thrives here in Florida, producing mass
quantities of beautiful, rather plump, jumbo blooms.
The foliage is a dark green and the plant is a vigorous grower. In the warmer months the bloom color deepens to a very deep, dark pink.
I have several seed pods forming with Angel's Sweet Summer as a parent, both as a pod parent and a pollen parent. It will be interesting to see the outcome. I would like to create a bloom like this in yellow or orange!
The foliage is a dark green and the plant is a vigorous grower. In the warmer months the bloom color deepens to a very deep, dark pink.
I have several seed pods forming with Angel's Sweet Summer as a parent, both as a pod parent and a pollen parent. It will be interesting to see the outcome. I would like to create a bloom like this in yellow or orange!
March 8, 2011
Brugmansia Butterfly x Joli has great form
Here's a rather formal looking bloom from a Brugmansia Butterfly x Joli cross. The blooms are medium in size and thick textured.
As these Angel Trumpet blooms matured the corolla tube colored up nicely. While I was examining the bloom closer the texture and color reminded me of Rosalie. I'm certain the double genes came from the father as Joli often throws double blooms.
I have several other Brugmansia Butterfly x Joli seedlings that have recently bloomed so I crossed this one back to one of its siblings. Whenever I have multiple seedlings from the same cross in bloom, I often cross the siblings back to each other in hopes that a second generation seedling will appear that has the quality traits of both.
As these Angel Trumpet blooms matured the corolla tube colored up nicely. While I was examining the bloom closer the texture and color reminded me of Rosalie. I'm certain the double genes came from the father as Joli often throws double blooms. I have several other Brugmansia Butterfly x Joli seedlings that have recently bloomed so I crossed this one back to one of its siblings. Whenever I have multiple seedlings from the same cross in bloom, I often cross the siblings back to each other in hopes that a second generation seedling will appear that has the quality traits of both.March 7, 2011
I just love this flowering tree!
This is my all time favorite spring flowering tree. It is known as the Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia chrysotricha). I grew the tree pictured below from seed years ago and it
is the largest of the 4-5 trees I have planted. They started blooming
last week and should peak in the next few days. They are truly a
show-stopper when they bloom, with masses of bright yellow blooms
covering the entire tree.
This variety of Tabebuia reaches about 20-25 feet tall at maturity. Here's a photo of my oldest tree which I would consider to be of mature size. The azaleas planted below really compliment the bright yellow color. To the left you can see a white dogwood tree just coming into bloom. This is about as far south as you can successfully grow dogwoods in Florida and I'm fortunate to have several healthy specimens in my yard.
I just love spring!
This variety of Tabebuia reaches about 20-25 feet tall at maturity. Here's a photo of my oldest tree which I would consider to be of mature size. The azaleas planted below really compliment the bright yellow color. To the left you can see a white dogwood tree just coming into bloom. This is about as far south as you can successfully grow dogwoods in Florida and I'm fortunate to have several healthy specimens in my yard.I just love spring!March 4, 2011
Striking gold with this beautiful Angel Trumpet
Here's a nice single yellow Angel Trumpet seedling I carried over from 2010. It is from a cross involving Brugmansia (Serendipity x Peanut) x Jamies Monkey Business.
I carried this one over because the blooms had great form and the soft yellow color carried all the way through the corolla tube.
Another plus for this seedling was the fact that the blooms stayed yellow throughout their life cycle. Often yellow brugmansia cultivars develop orange tones as they mature.
I have so many great yellow brugmansia seedlings in my watch zone now that it is going to be a major challenge to decide which ones, if any, are worth registering and releasing to the public.
I carried this one over because the blooms had great form and the soft yellow color carried all the way through the corolla tube.Another plus for this seedling was the fact that the blooms stayed yellow throughout their life cycle. Often yellow brugmansia cultivars develop orange tones as they mature. I have so many great yellow brugmansia seedlings in my watch zone now that it is going to be a major challenge to decide which ones, if any, are worth registering and releasing to the public.
I'm really liking this Angel Trumpet lots!
Here's a European import that will play an important role in my spring hybridizing program. The cultivar is Brugmansia 'Bergfee' and as you can see by the photo below it has a nice butter-yellow color and great form.
I'm excited to announce that this bloom has evolved into a tiny seed pod with New Orleans Lady as the father. If it holds it should produce some interesting offspring.
I'm excited to announce that this bloom has evolved into a tiny seed pod with New Orleans Lady as the father. If it holds it should produce some interesting offspring. March 3, 2011
Snakes gone wild...bring in the cats!
Look into my eyes....
That's what this black racer appears to be thinking as he casts a rather psychotic stare my way. After finding several snake skins amongst my plants this past week, I knew it would not be long until I found their owners. My cat happened to be close-by and of course had to come over and investigate what I was looking at .
Now that the snake realized it had quickly become a new cat toy, it quickly scurried away.
That's what this black racer appears to be thinking as he casts a rather psychotic stare my way. After finding several snake skins amongst my plants this past week, I knew it would not be long until I found their owners. My cat happened to be close-by and of course had to come over and investigate what I was looking at . Now that the snake realized it had quickly become a new cat toy, it quickly scurried away.I'm looking forward to seeing how this Angel Trumpet colors up this summer.
This new Angel Trumpet seedling has great form. It is from an unknown cross with Brugmansia 'Taylor Dawn' as the pod parent.
The blooms are much larger than those of its mother, Taylor Dawn. I expect the blooms to color up more during our warm summer months.
Some of my past Taylor Dawn seedlings have had some lavender color in their blooms so I plan to continue to cross them back to each other. It is my hope that eventually one will produce a seedling with lavender blooms
The blooms are much larger than those of its mother, Taylor Dawn. I expect the blooms to color up more during our warm summer months.Some of my past Taylor Dawn seedlings have had some lavender color in their blooms so I plan to continue to cross them back to each other. It is my hope that eventually one will produce a seedling with lavender blooms March 1, 2011
This Angel Trumpet is a mess, but I like it!
It is not unusual for an Angel Trumpet plant to produce a shredded bloom from time to time but here's a Brugmansia seedling that has thrown two consecutive shredded blooms. This has me hoping that this seedling will always be shredded.
The seedling is a cross of Brugmansia Miss B Haven x Seminole Moon. Too bad Seminole Moon's color did not carry through.
I already have three shredded brugmansia cultivars in my collection; 'Shredded White', 'Shredded Pink', and 'Fantasma'. The blooms on this seedling were much larger that those three and were also thicker in texture.
The seedling is a cross of Brugmansia Miss B Haven x Seminole Moon. Too bad Seminole Moon's color did not carry through.I already have three shredded brugmansia cultivars in my collection; 'Shredded White', 'Shredded Pink', and 'Fantasma'. The blooms on this seedling were much larger that those three and were also thicker in texture. The next few blooms should tell me if these blooms were was just an anomaly, or if shredded blooms are going to be the norm for this seedling. I'm really hoping it stays shredded!
