June 2011 Archives
June 30, 2011
A polka-dotted Angel Tumpet?
Actually it's a polka dotted bug on an angel trumpet bloom. I'm not sure what the official name of this bug is but it contrasts well on this pink bloom.
Girls night out...
Brugmansia Kelifornia Ruthie and Lizzy are out to impress on this balmy summer night. Both of these Angel Trumpets are great performers here in Florida.
June 29, 2011
An Angel Trumpet so bright you need sunglasses to view it
This Angel Trumpet seedling has some of the brightest yellow blooms I have encountered. The seedling is from a cross I made between Brugmansia Sommerzauber and Cassies Curls.
This seedling closely resembles another seedling from this same cross I featured this spring. Brugmansia Sommerzauber is a Monika Gottschalk introduction that often produces golden color blooms under the right growing conditions. Cassies Curls was introduced by Park Seed and has deep golden yellow blooms with cute corolla teeth.
I still have a bunch of seedlings from this cross yet to bloom and I have my fingers crossed that one will be a beautiful yellow double. A bright yellow version of Brugmansia Sommerzauber would be perfect!
This seedling closely resembles another seedling from this same cross I featured this spring. Brugmansia Sommerzauber is a Monika Gottschalk introduction that often produces golden color blooms under the right growing conditions. Cassies Curls was introduced by Park Seed and has deep golden yellow blooms with cute corolla teeth.I still have a bunch of seedlings from this cross yet to bloom and I have my fingers crossed that one will be a beautiful yellow double. A bright yellow version of Brugmansia Sommerzauber would be perfect!June 27, 2011
The summer pest patrol is on watch
With our summer rainy season finally getting underway, my favorite pest patrol is out in force.
You can never have enough tree frogs amongst your plants when it comes to natural pest control.
Besides the great work they do munching on bugs, aren't they cute! :)
You can never have enough tree frogs amongst your plants when it comes to natural pest control.Besides the great work they do munching on bugs, aren't they cute! :)Angel Trumpet Brugmansia Orange Zest x (Pink Smitty x Miss Ellie)#1
This new Angel Trumpet seedling was carried over from last year and is continuing to evolve into a winner. It is from a cross I made between Brugmansia Orange Zest and a soon to be named and registered seedling, (Pink Smitty x Miss Ellie)#1.
I especially like the crepe paper like blooms and the creamy yellow color of the corolla tube.
This seedling is currently thriving in our sauna like summer weather. The blooms are medium in size and long lasting. I'll keep this one in my watch zone this summer and then decided what to with it in fall.
I especially like the crepe paper like blooms and the creamy yellow color of the corolla tube.June 24, 2011
An Angel Trumpet version of Beauty & the Beast
When I'm out snapping photos of my new blooms, often I do not see creatures that may be on or near them until I review the photos later. While checking out some recent photos I shot of this Brugmansia Rubirosa x Sam seedling I spotted this tiny spider making his rounds.
A spider sure beats seeing the pairs of eyes glowing in the background I often see on some of my nighttime photos.
A spider sure beats seeing the pairs of eyes glowing in the background I often see on some of my nighttime photos.June 23, 2011
Angel Trumpet caught in a worm hole...
This angel trumpet bloom put a new meaning into the term worm hole. When I hear of a worm hole I think of outer space and Star Trek. I recently noticed I have lots of another type of worm hole throughout my brugmansia jungle. Here's a photo of bloom that had a recent encounter with one.
Caterpillars are my number one pest during the summer and it looks like I'm going to have to use some chemical warfare to get them under control. :(
Caterpillars are my number one pest during the summer and it looks like I'm going to have to use some chemical warfare to get them under control. :(June 20, 2011
Two great Brugmansia parents make for a beautiful seedling
Here's another Angel Trumpet seedling that is showing great promise this summer. It is a seedling from a cross between Brugmansia Mon Amour de Muriel and Shooting Star.
This Brugmansia seedling caught my attention last year and was placed into my watch zone. It has really turned out to be a watcher with its beautifully formed double-skirted, deep salmon colored blooms
Often the blooms will start out with a distinct separation before slowly starting to recurve.
The plant is a vigorous grower and is currently over 8 feet tall. The blooms are not phased by the heat and the plant has remained pest free. The blooms always have separated skirts and have maintained a consistent look and form over multiple flushes. That is very important should I decide to name and register this seedling.
With such great parents, Brugmansia Mon Amour de Muriel and Shooting Star, it is no wonder why this Angel Trumpet seedling is such a beauty!
This Brugmansia seedling caught my attention last year and was placed into my watch zone. It has really turned out to be a watcher with its beautifully formed double-skirted, deep salmon colored blooms Often the blooms will start out with a distinct separation before slowly starting to recurve. The plant is a vigorous grower and is currently over 8 feet tall. The blooms are not phased by the heat and the plant has remained pest free. The blooms always have separated skirts and have maintained a consistent look and form over multiple flushes. That is very important should I decide to name and register this seedling.With such great parents, Brugmansia Mon Amour de Muriel and Shooting Star, it is no wonder why this Angel Trumpet seedling is such a beauty!June 17, 2011
This moth is up to no good
While making my rounds the other night I caught this moth in the process of laying eggs on an Angel Trumpet bloom.
Sorry Mr. Moth, that earned you the kiss of death. The fact that you are laying them on a very special double yellow seedling I have in my watch zone means you have no chance for forgiveness.
Caterpillars are my number one pest problem during the summer and almost all of the ones I find munching on my plants come from moths.
Sorry Mr. Moth, that earned you the kiss of death. The fact that you are laying them on a very special double yellow seedling I have in my watch zone means you have no chance for forgiveness. Caterpillars are my number one pest problem during the summer and almost all of the ones I find munching on my plants come from moths.
June 15, 2011
Brugmansia Angels Gold Face offers some cheerful summer color
One cultivar I was excited to place into my breeding program last year was Brugmansia Angels Gold Face. It is an Anne Kirchner-Abel hybrid Brugmansia cultivar originating in Germany.
As you can see the blooms are nicely formed with a golden yellow color. The double skirted blooms are smaller than average and waxy in appearance. The plant is a vigorous grower and so far my stock plants in 7 gallon pots are at 6-8 feet tall.
The majority of the blooms have been displayed in a semi-nodding position, but as the plants mature I have noticed a few more become pendant.
It is not a shy bloomer and it loves our Florida weather. The thicker textured blooms show no sign of wilt even in the heat of the day.
It looks like I'm going to end up with seeds from at least a dozen different crosses involving Angels Gold Face this summer. The first cross to mature was Brugmansia Inca Sun x Angels Gold face and those seedlings have already been moved up to gallon size pots. I expect to see some interesting results from the assortment of crosses I made.
I really like this Angel Trumpet lots!
As you can see the blooms are nicely formed with a golden yellow color. The double skirted blooms are smaller than average and waxy in appearance. The plant is a vigorous grower and so far my stock plants in 7 gallon pots are at 6-8 feet tall.The majority of the blooms have been displayed in a semi-nodding position, but as the plants mature I have noticed a few more become pendant.It is not a shy bloomer and it loves our Florida weather. The thicker textured blooms show no sign of wilt even in the heat of the day.It looks like I'm going to end up with seeds from at least a dozen different crosses involving Angels Gold Face this summer. The first cross to mature was Brugmansia Inca Sun x Angels Gold face and those seedlings have already been moved up to gallon size pots. I expect to see some interesting results from the assortment of crosses I made.I really like this Angel Trumpet lots!June 6, 2011
An Angel Trumpet Bloomaholic
This beautiful Angel Trumpet seedling has turned into a keeper. It is a seedling from a cross I made between Brugmansia Creamsicle and Shooting Star.
It is currently in its second year of being trialed and will be officially named and registered with the International Brugmansia and Datura Society later this year.
If there was such a thing as a bloomaholic, this seedling would be one. I snapped these photos a week or so ago when it came into flush with more than two dozen blooms. When I was out making my rounds tonight it had at least a dozen more blooms in various stages of opening and at least the same amount of buds forming that should open next week. I've never seen a multi-skirted Angel Trumpet bloom so profusely
I remember the blooms having a fragrance last year, but now that I'm currently scent challenged I cannot identify one. The blooms are average in size and long lasting. We are having our typical steamy Florida weather now so you can see that this plant does well in the heat.
I hope it decides to take a break from blooming in a couple of weeks because the end of the month I plan to switch into propagating mode. It would be hard to chop this plant up for cuttings if it is blooming like it is right now.
This Brugmansia would make a great replacement for New Orleans Lady. I know I was able to get a couple of seed pods to set on her before our heat rolled in and I know she is fathering a couple of additional pods on other cultivars. If those crosses carry over the great genes from this seedling you can be assured to see some more beautiful and exciting seedlings next year.
It is currently in its second year of being trialed and will be officially named and registered with the International Brugmansia and Datura Society later this year.If there was such a thing as a bloomaholic, this seedling would be one. I snapped these photos a week or so ago when it came into flush with more than two dozen blooms. When I was out making my rounds tonight it had at least a dozen more blooms in various stages of opening and at least the same amount of buds forming that should open next week. I've never seen a multi-skirted Angel Trumpet bloom so profusely I remember the blooms having a fragrance last year, but now that I'm currently scent challenged I cannot identify one. The blooms are average in size and long lasting. We are having our typical steamy Florida weather now so you can see that this plant does well in the heat.I hope it decides to take a break from blooming in a couple of weeks because the end of the month I plan to switch into propagating mode. It would be hard to chop this plant up for cuttings if it is blooming like it is right now.This Brugmansia would make a great replacement for New Orleans Lady. I know I was able to get a couple of seed pods to set on her before our heat rolled in and I know she is fathering a couple of additional pods on other cultivars. If those crosses carry over the great genes from this seedling you can be assured to see some more beautiful and exciting seedlings next year.June 4, 2011
A colorful new Angel Trumpet
It is not often that I encounter a multi-color bloom amongst my seedlings, but the ones I have encountered have all been nice. Here is one I plan to name and register soon. It is a seedling from a cross between Brugmansia Miss Ellie and Day Dreams.
These pictures really do not show the beautiful color range of this Angel Trumpet. In real life the ribs on the blooms have more golden orange in them. The mix of soft pastel colors make this seedling stand out from the others. It is a consistent bloomer with frequent flushes of long lasting blooms.
The plant thrives in our heat and is a fast grower. Now I just need to think of a good name for it.
These pictures really do not show the beautiful color range of this Angel Trumpet. In real life the ribs on the blooms have more golden orange in them. The mix of soft pastel colors make this seedling stand out from the others. It is a consistent bloomer with frequent flushes of long lasting blooms. The plant thrives in our heat and is a fast grower. Now I just need to think of a good name for it.June 2, 2011
Brugmansia Lemon Twist x Lemon Meringue
Here's another seedling from a cross I made between Brugmansia Lemon Twist x Lemon Meringue.
As you can see the bloom is a medium sized, nicely formed double with yellow corolla teeth. I'm still hoping to see some color in one on the remaining seedlings from this cross yet to bloom
As you can see the bloom is a medium sized, nicely formed double with yellow corolla teeth. I'm still hoping to see some color in one on the remaining seedlings from this cross yet to bloom June 1, 2011
Bugs on a pod
Last night was was what I would call a bug-a-palooza. I went out with my headlamp on to check on a few about to open flower buds and I was bombarded with insects.
My headlamp is a giant bug magnet anyways, and last night the bugs were out in force. When I stopped to check on a couple blooms, these bugs decided to quit harassing me for a few seconds by taking a break on a nearby seed pod. Lucky for them they were non-threatening to my plants so I let them be.
My headlamp is a giant bug magnet anyways, and last night the bugs were out in force. When I stopped to check on a couple blooms, these bugs decided to quit harassing me for a few seconds by taking a break on a nearby seed pod. Lucky for them they were non-threatening to my plants so I let them be.This beetle seemed to be guided by the light because as soon as I moved on it was back in my face swirling around my headlamp.
