August 2011 Archives
August 31, 2011
This scrumptious Angel Trumpet thrives in our summer heat
Even in our hot and steamy summer weather, this Angel Trumpet seedling continues to wow me.
While most of my brugs are taking a break from blooming right now, this Brugmansia Creamsicle x Shooting Star seedling continues to produce flush after flush of beautiful blooms. I shot this photo yesterday morning and as you can see, a couple of fruit flies are finding this bloom scrumptious as well.
I plan to name and register this seedling next month. It is a vigorous grower and roots easily so it should be readily available next spring.
While most of my brugs are taking a break from blooming right now, this Brugmansia Creamsicle x Shooting Star seedling continues to produce flush after flush of beautiful blooms. I shot this photo yesterday morning and as you can see, a couple of fruit flies are finding this bloom scrumptious as well.I plan to name and register this seedling next month. It is a vigorous grower and roots easily so it should be readily available next spring.August 20, 2011
Introducing Brugmansia 'Raspberry Crush'
Introducing Brugmansia 'Raspberry Crush', a new Angel Trumpet I just named and registered with the International Brugmansia and Datura Society.
This beautiful cultivar came about from a seedling from a JT Sessions cross involving Brugmansia Goldfinch x Peanut. It has been in my watch zone for over two years and is also playing an important role in my future hybridizing program.
The raspberry is in its name because in warm weather the blooms are a very dark "raspberry' pink color. Raspberry Crush is a great Brugmansia to grow in containers because of its compact growth habit. That is why it is playing an important roll in my hybridizing program.
Watch for Raspberry Crush to be available next spring!
This beautiful cultivar came about from a seedling from a JT Sessions cross involving Brugmansia Goldfinch x Peanut. It has been in my watch zone for over two years and is also playing an important role in my future hybridizing program.The raspberry is in its name because in warm weather the blooms are a very dark "raspberry' pink color. Raspberry Crush is a great Brugmansia to grow in containers because of its compact growth habit. That is why it is playing an important roll in my hybridizing program.Watch for Raspberry Crush to be available next spring!August 16, 2011
In the Hibiscus World, what a difference a couple of hours makes...
During one of my morning strolls through my jungle I captured this shot of a cluster of Exotic Hibiscus blooms about ready to open.
You may not know this but you can actually snip off hibiscus blooms before they open and place them in a glass of water in your refrigerator to enjoy a few days later. Just pull the buds out when you are ready and they will open wide. You can then enjoy their beauty for the remainder of the day.
Now here's the money shot of the same three buds pictured above. This shot was taken later in the afternoon on the same day.
With our current intense summer heat coupled with a recent application of fertilizer, my Brugmansia are taking a short break from blooming while they pump out some new growth. My Hibiscus blooms are filling the void by giving me my daily dose of color I so desperately need.
You may not know this but you can actually snip off hibiscus blooms before they open and place them in a glass of water in your refrigerator to enjoy a few days later. Just pull the buds out when you are ready and they will open wide. You can then enjoy their beauty for the remainder of the day.Now here's the money shot of the same three buds pictured above. This shot was taken later in the afternoon on the same day.
With our current intense summer heat coupled with a recent application of fertilizer, my Brugmansia are taking a short break from blooming while they pump out some new growth. My Hibiscus blooms are filling the void by giving me my daily dose of color I so desperately need.August 10, 2011
They're back!!!!!
When I was checking over my neglected front yard this weekend, I found it odd that my crinum lilies had no grasshopper damage this year. They seem to be one of the favorite foods of the giant Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, or lubbers as they are commonly called. Well Monday I got my Lubber fix when I spotted one resting on an Angel Trumpet leaf.
Despite their giant size as an adult, they actually eat less than grasshoppers a fraction of their size. They are monsters too, typically reaching 3 inches in length. While the adults may not be big eaters, the babies sure make up for that and will strip a plant bare overnight.
I do not think the adults have any natural predators. Nothing wants to mess with them partly because they have natural toxins in their system that act as a poison to predators. Even my one dog that chases anything that moves, looks the other way when one of these creatures stumble into his territory. The best way to take care of them when they are large is with a club or baseball bat. :)
The lubbers do not seem to be nearly as populous as they were when I was growing up here in Clermont. I'm sure it has to do with all the citrus groves being replaced by homes. I remember back in my triathlon training days, on the backside of Lake Minneola, by the marshland, the lubbers would be so thick on the road that you had trouble biking and running through them. After a couple of days the road would almost be black with squashed lubbers.
They sure are a beautiful creature though, especially when i see them in other peoples yards and not mine!
Despite their giant size as an adult, they actually eat less than grasshoppers a fraction of their size. They are monsters too, typically reaching 3 inches in length. While the adults may not be big eaters, the babies sure make up for that and will strip a plant bare overnight.I do not think the adults have any natural predators. Nothing wants to mess with them partly because they have natural toxins in their system that act as a poison to predators. Even my one dog that chases anything that moves, looks the other way when one of these creatures stumble into his territory. The best way to take care of them when they are large is with a club or baseball bat. :)The lubbers do not seem to be nearly as populous as they were when I was growing up here in Clermont. I'm sure it has to do with all the citrus groves being replaced by homes. I remember back in my triathlon training days, on the backside of Lake Minneola, by the marshland, the lubbers would be so thick on the road that you had trouble biking and running through them. After a couple of days the road would almost be black with squashed lubbers.They sure are a beautiful creature though, especially when i see them in other peoples yards and not mine!August 9, 2011
Mayflies invade my Brugmansia
The Mayflies were just out in force. This time they started taking a liking to my Brugmansia Jungle. I captured this solo mayfly resting on one of my Angel Trumpet blooms.
Anyone who lives near a body of fresh water is certainly familiar with mayflies. They appear by the millions several times each year. They are attracted to light at night and only live a couple of days. The road in front of my house was covered solid with mayflies below each street light. Thank goodness they do not eat plants or else my brugs would be devastated right now.
Anyone who lives near a body of fresh water is certainly familiar with mayflies. They appear by the millions several times each year. They are attracted to light at night and only live a couple of days. The road in front of my house was covered solid with mayflies below each street light. Thank goodness they do not eat plants or else my brugs would be devastated right now.August 7, 2011
When Oceans Collide
If you are a weather fanatic like I am, Central Florida is a great place to live. During the summer the sky comes alive almost every afternoon when the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean sea breezes collide. Saturday's skyline was quite dramatic.
While I was hoping we would get some rain out of these storms, the storm ended-up being all show and no action. The exploding clouds were a good backdrop to showcase Brugmansia Sweet Summertime, a Monika Gottschalk introduction that thrives in our Florida heat.
While I was hoping we would get some rain out of these storms, the storm ended-up being all show and no action. The exploding clouds were a good backdrop to showcase Brugmansia Sweet Summertime, a Monika Gottschalk introduction that thrives in our Florida heat. August 6, 2011
Introducing Brugmansia Marshmallow Sunset
I decided it was time to start naming and registering a few of my Angel Trumpets that have been on my "To be Registered" list since last year. Here is the first of many I plan to register this year. I named this one Brugmansia 'Marshmallow Sunset'.
This seedling originated from a Brenda Delph cross involving Brugmansia New Orleans Lady and (Angel's Flight x Charming).
You can see easily see traits from both parents in these blooms. The bloom form and size is more in line with those of Angel's Flight and the fragrance and cool weather orange coloring is similar to that of New Orleans Lady. Angel's Flight struggles here in Florida and I feel Marshmallow Sunset will be a good replacement for it in my breeding program.
The photo above shows the beautiful orange color that develops in cooler weather. As the blooms mature over a couple of days the corolla teeth re-curve and the blooms have a puffy marshmallow look to them.
I have second generation seedlings with Marshmallow Sunset both as a pod and pollen parent growing out now. I expect some of them to bloom this fall. I also recently sowed seeds from an additional 20+ crosses I made with this new cultivar in the spring. I have high hopes for the outcome.
This seedling originated from a Brenda Delph cross involving Brugmansia New Orleans Lady and (Angel's Flight x Charming). You can see easily see traits from both parents in these blooms. The bloom form and size is more in line with those of Angel's Flight and the fragrance and cool weather orange coloring is similar to that of New Orleans Lady. Angel's Flight struggles here in Florida and I feel Marshmallow Sunset will be a good replacement for it in my breeding program.The photo above shows the beautiful orange color that develops in cooler weather. As the blooms mature over a couple of days the corolla teeth re-curve and the blooms have a puffy marshmallow look to them.I have second generation seedlings with Marshmallow Sunset both as a pod and pollen parent growing out now. I expect some of them to bloom this fall. I also recently sowed seeds from an additional 20+ crosses I made with this new cultivar in the spring. I have high hopes for the outcome. August 4, 2011
A Sacajawea Sunset
One thing I love about Central Florida is that we have beautiful sunsets almost every day. Here's a photo I captured yesterday of Brugmansia Sacajawea silhouetted by a thunderstorm.
What is unusual about this photo is that I am shooting towards the east, not the west, so you would expect this to be a sunrise photo instead. This sunset was so bright that it encompassed the entire skyline, reflecting off the numerous afternoon thunderstorms in the area.
A touch of fill-in flash shows off the beauty of this bright yellow Angel Trumpet. Brugmansia Sacajawea was introduced by Alice Harris and was named in honor of Indian Princess Sacajawea, made famous by explorers Lewis & Clark in the early 1800's.
I made a bunch of crosses with Brugmansia Sacajawea this past spring and just recently sowed the seeds. Hopefully I'll have some of her beautiful children to show off next fall.
What is unusual about this photo is that I am shooting towards the east, not the west, so you would expect this to be a sunrise photo instead. This sunset was so bright that it encompassed the entire skyline, reflecting off the numerous afternoon thunderstorms in the area.A touch of fill-in flash shows off the beauty of this bright yellow Angel Trumpet. Brugmansia Sacajawea was introduced by Alice Harris and was named in honor of Indian Princess Sacajawea, made famous by explorers Lewis & Clark in the early 1800's. I made a bunch of crosses with Brugmansia Sacajawea this past spring and just recently sowed the seeds. Hopefully I'll have some of her beautiful children to show off next fall.
