September 2011 Archives

Here is a rather dramatic Angel Trumpet bloom from a cross I made between Brugmansia Butterfly x Angels Exotic.

I'm growing out a bunch of Angel Trumpet seedlings from this same cross and many are already in my watch zone because of their beauty. 

This cross of Brugmansia Butterfly x Angels Exotic has produced quite a diverse set of seedlings.  With 8-10 additional seedlings expected to bloom for the first time this fall, I'm certain the diversity will continue.    

I have several seedlings from my cross of Brugmansia Orange Zest x Genevieve in my watch zone.  This one in particular intrigues me with its rather unique bloom form.

I believe this bloom style is going to hold because this Angel Trumpet seedling has had several bloom cycles with consistent looking blooms. The blooms are above average in size and the inner skirt is always several times larger than the outer one.  The blooms start out snow white but show a golden cream color as they age, especially in the outer skirt.

I'm anxious to see what the color does in the cooler weather.

I've been sort of quiet lately as my real job in the event business approaches its seasonal peak and becomes more demanding.  I've also encountered a shortage of photogenic blooms thanks to an out of control caterpillar population.  Fortunately I have some unsolicited help in my war against cats.  This tiny spider is making a meal out of a caterpillar twice it's size.

Right now I'm battling a type of inch worm that prefers blooms over foliage.  The leaf eaters are just starting to emerge so now I have no choice but to turn to chemical warfare.  Next week all my Angel Trumpet plants with get a nice bath of Orthene mixed with a dash of preventative miticide.
          

As the morning sun illuminates another beautiful day here in Central Florida, this golden Angel Trumpet bloom is illuminating my my field of brugs. 

Brugmansia Wuppergold has been a great performer this summer and I'm looking forward to introducing it into my fall breeding program as soon as the weather cools off.

Mother Nature put on quite a show last night with a full moon rising amongst our afternoon thunderstorms and a setting sun.

I scrambled to find a blooming Angel Trumpet plant to use in the foreground, but I had to settle for this rather lanky Brugmansia without any blooms.

While working in my Brugmansia jungle yesterday I found several ghost seed pods like this one.  I hate when this happens!

In our hot and steamy Florida summers, when seeds pods ripen they must be harvested quickly or you'll end up with a pod skeleton and Brugmansia seeds scattered all over the ground.  This can happen in just a couple of weeks.  However, when pods ripen in the winter and spring, the pods would just dry and could hang on the plant with seeds intact for months. 

It's that time of year when the lovebugs make their semi-annual appearance here in Florida.  Every May and September you can count on these sex-crazed critters to annoy the heck out of you, especially if you do allot of driving. Lovebugs are harmless and are more of a nuisance than anything else. They do not sting or bite and fortunately for us, do not harm our plants.  They like to feast on sweet nectar so that is why you see a pair hanging around on this beautiful Angel Trumpet bloom on Brugmansia Sweet Summertime.  
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Lovebugs are more of  nuisance to motorists as swarms of these interlocked couples tend to hang-out along the highways and cause havoc to drivers.  Squashed lovebugs can damage vehicle paint if they are not removed within 48 hours, and can also clog radiator grills. They are more frequently remembered for being plastered on windshields, leaving a  gooey mess that requires you to pull over and scrub the mess off if you wish to see out your windshield.

Luckily, the swarms here in Central Florida are not nearly as bad as they were a decade ago, and everyone is loving that!.

If you are looking for a heat loving Angel Trumpet, Brugmansia Madame Bouvarie is a great choice.

Here in Florida, many brugmansia cultivars take a break from blooming when the temperatures peek in August,but not Madame Bouvarie.  She keeps producing flush after flush no matter what the high temperature is.


Brugmansia Madame Bouvarie shows her best color during the warm summer months.  The photos I have posted here really do not show the luminescent coloring of the edges of the corolla and corolla teeth that you see in real life.

When the weather cools, the blooms on Madame Bouvarie are lighter, but just as beautiful.