Deppea Splendens

How would you want one of those? Just window shopping here, as this plant is nowhere to be found for less than $100 :) And I am not willing to spend that much on a plant that might not even survive the trip. Let me know if you ever have a good Mexico source!

One of the rarest plants in cultivation. A member of the coffee family, Deppea splendens has beautiful flowers that make it a very desirable plant to have in your garden. Hanging from impossibly thin, wiry flower stems are clusters of long tubular yellow flowers that emerge from red sepels. Blooms in late Summer & Fall. The plant itself has crisp green foliage that is somewhat textured & tropical looking. The plant gets to be around 6-8’ tall and 4-5’ wide, although it reached much taller proportions in its native habitat. Needs some shade and frost protection. These are clones from the population at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

Frangipani Vine

As if a Plumeria alone wasn't breath taking enouch, check out the Plumeria VINE! Impossible to find for purchase, seed or plant. But my watchful tropical eye will be scanning all areas.

This large-leafed, coarse vine sports large clusters of white blooms with a subtle fragrance, best in full sun and acid soil. Large shiny leaves, prominent veins, superb white flowers similar to Frangipani, yellow and propellor shaped, delicous rich scent. Flowers a pure white with yellow center. Use it on larger structures (trellises), or allow it to ramble over tall trees. This is a stunning vine, flowering profusely from May - July; one of the powerful lianas of the Indian and Malayan forests, climbing to the tops of the tallest trees. This plant goes dormant in subtropical climate and usually loses leaves if temperature gets below 60F, but it is somewhat cold tolerant (30-40F) and can survive mild frost for a short period.

Tulip Tree Update

We have Babies! The first set of seeds germinated within 4 weeks. Hard to believe the seeds didn't fry at these temperatures. I've circled them in case you can't make them out :) ..I am not much of a photographer

The second picture is from my Canadian supplier. There are some better images in a previous post...








I can't wait to see this one develop!

Monkey's Hand Tree

What a scary looking thing!

Chiranthodendron pentadactylon– Sterculiaceae (Malvaceae) - ‘Devil's Hand Tree,' 'Monkey's Hand Tree,' 'Mexican Hand Tree,' 'Árbol de la manita,' 'Flor de la manita,' 'Mano de león,' 'Palo de yaco,' 'Mano de mico,' 'Majagua,' 'Macpalxochicuahuitl' -

Once known from a single sacred specimen growing in the Valley of Toluca in México, it was revered by the Aztecs and used spiritually and medicinally. Similar to an American Gingko, this plant was later found growing wild in the mountains of the México-Guatemala border, but much of the mystique surrounding this plant remains. It's names, both common and latin, refer to the excerted stamens emerging from the flower like a clawed hand. Like its close relative, Fremontodendron, it is in the Chocolate family, and a cross between the two genera is also grown. Difficult-to-germinate seeds mean that this plant is still rare in cultivation, but there are many fine specimens dotted up and down California.

Devil's Hand Tree is a slow-growing tree that will eventually reach a rounded 50'-60', and has a very beautiful contorted branches. The wonderful large red flowers put on a great show and flower for a long season. On the ground you sometime find the 'hands' that have fallen out of the mature flowers- a strange sight indeed (pictured). A tree for full sun on the cost or part shade more inland, they are very drought tolerant once established, and can also tolerate brief dips below 20º F.

Hymenocallis White Spider Lily

Hymenocallis caroliniana is a native plant in the Amaryllis family. It's whispy, icy white flowers are really unusual, and they’re bound to bring traffic to a dead stop along the front of any light sun to full shade border. Average to moist soil is preferred.
The one on the right is named "Tropical Giant"
Hymenocallis means "beautiful membrane" which refers to the corona that connects the stalks of the stamens for a portion of their length. Commonly known as the “Spider Lily” the 8”- 12”, attractive, almost succulent foliage, holds up well all the growing season. Flowering commences in mid to late Summer. Native from the Southeast to the midwest, I predict that it is at least zone 5 hardy if not zone 4.

Somewhat easy to grow from seed, but it takes 3 - 5 years to reach flowering size. I recommend propagation from division as it takes only a year or two to flower and some plants set several new bulbs every year.

I JUST bought 5 bulbs online for 99 cents!!!!

Mystery Ginger- Happy Mothers Day!

It's not a tropical secret that I love tropical plants :) Most in our garden are grown from seeds or traded with other gardeners worldwide, so usually we start small before we go big time.
Today my Husband bought me a HUGE Ginger Plant with about 6 huge rhizomes and a bloom. We discovered it while browsing through our most favorite Garden Center!!!
We don't know what kind it is yet, but we know it's HUGE. We think it's Kalihi Ginger

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you my babe!! It means especially much because my son was born on on a tropical island, which lead me to my liking of...tropical plants.

If you know a proper name of this ginger, please leave message on the post. Thanks!

10 little Red Orchid Plants ...

Lets hope for the best!!!. 10 Seeds planted today!

One of the Orchid Tree species with brick red, orchid like flowers and notched leaves shaped like hooves.

B. galpinii if let alone grows like scandent shrub forming round mounds but it can be shaped in different ways to your liking. I have seen plants trimmed as small tree with a very oriental look, plants growing over fences, plants on trellises. Trimming should be done when the plants are waking up at the beginning of spring.

The Royal Empress Tree

Paulownia tomentosa hardly needs any introduction. Also known as Princess Tree and Royal Paulownia, this showy, Chinese ornamental has naturalized throughout much of the Eastern U.S. and is grown as far north as Montreal. Paulownia can grow ten feet in a year, making it the world's fastest growing hardwood. Produces dense shade. Will tolerate almost any soil. Height usually about 40' at maturity.

If you need a fast growing, spectacular, blooming tree, this is it! My seed rack just received 10 stuffed peletts, nicely tucked away awaiting for us to see the, well...seedlings of a tree that grows 10 feet a year!!!!!

Fruits you’ll think twice before eating

From childhood, we were taught (forcefully?) by our parents to eat whatever is served on the table, and that included fruits. They can’t be half as bad as vegetable, right?

I love veggies and fruits as well. But, let’s face it, when we were kids, we were so picky there had been unceremonious crying sessions at the dining table. These crazy-shaped fruits either naturally harvested or scientifically-bred, will get us all psyched up to eat them.

Kiwano:
Also known as horned melon, it’s origins can be traced to Africa.

If you cut it open, the somewhat slimy, green appearance can make one hesitant to draw a spoonful of this fruit. Kind of reminds me of the green slime that thrown up by the girl from The Exorcist.

It tastes like cucumber in lemon juice and the slimy, seedy texture is utterly disgusting and almost impossible to swallow.

Peter Pepper:
I don’t have to say the obvious here, right?

New Research projects

Erythrina crista-galli- Coral Tree
German Brugmansia / Angel's Trumpet 'Super Spot'
Passiflora Parritae
Cornus florida subspecies urbiniana
Solkfloss Tree

Will post as soon as info becomes available!.....

Brugmansia Culebra

Isn't this something! My newest research project. eBay is my favorite book!....More soon....

Tree Morning Glory

This week I've received my plant trade from a garden friend in Alabama. Tree Morning Glory. Not really a tree, but definately not a vine. Lets see what come from it.

This interesting plant is in the sweetpotato family (Ipomoea) with a shrub-like growth habit. The scientific name is Ipomoea fistulosa. It is described as growing in exceedingly dry places and can be considered a xeriscape plant.The bush morning glory is the most prolific bloomers of any of the summer perennials.

The plant is covered with medium-size, light pink (there is a white form available) blooms all summer. Blooms last only one day but clusters of blooms are formed in the axil of every leaf. Plants can get 6-8 feet tall with multiple trunks. When hard frosts kill plants, the tops should be removed; in South central Texas plants will sprout again from the hardy root system the following May. Once established the bush morning glory is a tough (drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant) plant. It blooms best in direct sun and will not bloom as well if receiving less than 8-10 hours of direct sun. Plants can be cut back monthly to encourage branching and increase blooming surface. Cutting back in July will reduce plant height and encourage a spectacular fall bloom.

I've also located seeds here: Ipomoea carnea Seeds

Other:
Bush Morning Glory, Morning Glory Tree, Badoh Negro, Borrachero, Matacabra. Syn: Ipomoea carnea ssp. fistulosa, flowering shrub, trumpet flowers

Bell Tree Dahlia - Finally!!!

I can almost touch it!! Since this is the 3rd post on this plant, it's obvious that I really really wanted that plant. I got it!!!! One white, one lavender .

Dahlia imperialis or Bell tree dahlia is a member of the Dahlia genus native to Mexico, Central America and Colombia. It is a magnificent plant, reaching around 15-20 Ft, with thick, bamboo-like stems and single, downward pointing, pinkish-purple, orange-centered flowers in November/December. An attraction-seeking and rewarding plant.

It is a tuberous, herbaceous perennial, rapidly growing from the base after a dormant winter period, developing brittle, cane-like, 4-angled stems with swollen nodes and large tripinnate leaves, those near the ground soon being shed. The pendant or nodding flowerheads are 3-5" across with ray florets pink or mauvish-pink in color.

This species is fast-growing, the growth spurt being linked to shorter daylight hours, and usually comes into flower in autumn before the first frost. Propagation is by seed or by stem cuttings. Coming from warmer climes, it can be grown outside to zone 8+.
 

Seeds have been located here

Pineapple Guava

Today, I've discovered the first blooms on our 2 year old Pineapple Guava tree. Hopefully this means that there is a harvest coming our way as well. But if not, no big deal, the flowers alone are magnificent.
The feijoa grows easily from seed, but the seedlings are not always true to type. Seeds are separated by squeezing the seedy pulp into a container, covering with water, and letting the liquid stand for 4 days to ferment. The seeds are then strained out and dried before sowing. The seeds will retain viability for a year or more if kept dry. Germination takes place in 3 weeks. The plant fruits in 3 - 5 years from seed. Vegetative means are necessary to reproduce a variety. Young wood cuttings will root within two months with bottom heat and mist. Whip, tongue or veneer grafting methods are sometimes successful, as is air-layering and ground layering. Cutting-grown plants of named varieties are most desirable, because they can be trained in a variety of ways, and can be maintained as multitrunked shrubs without concern that suckers will develop into "rogue" branches..

The King of all Cabbages

Look at this, Walking Stick Cabbage. I am not sure if I am going to grow it. It was however, unique enough to post.

Origin: Jersey and Guernsey Channel Islands; English & French coastlines.
First advertised for retail sales 1827. First retail offering in North America 1841.
Giant Walking Stick Cabbage is a very ancient strain of Celtic cabbage.
Leaves, picked from oldest to newest, working upwards (which makes the plant grow taller), are used in traditional cabbage soups and stews, and medicinally for digestion and skin problems (burns, infections and acne). In Victorian times, cabbage was deemed "poverty food" and rejected as such. This predjudice lingers to this day, despite the fact that cabbage contains vital nutrition to the human body.
The rock-hard, stronger than bamboo stalks are dried for 8-10 months, before worked into canes, hiking sticks, etc., like wood. Stalks are often used for vining plant supports, arbors and fences. An average 2-3 inch GWS stalk can hold 200 lbs. Young, growing plants can be bent and shaped with wide cotton tape, allowing for handles to be grown on canes. 20% shrinkage over the drying period must be expected.
In it's lifetime, GWSC will grow 4-7 feet in one year of growth. Left alive to grow it's second year, it may reach up to 20 feet tall.
Walking Stick Kale is a poster child for multi-purpose garden plants. Edible, medicinal, ornamental and yielding material for other uses, this brassica oleracea variety is regaining popularity in home gardens.

Spathodea Campanulata

Thanking my lucky stars, I've successfully traded my stash of Thai Adenium seeds for someone elses stash of African Fountain Tree seeds. 50 seeds to be exact, Yippie!!.

I would love to see this specimen bloom in real life (currently oogeling seed suppliers). What will I not try to grow?

Originally from Equatorial Africa, the evergreen African tulip tree can be found abundantly in Suriname; a spectacular flowering tree.
It is a fast-growing, about 80' tall, ever-blooming tree. The wood is known to be very soft and brittle. When young, the leaves are bronze; deep glossy-green at maturity.
Flame of the forest is an ornamental tree in the tropics. The unopened buds contain water, which squirt when squeezed or pierced, for instance by birds.
Out of each bud come, large orange-red flowers and because of those the tree is planted as an ornamental.
The many seeds (about 500) are in an 8" long legume that breaks open when it falls from the tree.
The seeds are very small with transparent winglets.
There is a rare yellow variety of the African tulip tree called Lutea.
The bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine in Ghana.
Bark is used in wound healing and especially burn healing. The bark and leaves shows a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity including anti-malarial activity.
Aqueous alcoholic decoctions of the leaves shows promise to be used for the treatment of malaria.

"Invasive" in Hawaii and extremely rare in N America. Gardening's got to be the greatest hobby of all.

Herald's Trumpet

Stumbled across this lovely plant, Oh how can anyone not want one!!!! Extreemly rare to find of course, especially a plant. I will have to settle for seeds then. Thankfully this one grows upward. We will be running out of space eventually...Sky Scraper style planting for limited space, heh heh. Yeah I always thought the square foot garden idea was nuts too.

An interesting rare perfumed plant is Herald's Trumpet (Beaumontia grandiflora) which has wonderful large white flowers with a sweet tropical perfume. It is a vigorous woody climber which is native to the region from India to Vietnam and belongs to the same plant family (Apocynaceae) as Oleanders, Frangipanis and Mandevillas which typically bleed a white milky sap from cut stems.
Plant details

Botanic name: Beaumontia grandiflora
Climate: Will grow best in zones 9-11. It prefers sub-tropical and tropical conditions to thrive and can look miserable in areas where temperatures fall below 10°C.
Herald's Trumpet is technically a climber but is normally grown as a shrub to 2-3m (6-10') tall with dark glossy green leaves that are deeply veined. The large white flowers have a rich tropical scent and flowers through the warmer periods of the year, spring and summer.

Good points:

• Strongly perfumed plant for the garden
• Attractive foliage during cooler months of the year as well as large white flowers through spring and summer
• Twining growth habit that needs support and can be grown as a shrub
• Could be grown in other areas of Australia in a warm micro-climate

Bad points:

• It is quite a rare plant which may be difficult to find

Uses:

• Unusual specimen plant in the garden
• As a climber against a fence
• Perfumed plant for a summer garden

Likes:

• Full sun
• Well-drained soil

Protect from frost, particularly when young

Bauhinia - Orchid tree

The Orchid Tree is native in India and China and is related to the Redbud tree, Jerusalem-Thorn tree and beans. It grows in both South and Central Florida to about 25 feet. It is a deciduous tree with medium green leaves shaped like the footprint of an ox or cow.

The flowers look somewhat like an orchid and are about 3-4 inches across. They may be in colors like red, purple, lavender, yellow or white. Depending on variety, bauhinias flower in winter, spring or summer and many of the 300 species are also shrubs. Should be planted in full sun with enriched soil and good drainage.

They're easy after being established, but often foliage is poor. This tree requires proper feeding to have nice leaves.
Of course I'd like to grow this plant too! Once I am done with all the others. Zone 9-10 - perfect!

Unusual Veggie Comics

I was browsing for some veggie garnish ideas and woah, came across this cool art! Korean artist Komusin puts veggie tales into a completely different perspective. A few pics with english captions. Could not pass this up.

The Struggle to Survive.
"Outta my way! Save me! Aagh! Ugh! (expired)

Love
"Don't Cry.. Promise I love you more than the Onion

"I can do it..."

Bottle Brush Tree

This beauty will be planted on the side yard and will replace the cactus garden. Less harmful to the cats jumping the fence up and down.
Callistemon rigidus or Stiff Bottlebrush is an Australian native shrub that can get 3-8' tall with a 6-10' spread at maturity. This Bottlebrush has a bushy growth habit with stiff stems and stiff linear shaped leaves and will do best on a well-drained soil.

In the summer this Callistemon will bloom sporting spectacular bright red bottlebrush-like flowers that are great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.
Actually the red that is seen is the showy stamens, as the petals are small and inconspicuous.
After bloom the Bottlebrush will have button-like seed capsules. One interesting thing about Bottlebrushes, for us "plant nerds" is the fact that the stems continues to grow after the flowers and seed capsules, sothey are not necessarily at the terminal. So there will be foliage, flower or seed capsules and then foliage
again.

With love, from aunt Brugmansia

It comes from north western South America and it's one of the nightshade family, so be careful, these are poisonous plants.

Iochroma cyaneum has big quite felty leaves. It grows to about 3 to 4 metres and needs a sunny, warm position. Frost would be its big enemy, they really hate that winter cold.
Grow it in a protected position where it will get some reflected heat from a wall. Prune right down to ground level in Autumn or after flowering. It starts flowering again in December and flowers all the way through until late summer. It needs some summer moisture, but not a lot. Use it at the back of a shrub border to add some height, and then plant other things in front of it. This is a plant that usually grows in south eastern Australia, but grows anywhere, as long as it's not too cold.

This plant sends out strong suckers so if you live in the warmer, wetter areas where it could get away, keep it in a pot.

Located seeds: Rare Seeds






Other Names: Iochroma Brugmansia Relative, Blue Brugmansia, Red Brugmansia

Save the Papaya

Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world, and we as gardeners must adjust to unfavorable changes in the weather. In Texas, the major environmental threats to the garden are: too much sun, sandy soil, lack of water, too much rain, violent thunderstorms with accompanying high winds and hurricanes.
Papayas have a main tap root rather than the expansive network of roots that most other species of trees have anchoring them into the ground. The main tap root has a few side roots, but they are closer to the surface of the ground rather than deep in. As a result, the papaya is vulnerable to being toppled over by high winds or young boys who might like to uproot one just because they can.
The inner core of the trunk is hollow, much like bamboo. Even slight damage to it produces a rush of milk that streams to the wound (as white blood cells do when human skin is injured) to begin the process of creating a crusty "bandage". Keeping the tree properly hydrated maintains the "milk pressure" as our bodily fluids and the free flow of them maintain our blood pressure.
This year temperatures dropped to 31-32 degrees in the Houston area. Although the actual temperature was above freezing, there was enough wind chill to cause frost damage to most of my papayas.
All blossoms are lost and developing buds drop off. The leaves show all the signs of irrepairable damage i.e: wilting, rapid change in color from green to yellow to brown, complete crisping and eventual dropping off. If temperatures are expected to continue at the near-freezing level, it is best to let the leaves remain on the tree as long as possible as they will protect the tender and more likely to regenerate top growth. Absolutely remove all fruit. A tree fighting to survive doesn't need a pile of fruit to nurture. When all danger of frost has passed, strip off all dead leaves.
Don't be hasty about removing what looks like a dead tree. Be patient. Many trees will send out side growth or regenerate top growth. By being patient, you may salvage the tree and insure many more years of healthy, abundant harvests . Introduce plenty of water and gradual dressings of your usual fertilizer as soon as possible. If you must, saw the tree down to the nearest new growth at the thickest part of the trunk and paint the wound liberally with tree tar.
Sometimes, all is not lost. Patience and a good salvage job may lead you back to tasty fruits and your peaceful, leafy canopy.

Yucca Elephantipes

The coolest yucca of all yuccas. Yucca elephantipes, more commonly called the spineless or soft-tipped yucca, is a fast growing member of the agave family. In fact, it can quickly outgrow its original position in the garden.

Yucca elephantipes is a small evergreen tree reaching around 9 metres (30') in the wild, but it is usually smaller in cultivation. It develops a thick, branching trunk which is reminiscent of an elephant's foot at the base. From summer to autumn it produces white, bell-shaped flowers in large panicles. The spineless yucca is adaptable to a wide range of climates and conditions and is drought, salt and frost tolerant. It can be grown indoors as an architectural pot plant, or outdoors as a landscaping plant. It is suitable for modern, Santa Fe or Mediterranean style houses and landscapes.

I grow it everywhere there is a "hole". These plants grow very fast, are trainable and reproduce like rabbits, well at least 3 offshoots per year, per plant.

Yucca cuttings can be taken almost anytime of the year. First, tidy up the clump by stripping the lower leaves off the stems. Stripping the leaves will also prevent the cutting from losing its moisture before the roots grow. Take your cutting from a mature stem, with brown bark underneath the stripped section. If the bark is cream-coloured, rotting may occur. The cutting can be taken from any part of the stem. The thickness and length of the stem doesn’t matter. The foliage at the tip of the cutting does not need pruning. Allow the stem to dry out for a few days to a week in a shady spot. After drying out, put the cane in an appropriate-sized pot filled with a free-draining mix. Keep the pot moist and store in a shady spot with plenty of light. (Tip: make sure you tie the cutting to something after it is potted, as it may fall over in the wind.) Roots should form in about two to four weeks. Do not re-pot until you see roots in the drainage holes of the pots.

Queen of the Garden: The Amaryllis

Finally some color in the garden (besides of course, the weed). The first plants are blooming since tuesday and one I've already snipped to decorate our receptionist desk.

Amaryllis bulb flowers are one of those superb (and easy to grow) plants that you have to be in awe over. Those huge blossoms poking up in the middle of winter simply never fail to win gardener’s hearts. The breeders have gone nuts with these amaryllis bulb flowers and have given us all colours and all sizes. There’s a plant for every discriminating gardener and house decorator. You may have to search the Net for some of these varieties as not all garden centers will carry this extensive a selection. But that’s half the fun!

There are two distinct types coming on the market now – the “Christmas Flowering” and the “Winter Blooming”. Christmas flowering types are genetically from the Southern hemisphere and are predisposed to flower in the winter months everywhere else (when it is summer here).

How to press flowers for unique gifts

This is a very cool way to make personalized cards for any occasion. Can also be used, whoever has the patience, for scrap booking, check book inserts, creative canning labels yadda yadda etc.
I remember an aunt who did this while I grew up. Definately unforgettable.

1. Collect plants when they are dry, but preferably before the heat of the day has wilted them. Usually you only want the flower, not the stem, but you will want to gather some foliage. Some root systems are neat and useful.
2. Flatten flowers - even remove the petals from a thick center core. Press some foliage at the same time so you can have a record (even if you don't use the foliage). Press flat with fingers if necessary.
3. Pansies and violas are particularly easy to press and tend to hold color. If in the field (as on a road trip), use any absorbent paper directory (like the ones you can get which advertise rental/sale properties). Ask the motel/hotel for a Yellow Pages phone book. When you get home, you can transfer to a large phone book. Adding weight on top helps flatten.
4. Spread pages and insert a folded facial tissue. Place petals/flowers inside the fold. Close the pages, skip a few and repeat. The tissue makes it easy to transfer...
5. Transfer tissue containing the flower to another book. The idea is to remove moisture from the plant.After the third transfer, leave it alone until it is completely dry.
6. Remove from tissue and place on acid free paper (my computer paper supplier tells me that all of their paper is now acid free). There are pens that you can buy to test acidity (probably less than $10).

Bomarea - a weed in some countries

I've received my seeds from tradewinds!
Wohoo!
At first I was growling at the label "germination can take up to 3-9 months" ugh, but what do you know, 2 of the seeds in the package were already sprouting and rooting. They are freshly potted up - so more to come on that... when more comes.
This rare gem is considered a weed in New Zealand, hard to believe. That must be the reason so many people want to move there, it's got to be breathtaking.

A brief description:

• A vine-like herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots. Bomarea will grow along the ground and up on a trellis. Grows well in warm climates as well as cooler, foggy areas. Hardy to the mid 20's.

• Stems - Can be both twisted and scrambling along the ground, as well as climbing. Vines grow to 10-30ft.
• Leaves - Elongate and pointed at the ends. Pale green in colour.
• Flowers - Huge flowered, scarlet colored Bomarea. Trumpet-shaped, produced in clusters of 15-20, hanging down. Spring is the main flowering time, but flowers can be seen at other times of the year.
• Fruit - A capsule that splits open to reveal bright orange/red fleshy seeds.

Preskia - Rose Cactus

Several weeks ago, I've finally received the seeds. My 16 year old carefully planted them and did everything to guarantee success. So he soaked 12 peat moss pellets in hot water, carefully put 2 seeds in each pellet, covered it and put it up on a warm place .
A couple of days ago there was the first sprout, success! It's already about 1 cm tall! See pic.

Pereskia grandiflora is considered to be the original cactus, the ancestor as it were of all other cacti. Strangely enough, the plant looks nothing like a cactus. In fact it does not even resemble a succulent, but rather a wild rose. It is one of the few varieties of cacti to have leaves.

Pereskia grandiflora produces delightful pink flowers that bloom in clusters. A plant 30 to 35 cm high (17 cm pot) will bear two or three clusters of flowers, a plant 50 to 70 cm high (25 cm pot) three to four clusters. The plant is also characterized by large, pale green, privet-like leaves and a long, thorny stem. It is sometimes called 'Rose Cactus'.

Fast grower
The plant can be kept indoors or on the patio if the temperature is no lower than 12°C. It tolerates sun and (semi) shade. Only the very hot noonday sun should be avoided. Contrary to other cacti, it does need regular watering. However, please ensure that no water is left standing in the pot. Underwatering will cause the plant to shed its leaves. In spring and summer weekly feeding will contribute to (speedy) growth. In winter the plant loses all its leaves and the rootball must be kept dry although it must not be allowed to dry out completely. With proper care the plant can flower from spring to winter.

Update: This seedling died after developing 4 nice leaves. Not sure what happend, it was happy in my window sil till it shriveled up into nothing - RIP

Pandorea Jasminoide

This rare plant is my pride and joy.

Native to Australia, the Pandorea jasminoides grows to about 20 feet in one growing season. The Vine is hardy into the mid-twenties and will bloom from late in the Spring through Summer and into the Fall until frost. This year however, it never stopped blooming.

I am fond of the clean leaves and dark green foliage and the fact that it attracts hummingbirds . It will reach and twine about anything within several feet so periodic trimming is required. Pandorea jasminoides prefers regular water and plenty of sun.

More on Tree Dahlias - Notes to Myself

Dahlia campanulata
White (wheeping) Tree Dahlia

A Religious Plant - Papyrus

Cyperus Papyrus

Some asked me if there was a religious plant / biblical plant.
So I dug a little deeper and found something I've remembered from my catholic upbringing.

Papyrus is a beautiful plant with a rich history and tradition. Where it can be grown it is both a striking accent in the environment and a great conversation piece. Soft green clouds of papyrus lined the Nile River during the time of the pharaohs. In the Bible the infant Moses was found among the bulrushes, as Cyperis papyrus is also called. Ancient Egyptians kept records of their pyramid building activities on papyrus sheets, from which we get the word "paper."

The image to the right is, written on papyrus, the earliest substantial New Testament manuscript known to exist, a slightly mutilated codex of Paul's epistles from about the year 200 (2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9) The image is borrowed...but I forgot from where. Feel free to let me know if you know, to pass on the proper credit, or to remove it if so desired.
Today papyrus is appreciated for its beauty and is often used in ornamental landscapes especially in pools, ponds and containers.I got a plant from my favorite plant/seed supplier: centerofthewebb
 
There are different types of papyrus, some dwarf, some house plants, or the one that currently grows in my yard... Cyperus Alternifolius.

Grows nice and bushy around the fountain in the backyard.