Something Cheerful, Something Pretty

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view -- H. Fred Dale

Sometimes the garden offers some surprises! This Gerbera Daisy plant has not been flowering well for such a long time. I was so glad to see its flower stalk coming out from the centre of the plant last week. And this week, the bud opened...

The flower head is not as big as when I first bought it. Wonder how those growers did it? Mine is always smaller (including the leaves) than the original size! 


The flower stalk that appeared from the centre of the plant before it opened. In the same pot, I used to have another Gerbera Daisy which was smaller in size (should be the one with orange bloom). It unfortunately rotted due a prolonged rain. 


Next to the Gerbera Daisy is my little Brachycome multifida a.k.a Cut-Leaved Daisy... cute as always and always blooming :-D

Another plant that has cute flowers is from an annual called Gypsophila. After I brought the plant home, it was raining for a few days in a row. The plant was wilting away hence, I pruned it to half the size. Still, it looks dreadful. 

This Passiflora sp. (probably a cultivar called 'Lady Margaret') is a new vine in my garden. It is wonderful to see how productive the vine is. I just applied a little fertiliser and out came many new blooms. They blossomed one after another :-) 

And this Verbena that I have, I have been growing it for a few years now! The plant is so robust and it will just keep growing new stems and blooms... Anyone has the same experience? 

Oh, my Jasminum sambac 'Grand Duke of Tuscany' is forever invigorating! Love to be able to smell something sweet in the garden :-)

My Senecio confuses 'Sao Paulo' that I am growing in a pot never fails to send out a flower or two...

Another such bright and cheerful bloom are flowers from my Holmskioldia sanguinea aka Chinese Hat Plant. These brilliant blooms can be spotted from the road :-)

Last week, I managed to repot my two gorgeous Gloxinias into some fresh soil... yippie!! 

The old soil was hard to the touch. Though I managed to make it softer, I thought it would be better if I transplant the tubers into new soil...

Happy gardening!

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18 comments

  1. Your passiflora has many blooms. (Now.. I'm jealous cause I had no blooms yet)
    And I'm totally blown off to see your Verbena!!
    You manage to keep it for years!!
    You must share your secret..
    (Hahahahahaahhahhaaaaaa)
    Mine died within that few months - it didn't grow after its had finished its blooming time.

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    Replies
    1. Hi James, actually there is no secret. I just let it flourish in the pot and only repotted once as the plant has little roots only. Fyi this plant is not bought from the local nurseries here :-) As for passiflora, maybe my vine is still new?

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  2. I had no idea that verbenas could live on...must be the magic in your hands! I also like the colour of your get era. And like James, I'm jealous at the sight of the Passion flower. Oh, to have that many blooms!

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    Replies
    1. Haha... maybe it is the variety that makes a difference :-)

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  3. Eu queria saber todos os nomes , como você,
    que belas florações lindas.
    beijos
    http://eueminhasplantinhas.blogspot.com.br/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wanted to be so generous and kind like you, Simone :-)

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  4. Your Gerbera Daisy is beautiful. You have so many blooms. I like it.
    Greetings !

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    Replies
    1. Actually, the garden has more green than other colours :-)

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  5. I never had the yellow gerbera! Mine is orange in colour. Seldom flower too! You have gorgeous flower collections!

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  6. I think the nursery push the plants hard with fertilizer before selling, to display big flowers. I used to grow Verbena, loved the variety of colours, but they became very prone to powdery mildew. Now I grow mainly dwarf Zinnias in pink and orange. They are very rewarding and reseed, tough which is a 10 in my book. Sambac Jasmine is wonderful, love the scent of jasmine. do you get fruit as well from your Passiflora? Your plants always look well cared for, you are a lady with great patience.

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    Replies
    1. Zinnias grow really well here too. Come to think of that... I haven't planted zinnia for a long time already. Will get some seeds or young plants to grow again :-) This Sambac Jasmine is really pretty... looks like a rose but wilt quickly :-( And no, I haven't see any fruit from the passiflora yet. Will watch out for it. Thank you.

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  7. I love your Passiflora, Stephanie. It is a fantastic colour. I can grow Passiflora Caerulea, which is surprisingly hardy, and even when killed off by hard frost will grow again in Spring.

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  8. Looking at your beautiful specimen, I think the Chinese Hat Plant is worth planting. Gerberas are very finicky and are very prone to fungal white. Unless one is willing to spray with copious amount of fungicide, it should be given a wide berth.

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    Replies
    1. The Chinese hat plant can be a stunning upright shrub in a spacious garden :-) I find that the bigger Gerbera variety is less prone to pest attack and root rot.

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  9. Beautiful colors in your garden Stef! I just love them!
    I have no green fingers for flowering plants just ferns ... how sad ... would love some colors in my garden .

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    Replies
    1. Hello Corinne! Glad to hear from you. I love ferns a lot. Will pop by your home blog after this :-)

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