Thanks, Lin. I pulled a lot of plants out to get a drink, not knowing we'd get so much rain for so long. We have more coming this afternoon.

I'm sure you'll see a surge of growth from all that rain, Sandi. We've been dry for a couple of weeks now, and are hoping to catch the tail end of that weather front that's raining on you.

I just wanted to add about the Birds of Paradise in the first photo on the thread - they need to be crowded and root-bound to bloom! Big old clumps that are so thick and crowded you wouldn't think they could breathe are the ones that bloom the best.

Elaine, re: to root bound BOP. Did this apply to the giant variety as well? My Giant always has roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. I assumed its root bound...which is to bad. uam going to need a huge out next go around!

We're enjoying the rain, just wish we could have had it a little sooner. The best news is that the rain last night moved over the Highland Lakes. That chain of lakes feeds into Lake Travis, our water supply.

The brugmansias are beginning to pop now with all the rain. They are fairly scrawny though from the heat. This is Eternity. It was full of buds when I took the BOP photo. Now those buds are beginning to open. Should smell heavenly tonight.


And the BOP, opened a little more.

So pretty, Sandi!

Thanks, Cheryl. We have painters here this week. It's a messy process. Today they're sanding the ceilings, so I'm staying in the computer room. I go out through this window, into the garage, and then to the kitchen. 'Then back the same way. One more day of this and I'll be really crazy.

Climbing out a window?! Hahahaha This may be the main reason why I am scared to have my floors redone! I dread the thought!

We should have moved out.
Someone from Arlington wrote that they may have temp of 49 tonight. We'll be in the mid 50s. Seems early for us.

Cheryl, the giant white BOPs are a whole different ball game. To be honest, I can't imagine trying to grow one to a size where it would bloom in a pot! My white birds are 20ft. tall with leaves 8ft. long and trunks so thick I can't get my hands around them. They bloom with huge 2ft. long 'boats' all the way up those huge stems. I honestly think they need to get big enough to have a trunk before they bloom, that's what mine do in the ground here.

Just my opinion, but they really should probably be sold as just a foliage plant. Unless you live somewhere pretty tropical, and have a gigantic pot you'll never get it big enough in a pot for it to bloom.

Thanks, Elaine. I do love the giant BOP for it's foliage. I don't think it will grow as fast in a pot either. I also hear it is messy grown in the ground and multiplies. I might change my mind when it is time to repot. For now, it looks nice as it is. My leaves are a mere 24". I have a spot in the yard if I decide to keep it and let it grow big and strong. Or I will give it away. In the mean time, I love it as it is. I baby it from frost and give it plenty of water and heat in the summer. Yes, I live in the hot, Tropical South.

So right, they are not 'tidy' plants when they grow in the ground. Good for a big, background plant in a landscape, but need pruning and removal of dead leaves and flowers at least twice a year, and the biggest stalks on mine get removed once a year as well. Otherwise, they get up and mess with the power lines!

I paid my garden helper to remove a whole huge clump last spring, and even though he dug it out pretty well, it still is sending up stalks and trying to start again in that spot! All the rain this summer encouraged it, of course.