BTW .... if DH gives you a hard time, tell him that you know this guy who is good at growing things from cuttings (show him your new CR cutting). And then mention in passing that at 66 x 1,000 sounds purty good, eh? [wink] Not exactly kosher since you would be violating patent law, but then, does HE need to know that?

DavidLMO said:

Yes. When DW says just exactly WT? did you do this, I can say Well I was not as extravagent as a lady I know on ATP and explain you spending $66 for an 8 inch tree that looks dead. LMAO.

I AM just funnin with you BTW.

Keep in mind, the Mimosa can get quite large fairly quickly. We have (a Wilson Mimosa) one started in the kitchen in Feb 2011 and in a year it was ~ 3 ' tall and 3 " in diameter. It is now about 15 - 18 feet tall, 20 + feet wide and the trunk is ~ 8 inches in diameter.

On man, that sound awful. It is as bad as I thought. I am surprised at myself for buying and sharing my lack of...............what ever adjective fits here.

Hey, but I will have a tree in a few years and you will have two leaves with only a few inches of growth...rib...rib

DavidLMO said:BTW .... if DH gives you a hard time, tell him that you know this guy who is good at growing things from cuttings (show him your new CR cutting). And then mention in passing that at 66 x 1,000 sounds purty good, eh? [wink] Not exactly kosher since you would be violating patent law, but then, does HE need to know that?

What...... make cuttings and not pay fees patent fees and make cuttings? Honestly I am surprised that has not been the case before now. Pretty much when something is released to the market it is up for grabs or so I have seen, right or not. I know I will be making a few more cuttings for my property anyway. I am guessing though that the grafting means the chocolate is a weaker slower growing strain. I dunno. It will be a sweet learning curve I hope.

Bubbles said:I think the Confed. Rose is a double. I don't think any are single, but not sure. The rain we had resurrected one little plant under the oak out back and it took off! I hope it's the deep pink one I thought I'd lost.
DH just turned on the heater in the hoophouse off the gameroom. As much as I wanted it on, I think I'll be up a few times to check on it. We usually stay a couple of degrees warmer than predicted.

O.k. it was many months ago, but I thought you handed me two cuttings and said you had doubles and variegated but did not know what was what. My only experience with one was the one in the parking lot of Z. B.G. and the cuttings taken from it when we noticed it was starting to decline. Anyways pretty cool that you got a bloom already. I promise to figure out a place this spring and hopefully can post a nice photo of a bloom this next year.

Yes, I do feel guilty when I splurge on plants but it never seems to stop me from doing it again...and again...and again!

I guess it's too late now, but you can order directly from the Monrovia website if you have a nearby nursery where they deliver. I don't know where you live exactly but they have at least one place listed near Austin called Red Barn Garden Center.
http://shop.monrovia.com/summe...
You can get a #5 (3.6 gallon) plant for $79.00 with free shipping to the store.

I've seen these occasionally at local nurseries and the leaves really are pretty. I haven't caught one in bloom yet but I'm sure that's stunning. The green-leaved plants grow as roadside weeds everywhere here, but they are still really pretty when in bloom.

I actually just splurged on some new Salvia seeds a few minutes ago but it was a more modest splurge of around ten dollars. I really had to work hard to resist a lot of the other seeds to keep it that low, though!

Danita said:
I actually just splurged on some new Salvia seeds a few minutes ago but it was a more modest splurge of around ten dollars. I really had to work hard to resist a lot of the other seeds to keep it that low, though!

Yep. I could easily blow thru $ 100 here:

https://www.selectseeds.com

I am not sure if they have any whose prices are rediculous. I simply try to stay away. Hehe

Esperanza said:
What...... make cuttings and not pay fees patent fees and make cuttings? Honestly I am surprised that has not been the case before now. Pretty much when something is released to the market it is up for grabs or so I have seen, right or not.

Commercially? Any examples?

That really is what the Plant Patent was created for. I have never read of it being applied to an individual.

Esperanza said: I know I will be making a few more cuttings for my property anyway. I am guessing though that the grafting means the chocolate is a weaker slower growing strain. I dunno. It will be a sweet learning curve I hope.

If it is weaker, slower growing it will remain mostly so - grafted or not. The primary reasons for grafting are:

hardier root - e.g. Arnold Promise witch hazel
less affected by the bad guys (fungal mostly) e.g. tomatoes is a great example

FWIW, I have never did a Mimosa from cuttings. I do grow 10 - 30 from seeds every year.

Esperanza said:

O.k. it was many months ago, but I thought you handed me two cuttings and said you had doubles and variegated but did not know what was what. My only experience with one was the one in the parking lot of Z. B.G. and the cuttings taken from it when we noticed it was starting to decline. Anyways pretty cool that you got a bloom already. I promise to figure out a place this spring and hopefully can post a nice photo of a bloom this next year.

When do you people sleep?
I remember loading your SUV with all kinds of plants, but couldn't tell you what they were!

Did it freeze up on your hill? Looks Iike it froze briefly around 4:30. The little hoop off the house was 48 with heater on. The little greenhouse without heater on was 42! I would guess the big hoop would be about the same without heat.

Sleep? Huh??

When I retired it was ~ Zero.
When I got up it was 9.
My basement was 65.
My garage was 44.
We are now up to 17 - downright balmy out.

Hey Bubbles -- question about Confederate Rose. That is what you guys are talking about?

How big does it get?
Have you grown it from seed?

I was up way past my bed time last night!

Danita, I thought about getting one delivered from Monrovia and kicked that idea around for a few weeks. But, after a few glasses of wine yesterday the buy it now button on ebay was just to easy. There was no forms to fill out or driving into town. Oh, well. I go and spend $5 here and $ 10 there all the time, so I will just have to behave for a while.....lol.....ya right

Sandi, we did freeze sometime last night but not for long. Only the tips of things burned. I think it will get a little colder tonight though. Long range forecast has the lowest temps being at 31 for the rest of February. Looks like a pretty mild winter. I hope it does not change farther out into march. Last year all my mountain laurel blooms got toasted but somehow the peach blossoms where fine

David I have seen confederate roses that were 15 to twenty feet tall grown in ground. But in your zone in a pot it could easily be kept pruned in a pot at a reasonable size. I have never grown one from seed Just curious, why do you grow 10 to 30 mimosas from seed every year? As an annual?

@DavidLMO Yes, we are talking about Confederate Rose. I had one that was nearly to the top of the second story. I don't grow them from seed.

@Esperanza I'm thinking it didn't quite reach freezing here last night. Everything out front looks great. That's where I usually see drooping flowers. Maybe we dodged a bullet this time.

Audrey, for more than 40 years my husband has used the phrase "I have slept since then" as a cover up for not listening or not remembering things/tasks/appointments.

Now when he questions something I say, We talked about this; I showed you the picture; I said I wanted it for Christmas/birthday/anniversary; You thought it was a good idea....

When he says I don't remember that... I smile and say, Of course not Dear, you have slept since then.

End of discussion We had a pact when we first married, If it was under $100 it didn't require major discussion, only a warning that the money was spent. Now after nearly 44 years, the pact still holds, but it is absolutely a courtesy now.

You could simply say, I thought I showed/told you about this. Then say Sorry and cook his favorite dish.

Esperanza said:

David I have seen confederate roses that were 15 to twenty feet tall grown in ground. But in your zone in a pot it could easily be kept pruned in a pot at a reasonable size.

Good to know. They are so pretty - obviously never offered here. I will try to see about a cutting in the spring and/or find some seeds.

Esperanza said: Just curious, why do you grow 10 to 30 mimosas from seed every year? As an annual?

No - they are supposedly hardy to Zone 6A, but some are hardy in our Zone 5B - particularly the Wilson variety which is what I think I have. 5B certainly seems to be about its limit.

They would be useless as an Annual. Seldom getting more than ~ 12 or so inches here. I sell some first year plants - mostly 2 or 3 YO.

I sell them at our local Farmer's Market. I have a business, Pony Express Plants and specialize in plants and shrubs - mostly MO natives. Some perennials and Herbs as well.

Good ideas Jean. I might have to remember that line for myself. Sorry, I slept since then.

One good thing about me ordering the smaller size is it will be easier to blend in without making to much of a statement at first. I love my husband and the fact that since we have been married he has learned to i.d. a lot of the plants I have. The downside of that is that it is getting harder to sneak things past him. He thinks I have "enough" plants.

Someone posted this picture on this site a while back and I saved it because I thought it was funny. I think it is fitting for this thread.

DavidLMO said:


Good to know. They are so pretty - obviously never offered here. I will try to see about a cutting in the spring and/or find some seeds.

David if I get some decent growth next year maybe we can work out some trades

And seriously -- good luck with the plant and DH's dealings.

I would say don't tell DH to read this thread. Maybe you could say something sincere like "The plant reminded me of the chocolates you gave me for our first Valentine's Day together"; or "The leaves are the color of your eyes"...no, that won't work unless his eyes are slightly purple... There is the old stand by "It was on the clearance rack at Lowe's; it only cost $3 and it was half dead." Yep, I would go with that one. But whatever you tell him (other than the truth) it won't work if he reads this thread.

The same plant is available at SpringHill Nursersy; January special brings the price down to slightly too expensive.
http://www.springhillnursery.c...
But I don't see any recommendations for that company in our Green Pages...

I am laughing inside - I was married to a man that I knew ever since we were kids...oh, the secrets he kept from me!! Makes this little problem of explaining a new plant pale in comparison.
Best of luck to you, your DH, your happy relationship and for the health and well-being of the new plant.

greene said:
The same plant is available at SpringHill Nursersy; January special brings the price down to slightly too expensive.
http://www.springhillnursery.c...

But I don't see any recommendations for that company in our Green Pages...

Springhill can be a crap shoot these days. Years ago they were great. Now, not so much. I have purchased a couple times from them. I think some big outfit bought them - things changed after that.

460 Positive
424 Negative

At WatchDog.

Don't worry Greene he will not be reading this thread. I bought a really expensive giant red crinum a few years ago and he always asks about it. I think he is spoiled to my mostly frugal habits. Every once in a while though I get a little crazy and this is one of those times. I have been on a huge purple kick lately and hopefully this purchase will get that out of my system.

I wondered around the garden yesterday and stared a long time at where I originally wanted to plant it. It would have had open sky as a back drop and I decided that would not highlight the leaf color but just make it look dark and dead. I have chosen a spot that has lime green colored bamboo and live oak as a back drop that I think will show it off more than the sky would. I will try and get a picture later and see what you guys think.

David, those numbers on reviews for spring hill sure do not sound good. 50/50 chance you will be happy with purchase

Springhill was purchased by Gardens Alive! in 2001. Garden's Alive owns the following companies:

Gardens Alive! sells primarily through its nationwide catalog network and its online store. The namesake catalog is printed on small, newspaper-like sheets and features "funky DIY photos". Other gardening catalogs operated include Audubon Workshop, Breck's, Gurney's Seed, Henry Field's, Iseli Nursery, Michigan Bulb, New Holland Bulb, Spring Hill Nurseries, and Weeks Roses, all of which have been acquired from buy-outs of other companies.[1][2]