@tarev Very nice collection, the Evening glow is really an eye catcher.

Scott, I've never seen a variegated Sabal before.

Gala said:

Wow, ScotTi, what a beauty!! Did you grow it from seed?

Thanks! Yes it was grown from seed planted 5 yrs back. Very slow growing so far producing only 2 fronds per year.

WOW a variegated SABAL I want one!

Phil schilleriana and variegated phal-- Sogo Yenlin variegata (Sogo Vivien x Sogo Berry)

Gina, your nymphea is beautiful.
I used to keep them in my fish tanks, and it was the biggest hassle to keep them off the surface! - they are a faboulous plant b/c they have two very distinct leaf types- submersed and surface leaves. The leaves start from the bulb different- you can tell immidiately at 1/4" which leave it will be. to keep a beautiful submersed plant you have to cut every surface leaf before it hits air. The submersed leaves are even more dramatic color wise, but it will never bloom unless you let the surface leaves hit air- if you let one leaf hit air- and those stems will grow 4" a DAY- the plant knows where the surface is and it will never give you another submersed leaf.

Thank you Paula. I have seen them grown that way in Aquarium stores and you are right they are stunning

some of mine (not sure the name of them)

I forgot to post my variegated Basil 'Pesto Perpetuo'. It has mostly light green leaves during the hot weather but now that it has cooled off and the days are shorter it is making it's pretty splashed leaves with white borders again.

Ohhhhh that's beautiful! Does it take the same as regular basil??
I have this, I can't remember if it is Philodendron Painted Lady or Rising Sun. I believe I bought it as Painted Lady, but, also recall some discussion going on about if those 2 are one and the same. I'e had it for years, its been topped from this totem about 5 times. These are all from the same plant

I love the new growth on Bougainvillea Delta Dawn. It is a soft apricot and when it blooms, usually late in the year for me, the flowers are a bright orange.

Alice I have never had luck blooming bougainvillea here. I think its too wet. When I lived in So Cal they were everywhere and so absolutely gorgeous. falling down hillsides and over retaining walls, just masses and masses of blooms. I have always wanted to duplicate that here but have never been able to. Also the Ice Plants were just gorgeous there.

Yes, I've seen the ice plants there and it is too wet for them on the east coast, they live but they don't thrive. I've seen many gorgeous Bougies here in the Jax area, not as many as you see in central or south Fl but enoough to make me happy. I find Delta Dawn the slowest growing bougie I have ever had. Vera Purple did much better for me in SC, it was in flower most of the warm months. Sadly I had to leave my big plant behind when we moved but I gave it ti a friend so I know it is loved.

How do you get them to bloom??????

As you suspected they bloom under droughty conditions. Since mine were in pots I could put them under the eaves during rainy weeks and rarely watered them other times. They need full sun and I used Espoma Flowertone heavily on them. I had seen that in a Youtube about growing bougies and it worked.

They're in bloom everywhere around here right now. Lots of sun, no water and mine don't even get fertilizer either.

i.e. complete neglect except necessary pruning - they bloom exceptionally well after a hard pruning.

OK I may try these containerized and fully neglected next season!!!!!!

Like Elaine said - prune regularly. They bloom on new wood and the more you prune the more blooming branches you get.

Not sure I posted these yet - a friend brought them to me from Tropiflora's fall festival a few weeks ago. Little begonia starts for a dollar each! They're loving the cool weather, but really struggle for me through summer.

What cuties, I have a lot of trouble with those little Harmony plants myself. Begonias in general do not like a lot of water and you have pretty rainy summers. Mine do best in pots so they don't stay so wet.

Ah ha! Here I thought it was maybe not enough water. I'll pull them in under the eaves next summer, keep them cooler next to one of my patio doors, too.

Patty gave me these, and this huge, beautiful one last spring that almost croaked during the summer but is coming back now. I'm sure I over-watered it, treating it the same as my big cane begonias that seem to like any amount of water.