Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
I agree, they are hungry, thirsty beasts. The only reason I put up with them is they are SO rewarding with all those big, fragrant flowers blooming once a month or so.
Last year I nearly gave up, what with spider mites and some other plague on them. This year, so far so good! That yellow one is due for a good pruning, so that I don't have to find an even larger pot for him. He's got his own emitter on the automatic sprinkler system so I only have to give him an extra drink every second day. Plus he's under the orchid mister which also helps some.
Pinwheel jasmine is another repeat bloomer. Huge brom surprised me with a 3ft. tall flower spike. My big begonia Odorata Alba smells like baby powder in the mornings.
Totally mundane, I know, but this is a success for me. Groundcover jasmine 'Tricolor' has finally taken hold out front. See the new growth is pink or white, then the green comes in later on the leaves.
Blazing snapdragons and purple violas have been brave all winter/spring but won't last much longer if this heat continues. Pentas are the butterfly and hummer magnets out there. Nice old red hibiscus I keep forgetting about because he's outside the back gate.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
