Gloriosa, Sweet Peas, Godetia, and More

Posted on by capentalc

As a blogger, have you noticed that most views happen on Saturdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, in that order of importance? I noticed most of the seasoned bloggers post on THOSE days. They must know something. Normally I don’t like to emulate anyone but I noticed those are the most popular days for me as well.

Recently, I signed up for a free WordPress class at my library and it is a 6 wks class, I think. It’s two weeks in and I’ve only logged in once. Terribly lazy, I know!  Well, the first few classes are super boring like how to set up a site blah blah blah. I hope to learn more later this week when they explain how to make the site more user friendly???

Ok, I rambled enough. Now, on to my garden and flowers. My garden looks somewhat green here but if you look closely, the grass is pure dead.  We are in a supposed “water crisis” in California so we are not allowed to water the lawn or something. My garden is a crazy mess right now with grass and weeds taking control. It isn’t quite the cottage garden that I had envisioned. I really need help.

My garden looks so overgrown with stuff and weeds are all over. Sometimes when I take pictures for my blog, I’m always careful to pluck them out of the way or angle it in a way to make it look all nice and perfect for you. That is an art in itself which I think I am pretty good at.

Anyway, I am happy some of the sweet peas that I’ve grown two years ago are finally flowering. Aren’t they fabulous? I heard they are easy to grow but it hasn’t been for me. It took me two years to see them like this. I said if they didn’t grow at the end of this summer I would throw the whole lot out, now look at THAT! They are lightly scented. I love that purple!

Red Gloriosa

I have been trying to grow these in pots for almost two spring seasons now and finally got the watering schedule correct and did not overwater! I realized growing bulbs in pots mean that you need to let them dry out in between so they don’t turn to mush and rot. Such an amazing plant. I  would love to have these in more colors. This is another one of God’s amazing gift to enjoy.

Scabiosa Mix

In this display I grew a clump of scabiosa mixed colors seedlings in one spot and this turned out to be the most unique display of flowers I have ever seen in my garden.  I love all the colors intermingling. Hopefully, the seeds will drop everywhere else in my garden for next year. Actually, scabiosas grow year-round in my garden.

Bee Balm Bergamot

This bee balm is beginning to open up. I grew it from seeds indoors and transplanted in March. I was so excited I had to take a picture right away before something trample on it. Beautiful color!

Gomphrenas

These gomphrenas are charming the heck out of me. They are little pompoms on a stick! They make great groundcovers. These were grown from seeds in February.

No ID Hibiscus

I’m not sure which one this is because I am not very good at keeping track of all the plant names. It is a very small plant that packs a punch with this big lovely flower. The pot is about 2 x 4 inches big. I thought that it might be a color that is similar to one I had seen at a neighbor’s house. For a long time I was hunting all over the internet for an orange-yellow hibiscus that looked like my neighbor’s. This doesn’t come close but is really adorable. It makes me smile when I see it bloom.

Godetia

I grew this little godetia from seeds in February too. I just love the dark pink stripe in the center. What boldness! This picture is from last week but yesterday I saw two flowers. That’s a good sign in my garden…that means it is thriving, not dying.

Well, time to say goodbye for now. I am off to see the new Minion movie that just came out (a month ago). I love those minions and have seen everyone of them so far! Taking my teenage boys and his friends (I’m chauffeuring) but I promised them that I would stay far away from them at the theater so that they don’t see me. More updates on other flowers next week!

Being Content

Posted on by capentalc

I came upon a great verse today in the Bible that I feel I should remember and always be doing in my every day life. My problem is that I am always wanting things: plants, clothes, desserts, jewelry, and perfumes. Sometimes I forget that the more that I collect, the more troublesome they become to me, like where to plant them or where to store them.  I should be content with what I have because God gives me so much already.

Canna

Philippians 4:12

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.“

Scabiosa Atropurpurea ‘Burgundy Beau’

One thing I’ve learned recently is that I took on a lot more than I can handle because of not being content. I want more flowers, more clothes, more perfumes, etc. I prayed incessantly to God for help in managing my time.

Then, one day at church, our pastor preached that God said something like “if you are feeling overwhelmed, I didn’t do that to you, I only gave you what I think you can handle “. Then it hit me, I overwhelmed myself by collecting more junk than I can handle!

That’s when it hit me that I need to adjust my priorities. My garden shouldn’t consume me. I should sit back and enjoy or use what I have. Divert my attention to more reading, learning about computers, and meditation so that I can have super intelligent conversations with God when I see Him.

Voodoo Lily, Lisianthus, and More Flowers

Posted on by capentalc

This post has a lot of hard to grow plants, at least for me. I grew some of these from seeds and it took a long time, 2-3 years to get them to grow big and flower for me. The rose mallow and lisianthus are challenging taking TOO MANY years to flower! However, only the lisianthus is worth the wait. Check them out below.

Pink Voodoo Lily

Fascinating plant this voodoo lily, I was shocked it actually grew. It sat in my garden since early February and only sprouted about a month ago. Isn’t it weird looking? It looks like a worm is peeping through. GROSS!!! Looks like it’s not too happy with the dead leaf or something nearby. I don’t think she is hardy in our zone 10.

Lisianthus

Grown from seeds last spring. It didn’t flower last year but this year, I had multiple flowers shaped like small roses. The seeds are super miniscule and hard to put in the soil to grow. These flowers are so pretty, looking like roses without the thorns. I grew some more this year but I don’t think anything survived.

Dahlia, Cactus Hybrids

These were from seeds, not hard but interesting as I have never grown dahlia from seeds before. I put many seeds down but only 2 survived. I have just the yellow one here but the pink is really vibrant too. No picture of it yet but hopefully it will give me a nice flower to take a photo of.

Rose of Sharon and Rose Mallow Hibiscuses

This rose mallow is ridiculously hard to grow. I’ve had it for 3 years (grown from seeds) and I have seen it flower twice. They grow just fine year round, I saw buds the last few weeks but it must have bloomed only a couple of hours during the day and when I come home it has gone kaput! I may get rid of it at some point, not worth the space or effort for a couple of flowers. It is pretty though as you can see. In these pictures it is nestled in my plumeria tree.

These Rose of Sharon hibiscuses are so pretty. They made me smile when I see them. Did I tell you all forms of hibiscuses are my #1 favorite flowers? A lot of my posts are about hibiscuses. I have probably 17 varieties.

I know the one below is pictured at the end of the day after it had the sun beating down on it, tarnishing its beautiful, vibrant petals. I LOVE this color purple! It brings me joy to look at it.

Abutilon Blushing Belle

What a sweet and adorable little thing! I purchased this one last December and it has flowered twice now. Each little flower is bright pink standing on spindly branches. These shorties spent all their energy on flowering instead of growing tall! I love the big flower show they put out each time.

This is all I have time to show you right now. I hope you enjoyed my flowers. Come again, real……….soon. Wait! Let’s end our time with this little knucklehead below!

Lord Waggles taking a nap