But Wait! There's More!

I hurriedly posted pictures late last night of blooms we've got here at Our Little Acre, and I missed some...

Dwarf Morning Glory (Convolvulus tricolor)

This is a robust annual, just like the vine, growing at about 12 inches tall and blooming profusely. The Gold Bugs have really done a number on the foliage though. They don't seem to bother the blooms.


Dahlia 'Hawaii' I really like this one when it first opens up, but then it gets ugly. It fades and even with faithful deadheading, subsequent blooms are much smaller.


Gazania (Gazania rigens) Planted from seed, these take awhile to reach bloom stage, but they're going strong now. I grow them every year and they never fail to amaze me with their coloration.


African Daisy (Osteospermum 'Orange Symphony') These I've grown (along with 'Lemon Symphony') from seed saved from blooms for several years now.


Zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Whirligig Mix') This isn't supposed to look like this, but I kind of like it, especially in light of its name.


Bells of Ireland (Molluccella laevis) This one really surprised me. I've tried twice before to grow this annual from seed with no luck. When I saw these coming up, I couldn't remember what I planted and then I saw the bells. They aren't as tall as they're supposed to be, but at least they're green and they've got bells! Third time's a charm!


Obedient Plant (Physostegia sp.) I have to keep my eye on this one, especially as it's first coming up in the spring. It's one of those 'give it an inch, it will take a mile' kind of plants. I love it right before it's in full bloom when the spires are all standing at attention in identical uniforms.


Mexican Shell Flower (Tigridia pavonia) These are bulbs that I have to lift in the fall and I store in my basement over winter. There are several colors in this mix (red, white, yellow) and they're real conversation starters, with their spotted throats.


Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus gregarius)
I bought this a little over a year ago, and since it's a tropical, I needed to bring it inside in the fall. This is pretty much a no-care plant. As long as I throw a little water its way and make sure it gets at least bright indirect light, it's happy.


Bougainvillea
I bought this one in February 2006, while on a trip to Florida. I never knew what color it was until last week, when it bloomed for the first time. Just a few florets, but I was thrilled. The plant looks healthy and I probably was watering it too much. Apparently, they bloom better when you keep them on the dry side.


Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia sp.)
Last winter, several Dave's Garden gardeners shared some brug cuttings with me. I rooted the 'sticks' in water, then planted them and grew them under lights. When it warmed up enough, they went outside. They did better, but only when I put them in the ground did they really take off.

I will have to dig them up and repot them when fall comes so I can take them in for the winter and once again grow them under lights. They're really fast growers, so if I can keep them all alive over the winter, next year they should get very tall. I just love these and their lemony soapy scent.