Saturday, August 20, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 10041 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating Introducing Brugmansia 'Raspberry Crush' Introducing Brugmansia 'Raspberry Crush', a new Angel Trumpet I just named and registered with the International Brugmansia and Datura Society. This beautiful cultivar came about from a seedling from a JT Sessions cross involving Brugmansia Goldfinch x Peanut. It has been in my watch zone for over two years and is also playing an important role in my future hybridizing program.The raspberry is in its name because in warm weather the blooms are a very dark "raspberry' pink color. Raspberry ... Categories:BrugmansiaNew Introductions Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiabrugsgoldfinchpeanutRaspberry Crush Read more
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 12447 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating They're back!!!!! When I was checking over my neglected front yard this weekend, I found it odd that my crinum lilies had no grasshopper damage this year. They seem to be one of the favorite foods of the giant Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, or lubbers as they are commonly called. Well Monday I got my Lubber fix when I spotted one resting on an Angel Trumpet leaf.Despite their giant size as an adult, they actually eat less than grasshoppers a fraction of their size. They are monsters too, typically reaching 3 ... Categories:Garden PestsCreatures Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiaeastern lubber grasshopperlubber Read more
Monday, August 8, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 8028 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating When Oceans Collide If you are a weather fanatic like I am, Central Florida is a great place to live. During the summer the sky comes alive almost every afternoon when the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean sea breezes collide. Saturday's skyline was quite dramatic.While I was hoping we would get some rain out of these storms, the storm ended-up being all show and no action. The exploding clouds were a good backdrop to showcase Brugmansia Sweet Summertime, a Monika Gottschalk introduction that thrives in our Florida heat. Categories:BrugmansiaWeather Tags:Brugmansiasea breezes collidesweet summertime Read more
Friday, August 5, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 11862 / Comments: / Article rating: 5.0 Introducing Brugmansia Marshmallow Sunset I decided it was time to start naming and registering a few of my Angel Trumpets that have been on my "To be Registered" list since last year. Here is the first of many I plan to register this year. I named this one Brugmansia 'Marshmallow Sunset'.This seedling originated from a Brenda Delph cross involving Brugmansia New Orleans Lady and (Angel's Flight x Charming). You can see easily see traits from both parents in these blooms. The bloom form and size is more in line with those of ... Categories:BrugmansiaNew Introductions Tags:Angel Trumpetangels flightBrugmansiabrugscharmingnew orleans lady Read more
Thursday, August 4, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 8075 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating A Sacajawea Sunset One thing I love about Central Florida is that we have beautiful sunsets almost every day. Here's a photo I captured yesterday of Brugmansia Sacajawea silhouetted by a thunderstorm.What is unusual about this photo is that I am shooting towards the east, not the west, so you would expect this to be a sunrise photo instead. This sunset was so bright that it encompassed the entire skyline, reflecting off the numerous afternoon thunderstorms in the area.A touch of fill-in flash shows off the ... Categories:Brugmansia Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiabrugssacajaweayellow Read more
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 7034 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating Mayflies invade my Brugmansia The Mayflies were just out in force. This time they started taking a liking to my Brugmansia Jungle. I captured this solo mayfly resting on one of my Angel Trumpet blooms.Anyone who lives near a body of fresh water is certainly familiar with mayflies. They appear by the millions several times each year. They are attracted to light at night and only live a couple of days. The road in front of my house was covered solid with mayflies below each street light. Thank goodness they do not ... Categories:Garden Pests Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiamayfly Read more
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 6490 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating A flouncy Angel Trumpet surprise This rather striking bloom caught me by surprise early this morning. It is from a cross I made involving Brugmansia (Joli x Unknown) x New Orleans Lady.This jumbo sized bloom was unique in shape and quite impressive. The mother, Brugmansia Joli x Unknown is a single white seedling I have been watching for three years now. It closely resembles a white version of Brugmansia Joli and I am still undecided if I want to register and release it. New Orleans Lady, the pollen parent, is a nice ... Categories:BrugmansiaSeedlings Tags:Angel TrumpetbrugBrugmansiabrugsjolinew orleans lady Read more
Friday, July 22, 2011 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 9224 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating A busy bee attempts some summer hybridizing Now that our summer heat has settled in I have completely given up on attempting to make any new Brugmansia crosses until fall. Meanwhile this busy bee has arrived for a quick drink and perhaps an inadvertent attempt to pollinate this bloom.I'm sure the nectar from this bloom is quite refreshing on this hot summer day. It's cool the way its little legs are laden with pollen. I have lots of great blooms open now so if the bee does manage to create a successful cross, the outcome could be ... Categories:HybridizingBrugmansiaGarden Pests Tags:beeBrugmansiahoney beepollinating Read more