Tuesday, August 10, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 8795 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating Brugmansia Lady Liberty has a midnight visitor... While out for my evening stroll through my Angel Trumpet forest, I was able to capture this beautiful moth paying a visit to Brugmansia Lady Liberty.I was hoping to get some close-up shots but this fellow skirted off in search of other blooms. Categories:BrugmansiaGarden PestsCreatures Tags:Brugmansialady libertymothspynx moth Read more
Monday, August 9, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 7355 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating This tiny Angel Trumpet has earned keeper status This tiny Angel Trumpet impressed me last fall, and now it is impressing me even more this summer. The cross is between Brugmansia Naughty Nick and Cleopatra. The blooms are petite, averaging 2-3 inches across, and are always perfectly formed. They also hold up extremely well in the heat. The summer blooms have stayed a creamy white. In the cooler fall weather they aged with a light apricot color.Here's a link to my blog post last fall when I first introduced this seedling - Teeny Weeny ... Categories:BrugmansiaSeedlings Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiabrugsCleopatranaughty nick Read more
Thursday, August 5, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 8657 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating The slime returns... One good outcome from this past winter's severe cold is that I have seen very few giant slugs sliding across my Angel Trumpets this year. It could just be because I have been more pro-active with baits to keep the snails under control this summer. Baby slugs have a small shell so they could easily be mistaken for a type of snail, and they would certainly eat the bait.Tonight I came across several of the big mommas munching away on my yard brugs.Unfortunately for this gal I happened to have ... Categories:Garden Pests Tags:Brugmansiaslimeslug Read more
Friday, July 30, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 10510 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating My first exotic hibiscus from seed! Last summer I decided to expand my hybridization hobby into exotic hibiscus. During the course of the summer I accumulated almost 100 select cultivars for use in my breeding program. Because most of these plants were small, I knew it was going to be a while until I would be able to make my own hibiscus crosses and harvest seeds. Being anxious to try my luck at growing exotic hibiscus from seed, I opted to buy seeds from another grower rather than wait to create my own. This past winter I ... Categories:Hibiscus Tags:hibiscusIntense PassionRemembrance Read more
Thursday, July 29, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 9176 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating An Angel Trumpet Sunset... Florida has some of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever encounter. Here's some recent shots I took while strolling through my Brugmansia forest at sundown.It is almost as if the sky is on fire..Of course if I was living in southern California I would be afraid that the sky may actually be on fire...Sunrise and sundown are the best time of day to admire Angel Trumpets during our hot Florida summers. Categories:BrugmansiaWeather Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiasunsetweather Read more
Thursday, July 29, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 6909 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating In search of the great sphinx moth... The moths were out cruising around my Angel Trumpets in full force tonight. I typically take an evening stroll through my field of Brugmansia with a LED headlamp on. As you can imagine, that headlamp is a giant magnet for all sorts of flying insects. Tonight I was running in circles trying to photograph giant sphinx months feasting on brug nectar. I did not have much luck with the giants, but I did get some shots of their smaller and more passive relatives, the Tersa Sphinx. Here's one ... Categories:Garden PestsCreatures Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiatersa spinx moth Read more
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 6825 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating A perky Angel Trumpet for a hot summer night While browsing through my Angel Trumpet seedlings last night I came across a perky little bloom from a Brugmansia Miss Ellie x Unknown cross.The bloom has a nice golden yellow color, like its mama Miss Ellie, and cute curly tendrils. I think I'll hang on to this one and incorporate it into my fall breeding program. It looks like a pesky housefly is hanging on to it too! :) Categories:BrugmansiaSeedlings Tags:Angel TrumpetBrugmansiabrugsmiss ellie Read more
Saturday, July 24, 2010 / Author: Sommer Gardens / Number of views: 5616 / Comments: / Article rating: No rating Angel Trumpet Hot Summer flushes (part 2) Considering this plant is only two feet tall right now, Brugmansia Andrew's Gold still makes an impact. Categories:Brugmansia Tags:Angel TrumpetbloomsBrugmansiaSeedlings Read more