WEEKEND PHOTOS TO ENJOY

 Here are a few from earlier this year. No Latin names. I try to rest on weekends. David :0)

 Ant on a Blue Flower

 Surreal Red & Green

 Light Jumping

 Holes

Palm Designs

MACHO FERN COOLS ME DOWN

WHY DOES IT GET A WINK?

ANSWER: Because it's different and beautiful.

Macho Fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) is a Florida native that's big, BIG, BIG and will flourish with very little care. It looks like somebody's dumped a box of Miracle Grow on a Boston fern, but I assure you it's a different species. It can take temperatures up to 104 without wilting. Just make sure you keep it in shade and well-watered.

WIWA(What am I whining about):

Just one thing; it HATES frost. I've killed it because I thought MACHO meant tough. It doesn't. Bring it in during freezes.

Personal story:

This is a strange fern to find here in Texas. I remember when it flooded the market. Then it disappeared. Now you can find it again. You can never find it in a small pot and there's always a gajillion babies popping out of the drainholes. It would be nice for someone to sell a small pot of Macho. I got mine for a dollar on a DEATH ROW area of a garden center. As you can see, it's doing fine with some TLC.

Try it if you live along the Texas coast.

David  ;0)



104F or 40C TODAY IN HOUSTON!

Another day of heat, so no plant review today. Instead, I'll show you another hot sauce from the cafe'. Each time it hits 100+ I'll post a hot sauce. This is the second day in a row.

David/:0)



MY FIRST HOT SAUCE AWARD FOR 100+ DEGREES IN HOUSTON

No plant reviews today! Instead, in order to cope with the record 102F degree(38.8C) heat outside, I've decided to post a hot sauce bottle from my son's workplace. Patrons put this stuff on their hamburgers...(I can't imagine). If that's not enough, the owner has about 20 different varieties! Sadly, I'm prepared to show you one each time we hit 100+. But don't wish for more heat just to see fun hot sauce bottles. ;-)

Stay cool!

David/:0)



AGERATUM HOUSTONIANUM 'ARTIST BLUE'

Ageratum houstonianum 'Artist Blue'

WHY GIVE IT A WINK?     ;-)

Well, I haven't....yet. This one is new to the garden. It's beautiful and cute, but still on trial.

WHAT AM I WORRIED ABOUT?

This hybrid has stronger stems and deeper tones, but will it attract butterflies? No butterflies yet.

What else?

I'm worried that the label says full to part sun, good drainage, but keep moist. That's usually a recipe for disaster.

It's beautiful, but will it stand up to Texas heat?

ANYTHING WEIRD YOU WANT TO TELL US?

I picked it up thinking it was Mistflower, a proven butterfly nectar plant that blooms in the late Summer.

The guy at the store said they are related, but NOT the same plant. Not even the same genus, but the same tribe...the Eupatorias.

FREAKY, BUT TRUE:

A plant with the name 'houstonianum'  is not from Houston! It's from Southeast Mexico.

Anyone have it in their hot garden? I'd love to know if it grows well for you.

I'm joining Lisa's Chaos and her great Macro Monday Meme today.

Thanks Lisa! You get a big wink!

Thanks for stopping by!

David/:0)



WELCOME TO GARDEN WINK!

Zinnia angustifolia 'Crystal Orange' (Have it, Love it!)

                                        WHY GIVE THIS ZINNIA A WINK?     ;-)

 It's a great, compact, cute little plant for the front of your xeric bed, your Cottage Garden, or your path garden. Loves hot weather. The bitoned petals are unique! ;-)

NEED MORE?

WIWA(What I'm worried about)...I've grown this Zinnia one other time and powdery mildew was a problem in high humidity. Otherwise, it's a great little flower.

Personal Log: This flower glows at night and can be used as an emergency flashlight. Butterflies LOVE little yellow, sunfloweresque flowers.

Category: Zinnas are native to Mexico and come from a dry, low humidity climate. Annual flower.

                                                             MY STORY....ONCE UPON A TIME....

we lived out on a very remote farm where I grew cheerful zinnias in all colors. As a boy, I would try to guess the color of the petals the night before they would open. I remember seeing lavender, purple, burgundy, melon, and lemon yellow all at the same time. Our home was surrounded by endless black dirt fields filled with one or two crops. My memories of empty fields is one of the main reasons I fill my jungle garden with tropical plants and flowers.

Our Tropical Garden ~ Houston, Texas

David /:-)