The Hibiscus look ROUGH

 Sunburn, leafless, and looking rough. The hibiscus are always awkward in early spring, but they WILL be back and better than ever. 

I gave an application of Carl Pools Hibiscus Fertilizer this week and I'm hoping it really helps these plants get their act together. We'll see! 

Hibiscus tillaceus (Variegated Sea Hibiscus)

A new yellow hibiscus with a white eye. Looking a little rough right now but I think some heat and sun will work its magic soon

A new red hibiscus in similar shape!

Hibiscus Midnight Tryst did not overwinter well

The Yellow Hibiscus dropped all its indoor leaves as usual. It'll make a comeback soon!

This variegated hibiscus with pink blooms actually looks pretty decent! Need something to support that tallest stem though!

May 18 Garden Update from My Parents Yard in Staten Island, NY!

 It was a VERY hot week but there's no question the plants are loving it. The tropical palms are in shade until this weekend, they'll go out in full sun after that! 

Windmill palm produced seedlings last year. They overwintered beautifully!

Cussonia paniculata leafing back out after a winter in the garage

Bletilla striata, known as hyacinth orchid or Chinese ground orchid

 African Marigold

Lavendear and double petunia

Plumeria Divine cranking out tons of blooms!

Ti plants and Dahlias

Baptisa and Ostrich Fern

Yellow hibiscus and Dahlia!

American Wisteria in bloom!

Thanks for looking (and hi Mandevilla!)

A GIANT queen palm & some ixora from Lowes

$99 was a good price for this big beauty. I can overwinter this in the garage, but it'll have to be tilted horizontally to fit! 

Hi from inside my car jungle!

And here's a beautiful yellow ixora I had to get

Little Kim Lilac on clearance at Lowes & now on the doorstep!

I love lilacs but I’m never going to grow them in my landscape - because I’d rather grow them in containers! Here’s why:

I can tuck them close to the doorway so the short lived fragrance can be appreciated every time we walk out the door.

Lilacs will only bloom for another week or 2, but the red Petnas will bring color all summer long.

This variety is called Little Miss Kim and it stays nice and small. “Boomerang” Lilacs are a great alternative if you’d like a lilac that blooms in spring AND autumn!

It's my first time growing Lilacs!

Butterfly Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum ugandense / Rotheca myricoides) came back to life from overwintering in the garage!

 Ive been watching carefully and saw NO signs of life from my beautiful butterfly clendodendron until today. We've had 3 days in the 90s and apparently it's done the trick.

It really didn't suffer dieback, I'm very pleasantly surprised at how well this returned! (May 19)

Meanwhile I got a new topiary version for my parents from Bloomin Haus. Very excited about this! (May 18)

This week in the Garden

Lets do some planting!

Ensete Maurelli I got at work did great in the garage

Pond Plants!

Solar Lights from Home Depot. 

Abutilon with impatients and Gardenmister Fuchsia

Meyer Lemon overwintered in the garage and is blooming beautifully in the driveway. Other citrus are budding too!

Klondyke Azalea

SO fragrant! Variegated Alocasia is new this year and the Staghorn fern is more than 10 years old from a Rutgers Plant sale!

New Purchase! A Yucca Aliofolia Magenta. From Lowes of all places. Pretty cool

Yucca from Rutgers plant sale is coming back. This variety suffered dieback this winter but not too bad considering it's in the middle of my lawn. Its called Lil's Large Black Fig

Ornamental Onions Allium