Shirley Temple & the new back yard

Some things are happy in the back yard.
'Shirley Temple' hibiscus has been blooming daily.

This is what the back yard looked like on 7/26.

This is 8/3. Too many plants - this is not all of them...

Hamlet and Spice are not liking the back yard as much. Need to get a doggy door.

Not Too Hot For A Waltz

Botanical names come in handy sometimes - Hibiscus schizopetalus (which means split petals). Aka Hawaiian Hibiscus or Waltzing Ladies.

Local weather report- 1:30 pm CDT:
100 degrees - 38% humidity in Fort Worth,
91 degrees - 55% humidity in San Antonio

Some spots of color

Red and "Peach Blow" hibiscus.

My pink plumeria from Florida.

"Lemon drop" plumeria.

This is November?

The orange hibiscus by the cedar pole is blooming with a bud on the way. I forgot to cover this one the other night but it does not seem to mind the weather at all.

I'm better now

Photos of the nice things in the yard. The coral vine has taken over the patio area and everything else. Still some flowers so the bees are still feeding.

The Red Fountain rose is still blooming and the Confederate Rose has begun. Hibiscus mutabilis starts white and changes to pink.

Here are two flowers on one branch so you can see how they bloom.


My Joseph's Coat is also peeking through. (Seen in the lower right corner in 1st photo.)

I have braved the 25 mph SW winds and am now ready for the North winds. My sweetie says the front has made it through Arlington this morning about 11.

It is 84 degrees and I can not even think of putting things away in the greenhouse for winter. So I decided to go with movable sides. I will just keep them as flaps and roll and tie them up on these warm days. I can secure the sides when the cool temperatures decide to stay.

Holes in the walkways are filled. It is amazing what a little time with a hoe can do to work out frustration. As for the ants. They know when the weather is going to change. They just fill up and head down into their deep, deep den until the next sunny day. The chemical systemic I use on the roses is the only thing that will keep the roses safe. The ants know when I have missed the re-apply date.

More Hibiscus

"Shirley Temple" is completely white. And hard to photograph.


The rain has made the blooms heavier than their branches can carry.


Close-up of "Peach Blow"

Sunday in the Heat

As I was focusing in on my photo of this orange hibiscus to try to capture how the red stigma looked like velvet...

"Look," my sweetie says, "It's only 100."

It was 104 earlier...

Some of the Hibiscus collection

I just purchased this "Hawaiian Hibiscus" from Hill Country African Violets & Nursery - Boerne, Texas. I have been drooling over this one for a long time. I never purchased one as they were being sold 5+ gallon pots and over 8 feet tall. I will have to make my greenhouse very tall to get him through the winter here.

I don't think the "Hawaiian" name is accurate as only a few species are actually native to Hawaii and this one does not show up on the lists I have found so far. Found some info on Dave's Garden tells me it is Hibiscus schizopetalus (split petals) aka Waltzing Ladies. Cool name.


Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) 'El Capitolio. Not certain if this applies to the red version since I can only find peach colored flowers with the information.

This guy is in our front yard (facing south) next to the house. Most winters it does well with only a blanket to cover it on really cold nights. The leaves are solid dark green -- the white variagated leaves are of a different hibiscus growing next to it. (photos to come).



This is the hibiscus I am currently stalking. Also at Hill Country African Violets but also in a huge pot and very tall... Hope they are propagating some.