Happy Holidays, southern-style:

Christmas lights & banana palms!

The moon and a queen palm frond- I have no idea what that other round object is, but it’s interesting:

Another from the June AHS show; it hasn’t been blooming much, but it’s tripled in size overall. Hopefully we’ll see lots more huge bloomslike this one as we go into the fall. The flower is about 9in across, creamy white and ruffled.

This is a pretty constant bloomer, a delicate pale blue/grey/purple mid-size flower.

I took a detailed inventory of the hibiscus today, because I’m going to start A Project.

Every so often I have to have A Project, one that I’ll make unduely complicated, in order to play with databases, etc. I’m still a geek-girl at heart, and don’t get to do these things nearly as often as I’d like, hence, Project Creation occurs.

This Project is a hibiscus accouting. I knew I had a lot…I didn’t realize how many. But many of them haven’t bloomed in a while, and there are always more out there, crying out to be brought home and lavished with attention, so I’ve put all of them on notice- bloom or face extermination.

And just how many did you count, I hear you ask? 61.

Sixty One.

Five Dozen. Plus One.

And that doesn’t count the two that are in dire straits and will likely die. Nor does it count the hardies, or the Rose of Sharon that’s technically in the same family.

So far they’ve had a pretty easy life. Cushy, even. Water appears regularly as if by magic, as does a low-grade fertilizer that doesn’t push them too hard. The weeds may not be pulled up the instant they pop their nasty heads up, but things never get too bad in hibiscus land.

Well, no more. I’m going to take a stroll every morning and mark down with a flourish who’s performing, and who’s slacking off. Who’s shamefully dropping their buds instead of popping them open- you hear me, Persimmon? How about you, Curly Top? You think I don’t see your pitiful droppings despite your lush green leaves? What excuse have you?? Hmmmmm?

And if I can whip these buggers into shape, then maybe I can tackle my daughter…lol…

It’s hard to tell with nothing in the background for comparison, but this one is a solid 10 inches across. Very delicate ruffled pinks and yellows. She was hit pretty hard by the caterpillars this year, but is making a comeback.

Two big ol’ bunches coming in. Not sure if they’ll be edible, and in fact they might be plantains, but we’re gonna give them a try this year.

Bananas!

There’s just something so damn cheery about an all yellow hib. And a little cheer would be really useful right about now…