pleasant surprise

19 years ago

i have two gardinias that are at the bottom of the steps from my deck. i have had them for about three years. each year they have duly produced around three flowers each. never did get the beauriful perfume from them when i passed by. this year they are covered in blooms, which are beautiful, and the aroma is heavenly. i can sit on the deck and just smell their gorgeous perfume. I have also been plesantly surprised by most other plants which have really taken off this year despite having no water - i have watered only once this year so far. i have the first bloom on a butterfly bush which is such a deep purple, my yarrow is just a stunning mass of bright yellow. the asian lilies i planted two years ago did nothing last year ( didn;t even break the surface) and this year they are just beautiful and in abundance. i only remembered planting but must have a couple of dozen flowering at the moment. i feel that i could go on for ever! anyone else have pleasant surprises this year?

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Comments (6)

aprilfool
19 years ago
My surprise was my gardinias has a time laspe in between blooming this year, thus prolonging that sweet scent around the house. One by the front porch swing bloomed over a week ago, one close to the patio started blooming day before yesterday and one right next to patio table is full of buds waiting to open. I love those things.
I want to root some, does anyone have any suggestions on the quickest way to root them?
razorback33
19 years ago
Plants of all types produce more flowers, thus more seed or fruit, when stressed. It's their way of insuring survival of the species, by producing more offspring.
I like to tell the tale of my old White Oak tree that suffered a double lightning stroke several years ago. Prior to that, it produced few acorns. But, the year following the severe lightning damage, the acorn production increased more than a 1000 fold. I raked and carried away seveal 40 gallon garbage cans full of acorns and mowed thousands of seedlings in my lawn. The second year, production dropped dramatically and then, as the tree recovered, fruit production slowly returned to it's normal few acorns.
I suspect that the shortage of moisture has placed your plants in the survival mode. as it has mine, which are also blooming profusely.
Here's hoping, dancing, praying for rain! Wonder if Voodoo would work?
Rb
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baseballmomof5
19 years ago
I found this on the county website for gwinnett. I never water during the heat of the day. It can scorch the flowers or even evaporate and is such a waste.

Gwinnett follows Georgia's water restrictions
The State of Georgia currently limits outdoor water use to three mornings per week. Gwinnett County follows the state's regulations:

Even-numbered addresses: Saturday, Monday, Wednesday
Odd-numbered addresses: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
No watering after 10:00am. No watering on Fridays.
baseballmomof5
19 years ago
sorry wrong topic

However, I have 3 gardenia bushes. ONe is completely full of blooms, the other about 10 feet from it hasn't even begun yet.. I am happy to have the scent linger for more than 10 days...
baluscreek
19 years ago
Probably 100 buds on one plant. I have never seen it this full. Amazing.
Iris GW
19 years ago
I was thrilled that this rhododendron that I dug up at a friend's house on a mountain in North Carolina is finally blooming this year (today!):

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