It's taken 5 months, but I'm almost there!

18 years ago

I enthusiastically bought my first brug last spring -- and then began to wait and wait and wait for the "Y" -- which finally arrived very late this summer. I got a few buds not too long after that but have been waiting ever since for that first bloom. Yesterday, I noticed the flower is beginning to emerge from the bud. Hurrah! I might see it yet! :) You can be sure you'll all know about it if I do. Keep telling me this is worth it. I'm still trying to remain convinced :)

Supposed to be sunny today... think "bloom!"

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Comments (14)

jroot
18 years ago
You'll love it, Carol Ann, and then become "hooked" like so many of us. Thinking "bloom".
karmahappytoes
18 years ago
Carol Ann, you will see it soon and be hooked! Thanks goodness it's not raining so that you can enjoy it to the fullest. But remember this time of your you won't get to see it at it's finest due to the environmental changes of fall. Can't wait to hear about it and thinking blooms for you too!
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karmahappytoes
18 years ago
Carol Ann, is it open yet?
Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
waiting, waiting, waiting!! It's now about 2" out of the bud but still tight. I'm going to move it to the west-facing driveway, where the microclimate is a bit warmer and it's very protected, and see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed!
carrie751
18 years ago
Okay, it should be open - is it? I'm thinking "BLOOM" - did that help?
Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
Keep those blooming thoughts coming! It's been step by agonizingly slow baby step... the tight flower (4" or so) is now as long as the bud was but still not open! Stay tuned! :)
tngreenthumb
18 years ago
This is why I reccommend lifting your brugs rather than cutting and mulching. In your zone they would probably come back just fine, but you'd have to do this waiting all over again.

If you can lift that one and keep it inside over the winter (preferably in a dormant state) then you'll have blooms all through the summer next year.
Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
It's in a pot, has been since I bought it in the spring, so being in the ground isn't the issue. It just never formed a "Y" until really late. Very frustrating!

I'll move it in to the garage soon but I'm afraid that's going to be too warm (60's) for it and that it won't overwinter well. If it doesn't work, it doesn't; it's my only option at this point.

just sign me,
Still waiting.... :)
tngreenthumb
18 years ago
Oh, well it would grow larger and Y quicker in the ground. I know some people have good luck growing them in pots, but I never have. Too hot here in the dead of summer.
karmahappytoes
18 years ago
TNGreenThumb, Carol Ann and I have clay/acidy soil in this area and that will open up another whole sort of problems! This has been a bad year for some gardens in this area also.
Carol Ann are we there yet?
Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
Not yet! Sheez!! The tight flower is now 7" long; including the calyx, 11". It's starting to show a nice yellow color, too. But this darn cool, wet weather isn't helping! I'm tempted to move my plants out of the foyer and move the brug in there until it opens -- haven't wanted it in the house for several reasons. I'll have to think about that.

Soon... it's gotta be soon!!
karmahappytoes
18 years ago
With this rain and wind I'd protect her! Ya want her in a dry area so you can enjoy the bloom and not get rain damage.
thezookeepper
18 years ago
I have to tell you that I am green with envy!!! We had a frost alert 3 nights ago so I cut mine back and pulled the roots. But I am glad I did because we did get the frost!
no more blooms for me until next year :(

So... has it bloomed???
Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
Yup! See my new post, "Ta DAH!..." End of Oct. -- I can't believe it took 6 months to finally flower!

karmahappytoes, thanks for the suggestion, although I decided to leave it out -- I figured any plant that can't take a little rain and some light wind (we're protected from strong winds) probably isn't one I'm going to mess with. But it's done just fine! :)

It's taken 5 months, but I'm almost there!

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It's taken 5 months, but I'm almost there!

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