For fun: my "First Bloomers 2013" winners' board

11 years ago

Greetings to all from Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, where it is currently 54 degrees, heading down to a low of 46 tonight. I am so totally over this annoying weather we've been having this spring, and I know my trees are too. Enough already, sheesh!

I will disclaim now by saying that none of these photos are particularly spectacular. The weather has just been too uneven, lots of cool weather and overcast days...reminds me of the June gloom that y'all in Cali put up with. But I've had three trees bloom now, so without further ado, here are my first bloomers of 2013 (drumroll, please)...

In first place...Kona Candy:

Actually, it wasn't even close--this inflo started blooming at least two weeks ago. Like I said, though, the cool weather has taken most of the luster out of these gorgeous flowers.

In second place, Divine:

These blooms do have a bit more color than this cell-phone photo picked up, but again...meh. Good thing this tree has 5(!!!) more inflos on it LOL With all that said, they're still blooms...and they do smell lovely.

And in third place, Waimea:

This bloom just opened this morning...just in time for the low of 46. Can't wait for more of lovely Waimea, assuming tonight's temps don't cause the inflo to shrivel and drop.

Much more to come this season--I have a ton of new inflos and many of these will be first-time bloomers. I'm psyched!

Lastly, for those of you who are like me in that you continue to buy trees when you run out of space, here is a possible solution. I recently took two plots at a local community garden and moved about a dozen of my trees down there. The garden is in an amazingly beautiful spot only about a 1/4 mile inland from the ocean. And the price, for a year? Five dollah for each plot for a total of $10. Yup...that's right :)

Here are those trees in their new home:

They do have to share with a couple of tomato plants!

Hope you all are keeping the spring snow off your plumeria! I hear that's not too good for them LOL ;)

Greg

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Comments (16)

Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
11 years ago
Greg, Greg, Greg....

You are making me drool... I AM SERIOUS!

Waimea is stunning.. As well as your beautiful Divine and Kona Candy...

We are having temps that are just to cold to even think of bringing my trees outside. I am so ready for spring and my trees are screaming to go outside and get ready for the new season. I am so happy to hear that you will be having a " Year of the Inflos..." I told another friend that this will be his year for blooms. We seem to have these years of a few.. Then it hits! You have always had great blooms tho down in beautiful Florida.

Just today, a friend of mine was saying that they had many Inflos on their trees in beautiful Florida. You all are so lucky!!!

Seems like everyone in CA, Texas and Florida has such a good start on the growing season and we in the north always have to work hard to see half of the blooms that you all see. So I am thankful for one.. ;-). That is the truth!!!

I guess that is what makes it so much fun to see the beauty all over the country.. We even had snow flurries yesterday... Sheesh!

Your new plot looks wonderful and is a great solution for space... Lol.. Now you can order more! HA! You have been an enabler for me, don't you even think that I don't remember... HA! Again..

Hope all is well with you and yours...

Thinking of you and hoping your iggies stay away this year.. Any signs?

Remember... I can aim... really well!

Take good care, Greg!

Laura
kayjones
11 years ago
Good morning! Laura, you are right - that Waimea is gorgeous - I've never seen that color. Greg, do you worry at all about theft from that community garden?
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mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
11 years ago
Great pics greg.

I have a 3 way race going on, Divine, Thumbalina, and California sunset. They are all pushing so we will see who the winner is.

thanks for sharing.

Mike
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
11 years ago
I love your Waimea! I may have to get that one. I need something with strong orange tones.

I have most of my large plummies planted out and then it dropped to 33-35 for a few nights in a row. They have been fine and I didn't cover them. They are taller than I am so it would have been a pain lol. I am in NE FL.
Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
11 years ago
I love Kona Candy! Gorgeous color combo.
Thank you for sharing.
Wish the warm weather would come soon for all of us so we can all join in on the fun of posting pics! :)

-Robert
PRO
the_first_kms2
11 years ago
Very nice to see some blooms. Second on the cooler than normal weather in south FL. I was there two weeks ago and had to break out my packable windbreaker.

I'm a proponent of the community garden concept and have often asked if my neighborhood association would sanction one in community park space. Generally speaking all of my research done to propose the concept indicated that theft or vandalism is not as big of a problem as one would think.
beachplant
11 years ago
Greg, I know what you mean about this weather! 55 in March?? My trees are just starting to send up inflos.
I am planting plumeria across the alley along the fence line. We have been gradually cleaning out the weeds and planting stuff for a few years now, the lot is used as parking for the thrift store and they encourge me to plant there. Nothing exotic or expensive will go there, I plan to pick up some cheap seedlings at the sale. Theft not really a problem here with plumeria.

Any plumeria bloom this time of year is exciting!

Never thought of putting them in my plot at the community garden. We belong to our neighborhood association so no fees with the garden, and dues are $20 a year for a family. Who needs tomatoes?
Tally HO!
sflgplume
Original Author
11 years ago
Hope these bloom pics--such as they are--brought a little warmth to y'all's day...I know it's chilly just about everywhere in the US right now, It can't possibly last too much longer, right?

Laura: so very nice to hear from you! You are so right about our great country--every locale has its charm and beauty. I did choose South Florida as the place where I wanted to make my life, and have never regretted it. I love it here, and so do plumeria, lucky for me--it does make it easier to have success with our beloved trees. You do pretty darn well yourself, though, up there in coastal VA! :)

I know I enable you and I do it on purpose! LOL

Kay and K: I can't deny that the possibility of theft has crossed my mind--I would not place any of my "prize" cultivars or "irreplaceables" in the garden--but I don't worry about it too much. The garden has a high fence around it and the gate is padlocked. The pros--extra space, rubbing shoulders with other gardeners in my community--far outweigh any potential cons.

K--what a bummer that you came down here and couldn't enjoy what would be our typical weather at this time of year...oh well, it's not like you live in Maine, though.

Sultry--I have lost inflos after a single night in the low-mid 40s. After all the fussing that I do over these trees, it really blows to have an inflo drop...so if I have time, I take the extra precautions when cold temps come. Good to know, though, that yours were ok!

Mike/Robert: look forward to seeing y'all's pics this year! Robert, glad you like Kona Candy--it's an amazing cultivar. But, if you like the way it looks now, just wait a month or so--once the heat comes to stay, I'll show you what it REALLY looks like :)

Thanks, all!

Greg
jandey1
11 years ago
Greg, I always knew you were one smart cookie! What a brilliant way to make more space for your addiction! That front middle plumie looks like it wants to give you a hug, hehe.

Your blooms are uh-mazing! I tried hard to win a Kona Candy on ebay for a friend, but the bidding was crazy for them. I can totally see why for that beautiful shape! You were an early adopter and obviously saw the potential before we did. Is she a reliable bloomer?

I'm so glad now that I gave in and finally got a Waimea (thanks, K!). What a glorious color and shape!

Keep those great photos coming. I'm looking at just one "real" inflo so far, plus some oh-dear-God-let-it-be inflos. Been using a 10x magnifier and flashlight to try to tell if they really are early inflos. How crazy is that?!
elucas101
11 years ago
Beautiful Greg, I always love your pictures! I think your pics alone were responsible for driving the prices up on Waimea AND Kona Candy LOL!!!

**WHISPERS TO JEN** I bought a magnifying glass just for my plumies last year too. When my BF asked me why I bought it I had to say it out loud. It was very embarassing.
sflgplume
Original Author
11 years ago
Jen and Tally: I think we were all typing at once! Sorry I missed you two...Tally, I don't even like 55 in January, but yeah, it's worse when the calendar says next week is April and our trees are trying to wake up!

I love your idea of beautifying your street with "spare" plumies :) what a good neighbor you are!

Who needs tomatoes? Well...I do love me a home-grown beefsteak...but as between tomatoes and plumeria, there's no doubt which wins LOL Once I need the space, those tomatoes will have to go.

Jen: happy for you for your Waimea "score"! It's definitely one of the best. Kona Candy is pretty fab, too. In answer to your question: last year, a single inflo on my KC bloomed for six months straight. This year, in January, when all were sleeping, KC pushed this inflo and never slowed down; AND there's a new inflo on one of the other tips. So I answer an emphatic "YES INDEED!!"

Smart cookie indeed, too! ;-) Yes, that is my evil plan: lease community garden space at rock-bottom prices so that I can continue my unchecked, fever-pitch purchasing of "must-haves" hahahahahahaha as I've said to you in the past: touchÃÂ©!

10x mag and flashlight, crazy? Not on MY planet, at least LOL I bought a headlamp and wear it as I search for new inflos nightly (just when I think I've learned to recognize the appearance of a just-formed inflo, these trees jerk me around!). The neighbors all think I'm a total freak hahaha which leads me to...

Emily! Be proud of your obsess... er, I mean, "hobby." LOL Yes, mere mortals may think us strange, but what do they know??

I think there might be a grain of truth in what you said about my driving up demand ;-) I keep waiting for my OWN stock price to go up LOL but so far, nada.

Thanks for the compliments, all! Looking forward to lots of photos in the months ahead!

G
pcput
11 years ago
Greg - you are so "bad". I keep looking a Kona Candy and now with all your hype (help me) how can I still resist. The blooms may not be up to par but who cares at this time of year. They are beautiful. Hope this is the year we all have great inflos.
What a GREAT idea to plant in a community garden. How many plots do they have in it? I'm sure before long you'll have all the empties planted. Think how many more addicts your making.
Jen,Emily - Your in good company as I'm sure most of us have our magnifiers out looking ( if they'll admit it). I know I am and nothing yet :(
Peg
moonie_57 (8 NC)
11 years ago
Greg - I love all 3 of your winners. Just gorgeous! Hope you have a good year with no thrips or iggies! :)

As for using a magnifying glass... I never have. Honestly! But, I do like to look after dark with a strong flashlight. I swear I can detect an early inflo late at night.
sflgplume
Original Author
11 years ago
Hi Peg and Mona!

Thanks to you both :) Peg, you know that I do it all on purpose!! LOL addicts love company, after all. I am so happy with my two plots down at the Mid-Beach garden...sometime I'll have to post a photo of the view from it over the Intracoastal towards the ocean...I have to pinch myself, actually...not bad for ten bucks!

The garden is rather large, probably 80 4X6 boxes. Right now they're all taken, but...I may in the future fork over another five-spot or two!

I think your package will arrive today btw!! So excited.

Mona, I am doing everything I can to battle both pests. So far no thrips--daily spraying of inflos seems to help with that. Unfortunately--and I meant to tell Laura that I may need her "eagle eye"--the iguanas are still here and snapped off a branch of Waimea a few days ago. Grrr. I'm talking to my neighbors about rearranging the trees and taking them off the dock, which seems to be the only place that the little slime-balls tread.

Anyway, I mentioned my nightly rounds as Tip Inspector with my leadlamp...but I think that only by day can one really tell...just MHO...

;)

G
powderpuff
11 years ago
Beautiful! Love the Waimea! I'm hoping mine will bloom this year. It will be it's 3rd summer since it was rooted.

Hopefully we had the last cold front and I can bring them all outside for the summer by this weekend.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
11 years ago
Greg,

Great to see things picking up on this forum -- by that I mean PICTURES!!!

Thanks for the 'warm-up'.

I certainly hope you do not have any thefts at this garden plot. Is it locked for intruders? You'll still probably have to rebar those pots into the dirt, right?

Waimea is gorgeous. Drooling.

My Divine has been blooming under lights, but mites are always an issue. Still, I don't mind the smell of flowers.

For fun: my "First Bloomers 2013" winners' board

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Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia

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