Thads Tropical Nights

While watering and looking for flower buds. I noticed a flower open on Thads Tropical Nights. Unfortunately, the flower was sterile, no pollen. I was not able to get Silver Skies pollen to stick either. Im not certain if the cross is totally sterile or if it was just this flower. I noticed three other buds on this so Im not giving up just yet. This plant is a monster! I am impressed how quickly it grew ( or outgrew!)into its allotted space. I will give this beautiful plant a hanging basket, instead of selling off cuttings right away. The scarlet red flowers glow on this beauty.

New Cross

This little beauty is who I registered earlier this year. It is J. T. (Thads Pink Diamonds x Emerald). It has gorgeous scarlet red flowers with a yellow throat. I do have 2 rooted starts to sell. Yes, it is a whitish silver that glitters.

Getting ready for Episcia crosses!

I am so pleased with the amount of buds on my Episcias. Soon to be kicking my breeding program up a notch. I need to pick up the tools of the trade since I'm out. A new box of tooth picks and different colors of cross stitch floss. I really like using the floss to mark what the cross was by tying the fertilized flower with a different color thread. I log the cross in a ledger, marking date and pollen parent.
Also, I am happy to say, I have recently germinated seedlings growing new leaves.

Getting ready to start flowering again.

 Psychopsis 'Kahlihi' has thrown another spike. I love this orchid, one flower spike lasted for over 7 years throwing flowers on a regular schedule. I actually cut the spike off 2 years ago to give my plant a break. I have had this orchid for about 18 years now. It has always been my favorite orchid and I doubt that would ever change.
I have this sitting on an east window sill with weekly waterings. During winter months I will from time to time forget to water. This orchid will thrive with occasional skipping with weekly water. The photo is from its last flower spike that was clearly getting tired. Flower size will diminish as the spike ages. Normally the flowers are large and perfect!
As of  8/1/13, nice sized bud that is soon to open! I so love this orchid.

Searching for: Updated list!

Though I am always on the look out for various plants.  I am hoping to find the following plants:

Carnivorous:

any Sarracennias

 Hoya:

neobudica

kerrii (variegated)

elliptica

macgillivrayi Perfecta

megalaster

nicholsonii

ciliata

p. Black Dragon
p. Philipine Black

subcalva

onychoides
carnosa 'Grey Ghost'
australis
ariadna
bella variegated
callistophylla
DS-70
darwinii (dark form)
Chelsea




 Euphorbia:

 greenwayii

'Frosted Flame'

subapoda

horrida

francoisii crassicaulis rubrifolia

cremersii

 Other Cactus / Succulents:

Ammocharis corranica

Orchids:

Orchis italica

Dendrobium draconis

Gongora quinquenervis

Miltonia spectabilis

Dendrobium  Peng Seng

Cattleya leopoldii 'Dark Blood'

Trichopilia tortilis

Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' AM/AOS 

Mormodia Lime Tiger 'St. Augustine' AM/AOS

Odontocidium Sunlight 'Pacific Punch' 

 Wilsonaria Aloha Sparks 'Ruby Eyes'

Wilsonaria Pacific Perspective 'Pacific Heat'

Stapelia & Stapeliads:

Stapelia acuminata

Stapelia cedrimontana

Stapelia paniculata

Stapelia variegata

Stapelia schinzii v. angolensis
Stapelia leendertzia
Stapelia grandiflora

Huernia occulta

Huernia longi

Huernia saudiarabica

Caralluma diffusa

Desmidorchis retrospiciens

Orbea woodi

Huerniopsis decipiens

Pseudolithos dodsoniana

Rhytidocaulon macrolobum

Kohleria:
 'Brimstone'

'Texas Rainbow'

Aeschynanthus (black calyx)

Aeonium:
 'Voodoo'
 'Sunburst'

 Episcias:
Pearl Drops
Pearl Passion
Toy Silver


I am also into growing Jovibarba, Semperviums, and Escheverias etc.....

Me and Plants

For well over 35 years, I have been growing an interesting variety of plants, both in & outdoors. As this blog develops, my goal is to make this an informative place to visit, from doing crosses to culture of various genus. At one point, I had well over 400 houseplants, mostly orchids,  not including at least an additional 300+ in the yard.  I was spending my days off work, taking care of plants, I had no time for anything else. Not to mention I work in the Nursery trade. I took time off from my personal growing, selling or letting some plants perish (which I deeply regret). I knew I couldn't stay away forever and would find myself growing again.
I have a passion for crossing plants and using them as models in my art. These are the plants that I am currently growing indoors, whether on windowsills, lighted stands or in a VERY small greenhouse.
I also will continously update this lists for losses and new additions, instead of keep posting new lists. Its easier for me to keep track.
***January 2015 update***  Due to an injury that had been life altering, I am unable to garden and it has been a hard thing to deal with. My husband had been caring for the yard since and his passion for Rose of Sharon seedlings that have migrated from my neighbors yard has pretty much proliferated.  I have trimmed down my houseplant collection considerably. I will still do plant trades or root a few cuttings if getting a trade for a desired Hoya. Email me. I am no longer active in gardening forums or perennial plant trades due to chronic pain. 

 

 ***GESNERIADS***

Nematanthus 'Black Magic' (actual grex from the hybridizer)

Episcia

Pink Acajou

Showtime

Dorys Golden Glitter *mine*

Pink Gator

Cotton Candy

***SUCCULENTS & CACTUS***

Aloe jucunda

Aloe 'Baby Boy Blue'

Aloe zanzibarica 'Voodoo Aloe'

Aloe aristata 'Lace Aloe'

Aloe 'Midnight'

Aloe 'Pink Blush'

Aloe 'Blue Elf'

Aloe 'Green Ice'

Aloe variegata ' Partridge Breast Aloe'

Euphorbia trigona 'Royal Red'

Euphorbia tirucalli 'Fire Sticks'

Euphorbia lactea cristata variegata

Euphorbia millii Grandiflora
Euphorbia decaryii
Euphorbia anoplia
Euphorbia neohumbertii "blue leaf"

Euphorbia aeruginosa

Echeveria 'Chroma'

Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg

Echeveria 'Neon Breakers'

Mammilaria fragilis (Thimble Cactus)

Notocactus magnificus (Balloon Cactus)
Tephrocactus articulatus (Paper Spine Cactus)

Stenocereus pruinosus 'Gray Ghost Organ Pipe'

Graptopetalum paraguayense 'Ghost Plant'

Sedum adolphii 'Golden Sedum'

Kalanchoe luciae "Flapjack"

Agave neomexicana   

Gasteria liliputana

Gasteria caespitosa
Gasteria ernstraudii

Parodia miscrosperma 'Herzogii'
Ferocactus latispinus
Rhipsalis ewaldiana
Rhipsalis elliptica

Rhipsalis salicornioides ( Dancing Bones Cactus aka Drunkards Dream)
Rhipsalis pachyptera
Rhipsalis 'Red Thread'
Rhipsalis NOID

Gymnocalycium spegazzinnii
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii v friedrichii
Copiapoa domeykoensis
Ceropegia woodii

Ceropegia woodii variegata
Ceropegia stapeliaformis ssp. serpentina

Hawthoria cuspidata

Hawthoria attenuata fasiata

Epiphyllum 'First Prom'
Cereus montrose
Adenium obesum
Adenium obesum 'Black Window'
Aporocactus  'Rat Tail Cactus'
Dorstenia foetida
Selenicereus anthonyanus (Ric Rac Cactus)
Stapelia gigantea
Huernia procumbens'

***Hoya***

Hoya wayetii

Hoya carnosa

Hoya carnosa 'variegated cv. Rubra '

Hoya pubicalyx cv 'Silver Pink'

Hoya pubicalyx 'Red Buttons'

Hoya curtisii

Hoya kerrii
Hoya obovata
Hoya publicalyx 'Royal Hawaiian Purple' a.k.a. 'Çhimaera' aka 'Philipine Black'
Hoya lauterbachii
Hoya buotii [Frosted Hoya]
Hoya macrophylla
Hoya bilobata
Hoya lacunosa 'Royal Flush'
Hoya lacunosa
Hoya clandestina
Hoya archboldiana
Hoya publicalyx
Hoya fungii

***Orchids***

Psychopis 'Kahlihi'

Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' FCC/AOS

Ludisia discolor

Dendrobium kingianum

Phalaenopsis NO ID

Odontonia Pacific Paranoia 'Otherside of Cool'
Monnierara Millenium Magic 'Witchcraft' AM/AOS
Tolumnia 'Genting Volcano'
Odontocidium Tiger Crow 'Golden Girl' AM/AOS

***Tropicals and various house plants***

Maranta leucoreura kerchoveana

Philodendron scandens Mediopictum

Michelia figo (Banana Shrub)

***Trees / Shrubs***

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Feuerzauber' (Witch Hazel 'Fire Charm')

*Hydrangea;

macrophylla 'Lady in Red'

macrophylla 'Mariesii Variegata'

paniculata 'Little Lamb' PW

paniculata 'Quick Fire' PW

paniculata 'Pinky Winky' PW

macrophylla 'Midnight Salsa'

macrophylla 'Nikko Blue'

Sambus nigra 'Black Lace' (Elderberry)

Callicarpa americana 'Welsh's Pink'(American beautyberry)

Barberry 'Rosy Glow'

Prunus cerasus 'Montmorency' (Cherry)
Buttercup WinterHazel

***Azalea & Rhododendron***

Azalea;

Trilight

Girard's Scarlet
Girard's Crimson
Encore ''
 'Poukhanense'

Rhododendron;

Bluebird

***Perennials / Bulbs***

Dracunculus vulgaris ( Vampire Lily or Dragon Arum)

Black Mondo Grass

Jack in the Pulpit

Golden Seal

Trillium recurvatum (Bloody Butcher)

Aconitum carmichaelii (Monkshood)

Jewel Weed
Arum italicum
Japanese Painted Fern
Brunnera 'Jack Frost'
Euphorbia amygdaloides f. purpurata [Wood Spurge]
Houttuynia cordata  'Chameleon'
Tovara 'Painters Palette'
Sedum spurium

I have so many, it will take awhile to get them listed.

***Hosta***

Alligator Shoes

Orange Marmalade

Ghost Spirit

June

Carnival

Guacamole

Stilleto
Blue Flame
Color Glory
Tattoo

still have to list all of them.....

***Astilbe***

Color Beauty

Bridal Veil

Red

***Heuchera***

 ( so upset that my Midnight Rose disappeared)

Chocolate Veil

Amethyst Mist

Green Spice

Palace Purple

Caramel

Dolce peach melba

Dolce licorice

Ebony and ivory

Stormy seas

Obsidian

Velvet night

Montrose ruby

Amber waves

Citronelle

Ginger ale

Color beauty

Key lime pie

Dolce mocha mint

***Hemerocallis / Daylily***

Jamaican Midnight

Nebuchadnezzers Furnace

Spacecoast Starburst

Tears of Love
Edge of Night
Sparkling Orange
Smith Brothers
American Revolution
Ancient Reflections

***Iris***

(Lots to list-will update asap)