Flowers 2018

[GrimLore]

There are two wild Crocus and one planted that are blooming here - over the next 36 hours they will be buried in 8 inches or more of snow... ARGH!

Grimmy

 

[pweifan]

There are two wild Crocus and one planted that are blooming here - over the next 36 hours they will be buried in 8 inches or more of snow... ARGH!

Grimmy

Good luck with your snow, Grimmy! If the storm doesn't move north, we'll only get a few inches. Sorry your crocuses are getting covered. They're one of my all-time favorites. They (usually) promise nice weather on the way.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@Mellow Mullet - wow John, fabulous colors, and as bonsai the trees are really pretty good. Damn good.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

@Mellow Mullet - wow John, fabulous colors, and as bonsai the trees are really pretty good. Damn good.

Thanks! I have been really putting a lot of effort into them the last two years or so to try to move them forward.

 

[GrimLore]

Good luck with your snow, Grimmy! If the storm doesn't move north, we'll only get a few inches. Sorry your crocuses are getting covered. They're one of my all-time favorites. They (usually) promise nice weather on the way.

This is exactly our next 36 hours, funny the Crocus will get buried but still be OK -



Grimmy

 

[queenofsheba52]

@Mellow Mullet, I nominate you for Crown Prince of All Azaleas

(I'm too new to BNut to know if there is already a King, LOL)

 

[Carol 83]

@Mellow Mullet, I nominate you for Crown Prince of All Azaleas

(I'm too new to BNut to know if there is already a King, LOL)

I'm still partial to "Flower Whisperer".

 

[0soyoung]

@Mellow Mullet, I nominate you for Crown Prince of All Azaleas

(I'm too new to BNut to know if there is already a King, LOL)

So, you don't know that he is also an expert at growing knees on bald cypress in captivity (i.e., in a pot)?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

@Mellow Mullet, I nominate you for Crown Prince of All Azaleas

(I'm too new to BNut to know if there is already a King, LOL)

I'm still partial to "Flower Whisperer".

So, you don't know that he is also an expert at growing knees on bald cypress in captivity (i.e., in a pot)?

Thanks everyone! I got lucky this year and was diligent with the fungicide application and was able to keep the petal blight somewhat at bay. I am still learning and hope to have an even better show next year. Now that these have bloomed it is time to give them a cut back and a fresh start for the year. I still have the satsuki azaleas gearing up to bloom soon.
Thanks again!

 

[JudyB]

Thanks everyone! I got lucky this year and was diligent with the fungicide application and was able to keep the petal blight somewhat at bay. I am still learning and hope to have an even better show next year. Now that these have bloomed it is time to give them a cut back and a fresh start for the year. I still have the satsuki azaleas gearing up to bloom soon.
Thanks again!

My Kurume is starting to pop a few blooms up top, looks like it will be a spread out bloom, as there are tons of very small flower buds just showing up as well. I went thru recently and took out all the dead twigs, and found some larvae of some insect in curled up leaves below the flower buds. They were white and about 1/8" long. I picked them all off, and did a spray just in case I missed something. Have you ever had anything like these? I also applied a systemic, so I should be fine, but would like to know what to watch for... I thinned out some of the larger buds, also wonder if I should continue to take 1/2 of the rest off, the information about bloom bud removal is super confusing for a new azalea owner...
I'll try to get some flower pics once it's further along. But of course I won't be able to get a good shot this week, as we are getting a ton of snow today.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

My Kurume is starting to pop a few blooms up top, looks like it will be a spread out bloom, as there are tons of very small flower buds just showing up as well. I went thru recently and took out all the dead twigs, and found some larvae of some insect in curled up leaves below the flower buds. They were white and about 1/8" long. I picked them all off, and did a spray just in case I missed something. Have you ever had anything like these? I also applied a systemic, so I should be fine, but would like to know what to watch for... I thinned out some of the larger buds, also wonder if I should continue to take 1/2 of the rest off, the information about bloom bud removal is super confusing for a new azalea owner...
I'll try to get some flower pics once it's further along. But of course I won't be able to get a good shot this week, as we are getting a ton of snow today.

My azaleas get woolly aphids occasionally, perhaps this is what you saw. Malathion usually takes care of them. Kurume buds usually (at least the ones that I have) have at least 3-5 actual flowers inside the bud at the end of the branch, I have one that has more, I plan to count them at cut back. If I were going to thin, I would wait until they partially open and reveal the actual unopened flowers, then thin, especially if it is a multicolored variety. It would be a shame to remove all of a special color that is not on another part of the tree. There really is no need to remove the flowers (in my humble opinion, the conserve/divert/etc. energy drivel is a myth) unless you have no interest in enjoying beautiful flowers. I have let mine bloom every year without any harm to the plant, I have had some for very long time. The only time that I have not had many flowers is when I have had a late summer, bourbon inspired, pruning session and the only time that I have even noticed anything is if I repotted within a week of flowering, the flowers don't stand as upright, but other that that, no problem.

 

[JudyB]

My azaleas get woolly aphids occasionally, perhaps this is what you saw. Malathion usually takes care of them. Kurume buds usually (at least the ones that I have) have at least 3-5 actual flowers inside the bud at the end of the branch, I have one that has more, I plan to count them at cut back. If I were going to thin, I would wait until they partially open and reveal the actual unopened flowers, then thin, especially if it is a multicolored variety. It would be a shame to remove all of a special color that is not on another part of the tree. There really is no need to remove the flowers (in my humble opinion, the conserve/divert/etc. energy drivel is a myth) unless you have no interest in enjoying beautiful flowers. I have let mine bloom every year without any harm to the plant, I have had some for very long time. The only time that I have not had many flowers is when I have had a late summer, bourbon inspired, pruning session and the only time that I have even noticed anything is if I repotted within a week of flowering, the flowers don't stand as upright, but other that that, no problem.

Thanks for that information, there seem to be two schools of thought about bloom removal. The buds I'm seeing seem to be single blooms, but once I get an open one I will know more. I believe this one is the same throughout the tree color wise. I plan on letting it bloom well this year, but thought thinning might be good to do, as it has so many buds. The larvae actually cocooned themselves in curled leaves so I don't think it's wooly aphids. Looking online at larvae images to see if I can match. They must have come with the tree, as I got it last fall. I have never seen these before, and none of my other trees have them.
Thanks again, I'm sure I'll keep picking your azalea brain...

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks for that information, there seem to be two schools of thought about bloom removal. The buds I'm seeing seem to be single blooms, but once I get an open one I will know more. I believe this one is the same throughout the tree color wise. I plan on letting it bloom well this year, but thought thinning might be good to do, as it has so many buds. The larvae actually cocooned themselves in curled leaves so I don't think it's wooly aphids. Looking online at larvae images to see if I can match. They must have come with the tree, as I got it last fall. I have never seen these before, and none of my other trees have them.
Thanks again, I'm sure I'll keep picking your azalea brain...

Please post a picture of them.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/flowers-2018.31006/page-9#lg=attachment181116&slide=0

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/flowers-2018.31006/page-9#lg=attachment180944&slide=0

If you look at these two pictures (I could not repost them since I am at work) , you will see the closed bud that still has the covering on it will reveal three flowers as it opens when the flowers extend.

 

[substratum]

This is what is known as a Banana Shrub here in the Big Bend of Florida. It's in the magnolia family. These opened flowers are about the size of a U.S. Quarter Dollar coin, and have a banana scent to them. The flowers are very delicate - the plants are not. These pics were taken this morning.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

This is what is known as a Banana Shrub here in the Big Bend of Florida. It's in the magnolia family. These opened flowers are about the size of a U.S. Quarter Dollar coin, and have a banana scent to them. They are very delicate. These pics were taken this morning.
View attachment 182450

I love those, the smell is very delightful. I have several in the yard that are in full bloom right now.

 

[substratum]

I love those, the smell is very delightful. I have several in the yard that are in full bloom right now.

I think of it as a deep south legacy plant. Makes perfect sense that a garden lover in Mobile would have a few in the yard!

 

[JudyB]

Please post a picture of them.

I'm going to post a thread with some photos of this larvae, so I don't muck up this thread. Since I already have to some extent, here are some buds on the Pauls Scarlet Hawthorn ready to pop soon. The tree is covered with them. @Cadillactaste will be interested I know...
thread about the larvae here, thanks for any ID help you can give.
https://bonsainut.com/threads/larvae-on-azalea-id-help.32650/

H

 

[Cadillactaste]

@JudyB I am excited for you...and envious a little. Thanks for the tag!!! Can not wait to see them bud out!!! Double blooms in a lovely color!!! ?

 

[JudyB]

@JudyB I am excited for you...and envious a little. Thanks for the tag!!! Can not wait to see them bud out!!!

If I can find a nicer one in a year or so, this one will be up for grabs, I'll make sure you get first shot...