Sunday, November 28, 2010

What's blooming in paradise


Their beauty makes them look fake, like brightly crinkled paper perfectly formed. My cranberry hibiscus plants are loaded with buds and I just noticed the first blooms the other day. 

They are a different species than the tropicals, these are more like a native plant, requiring less care, drought tolerant and propagating all by themselves. The flowers are a beautiful shade of purple/maroon with oddly shaped leaves and stems to match in a darker shade. 

I'm going to make a point of gathering seeds to get them started all over the yard for no-fuss beauty . . . the shrubs are pretty without the flowers with those beautiful green and purple leaves.

The photo is from another season since I haven't gone out there to take photos.   This past winter with unusual freezing temps for more than one or two days  destroyed all that I had.  I lost many of my plants, especially the tropical hibiscus and some of the gingers.  Anyway, the cranberry hibiscus babies started popping up here and there . . . they have had no care at all and need to be transplanted.

Awesome plant!  It was one of those plants that I acquired through plant swaps with local members of an old gardening group that I maintained online.  I'm really starting to enjoy native plants moreso than any others . . . they are the ones that bounced back quickly from the brutal winter.


61 comments:

Sofia's Ideas said...

I love LOVE LOVE hibiscus, but everytime I put one on my patio, it attracts so many ants!!! They eat the plant alive! ;(

I'm now following you through Three P's in a Pod Sunday Blog Hop. I hope you'll do the same! You can find me @ http://sofiasideas.com/

Sofia's Ideas

BrendaC said...

Your hibiscus is stunning. I am your newest follower from the Sunday Blog Hop, drop by and check out my blog at kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com
Have an awesome week!

Candles by Nature said...

Hello! I'm a new follower from the Pink Dandy blog hop :) Looking forward to reading your posts, I'm a fellow gardener so hopefully I can pick up some tips!

Kari said...

new follower from the blog hop. Check me out at www.loveluciblog.blogspot.com

Giveaways for Mom said...

Following from Follow Me Monday!

http://www.giveawaysformom.com/

Jo Frances said...

Great pictures! Just what I need to cheer me up on a winter's day. :-)

New follower from Follow me Back Tuesday.
http://www.over40style.com

2 Kids and a Coupon said...

Following from the Tuesday Hop.

www.twokidsandacoupon.com

Unknown said...

Hi, I am following you from Follow Me Back Tuesday! I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

http://caseysgoodlife.com

SONDRA PRICE said...

SO pretty! :)

New follower!!!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

We used to have big beautiful hibiscus , but had to sell it when we moved. I miss it so much.

Stopping by to say Hi from FMBT. I am your newest follower.

~Bibi~
www.dailyorganizedchaos.com

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful, I used to have red and pink hibiscus in my front yard when we lived in South FL.

New follower from the hop! Would love for you to visit my blog when can. Have a great day!

Jen Maddox
http://www.WaltLife.blogspot.com

Donna said...

Hopping over from For the Love of Blogs! Your hibiscus is sooo gorgeous! I've tried them here and have had no luck at all with them, spent almost 40 bucks on one several years in a row and the fall chill wiped them out a couple of years, and I tried bringing them in the house, but that didn't work either, made me sad!

<3 Donna

Kelly~ Wave of Life Surf Studio said...

Hi Gina! Thanks for stopping by my blog- I am now following this blog as well :) I love gardening & have a collection of tropical plants.. my papaya & key lime tree are both in bloom now! No easy feat here in NJ..


http://waveoflifesurfstudio.blogspot.com/

LoveLivesHere said...

new follower

www.theloveliveshere.com

Anonymous said...

My mom loves hibiscus plants. She always has to have some growing around her garden. They also make a great tea! ;)


Hiya! Found you through Eccentric Delirium's hop - http://vagabondcarnival.blogspot.com/

Menopausal New Mom said...

Found you through a blog hop, would love a follow back and I love your garden!!

Luna said...

Visting from the blog hop! Now following you on Google Friend!

Kelly
http://mysimplewalk.com

Ron Cooper said...

Hi! I’ve been following your neat blog from Weekend Blog Hop. My Facebook page “Inspire” has inspiring messages. I post original quotes up to 3 times a day. Love for you to visit!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Inspire/338562522284?ref=ts

Kristina said...

Following you from the Super 7 Blog Hop!

http://peachesreviews.com

Debbie Does Coupons said...

Following you from the Saturday Stalk blog hop where you listed your link but you forgot to follow me. Please visit and follow me back at http://debbiedoescoupons.com

Jacqui said...

Hi! I'm your newest follower from a weekend blog hop. I'd love it if you would follow back at one or all four of my blogs :)

www.singleparentretreat.com
http://singlemamachallenges.blogspot.com/
http://motherdaughterconnection.blogspot.com/
http://jmconsultingservices.blogspot.com/

Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend!

Danielle @ We Have It All said...

Hello, new follower from the blog hops... wow, you have a lot of blogs :)

Gina Alfani said...

Thanks to everyone visiting, commenting and/or following my blog :-)

@Danielle . . . lol I do!! I have lots of interests and hate to cram everything into one blog . . .

Hope everyone is having an awesome weekend . . . Gina

Carolee Sperry a.k.a. The Blogging Biz Mom said...

Absolutely Beautiful!

Stopping by from "Follow Friday 40 and over" - on Sunday!

Have a great week!

P.S. Don't forget to drop by my blog to see the details of my upcoming holiday blog hop!

Heather Jones said...

Hi Gina! I'm following from the Weekend Blog Hop. Stop by when you can and have a great weekend!


Heather From and Mommy Only Has Two Hands! and Lynhea Designs

Prem Saisha said...

Hi,thanks so much for joining my bloghop! I follow you now! :)

April said...

How beautiful! I'm your newest follower from the Sunday blog hop - hope you'll follow me back!

April said...

hi, i'm following from Give It To Me Monday blog hop! i hope you'll stop by my blog and follow back :)

best,
april

www.marineparents.blogspot.com

The Pilot's Wife said...

Joining in on the Totally Tuesday Blog Hop! Happy to be following you!

Anna, The Pilot's Wife
Follow My Blog At:
http://www.pilotwife.blogspot.com
Enter Weekly Drawing for a Free Candle!
http://pilotwife.blogspot.com/p/free-candle-drawing.html

Jen said...

Hi!
I'm a new follower from Totally Tuesday! Would love for you to visit my page and follow back!
I was featured as a guest post on Sears' blog today for my favorite holiday cookies!!

Frugal Invitation
http:/www.frugalinvitation.com
http://twitter.com/thefrugalinvite

Giveaways for Mom said...

Following from Mid Week Mingle!

http://www.giveawaysformom.com

Beautiful flowers!

Brandy M. said...

Hoppin over from Saturday's Blog Hop. Great Blog! Now am a follower! Would love for you to stop by if you get a chance http://giveawayblogdom.blogspot.com/

Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said...

I'm your newest follower.
What a fun blog you have!!
Stopping by from Friday Follow blog hop. Hope you get a chance to check out my blog, http://discoverdirectselling.blogspot.com/
Have a wonderful weekend! Blessings,
Nancy

Cindy said...

What an absolutely gorgeous plant. I love looking at plants, but have a BLACK thumb. All I do is think about touching a plant and it dies :( poor plants!

following from Saturday's hop
come on over to my place
http://for-one-another.blogspot.com/

Betty Manousos said...

I love hibiscus, it has been growing in my garden perfectly.
I love your picture! Beautiful!!

New follower from Pink Dandy blog hop.
I hope you can stop by and have a great Sunday!

B

Sofia's Ideas said...

Its been awhile - hope all is well!

I'm already following you but I'm stopping by through the Relax & Surf Sunday Blog Hop. I hope you'll do the same! You can find me @ http://sofiasideas.com/

Sofia's Ideas

eileeninmd said...

Just beautiful! Hibiuscus is one of my favorite plants for my deck.

Larry said...

This is a strangely beautiful shade... reminds me of the hardy hibiscus called 'Plum Crazy' which is quite popular here... L

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

I am your newest follower from the blog hops. So good to 'meet' you. I look forward to reading more from you soon.

Whenever you get a free moment I would love if you came by for a visit too.

Thanks so much,
Marie
The Things We Find Inside

Unknown said...

this color is beautiful--never seen a hibiscus in this color before. very pretty.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous color!
Hey, I'm Gina, too!

Chubskulit Rose said...

That's gorgeous!

daffodils

I am now your follower Gina.

Arija said...

So beautiful against the greenery.

Janet Ellis said...

Hi Gina, Love the Hibiscus plants. I'm a desert gardener and am trying my first winter garden. Everything the puppies haven't stomped or eaten is doing well :-) Kale, Lettuce, broccoli and cabbage. The rest, gone :-) I'm a new follower over from Beckham & Bloom and you can find me over at http://theskinnyonmini.blogspot.com/ and http://inherpeace-janetsjournal.blogspot.com/ Have a great Monday. Blessings, Janet

Misty said...

I'm a new follower from the Saturday Stalk Blog Hop! I would love a follow back :) It would be awesome if you could also follow me on Networked Blogs & Facebook too! I am following you via Networked blogs too but for some reason it doesn't show up:(

Thanks, Misty
http://MistysThoughtsToo.blogspot.com

Lindsey said...

Love your blog!!!
I'm your newest follower! Hope you'll visit my blog!
http://notsoeasybeinggreen.blogspot.com

KD said...

BEAUTIFUL! Makes me just yearn for summer...

Unknown said...

beautiful plant!

Míriam Luiza said...

Realmente são lindos e brilhantes!

Anonymous said...

Followng you! Hope you can follow back!
http://lunasavings.blogspot.com

Suertemom said...

Hi! I'm your newest follower.

L Howard said...

Hello,
I am a new follower from Surfin Saturdays.
I would love a follow back.
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

http://thecouponqueenbee.blogspot.com

Its nice to see great tropical plants, sadly I killed our banana plant I think we did not have the right environment.

Jackie said...

Coming over to follow via the saturday hop! Hoping you can swing by Mommy In The Baking and follow back. Have a great saturday night!
Jackie
www.mommyinthebaking.com

Sockertussen said...

Yeay it's tueasday and I'm following you on Google Friend Connect.
Would love for you to visit my site and follow me back =D

http://sockertussen.blogspot.com/

Lisa@The Nourishing Homemaker said...

Merry Christmas! I'm your newest follower from Totally Tuesday Blog Hop. Please visit my blog and follow back.

SKY PRINCESS said...

Very nice!

Following you from a blog hop. Would love a follow back!

www.channelingricky.com

jijie said...

Your newest follower here from FMBT please follow me back here@ Step It Up!

Thanks :)

Amanda said...

Love the flowers!! Sure wish we could keep flowers in the winter here :\


Following from TT Blog hop!

www.mommyoftwolittlemonkeys.com

Amanda

gengen said...

I am a new follower from Friendly Friendly Follow. Merry Christmas.

Blogger Broadcast said...

It's beautiful Gina. Lovely color as well.

Unknown said...

It's so pretty here. This would make for great wall paper on my screen.
Just dropping by to say hello from the crazed fan blog hop. I hope to see you around. Banana

One of my goals is to increase my facebook fan page.

http://www.facebook.com/ourbananamoments

http://www.ourbananamoments.com

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