The Dragon Fruit Cactus Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 77

In case you didn't know, Dragon Fruits are actually Cacti that come from tropical rainforests. They have beautiful flowers.

Fig 01 - Flower of Dragon Fruit Cactus.

Tropical rainforests meaning:

- they need regular water

- we must protect them from freezing temperature.

The blooms are very large almost 12 inches (30.5 cm) across and about 9 inches (22.90 cm) long.

This cultivar is rated to be self-fertile, meaning the Dragon Fruit Cactus can produce fruit with its own pollen. 

The fruit that is red outside and white inside.

Fig 02 - A dragon fruit.

The plants are thorny, so we will need gloves if we would like to cut or prune them.

Fig 03 - Flower turns left

Have you seen the Dragon Fruit Cactus Flowers and fruis?

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Early Blooming of Amaryllis - Gardening and Hobby 76

It is quite surprising that we have blooming of Amaryllis early than usual. The flowers typically bloom around next month.

Fig 01 - Surprise Blooming.

We have "fantastic" names for the beautiful Amaryllis:

- the pink one is called Pinkolo.

- and the white one is Marquis.

We think that Pinkolo is playful and has theatrical energy to it. Then, Marquis feels elegant and regal. 

Several flowers come back bigger and better each year. We are waiting their bloom to return soon.

Fig 02 - Starting to bloom, indoor.

In case of indoor flowers, we keep watching them grow or changes from day to day. Waiting for surprise.

Fig 03 - Another Amaryllis.

Do you have flowers that are blooming early?

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The Evergreen Shrub of the Pineapple Guava - Gardening and Hobby 75

In case you never seen the fruits, their sizes are about the Kiwi. Interestingly, they stay green, and when ripe they drop off.

Fig 01 - Fruit of Pineapple guavas. 

The scientific name of this plant is Acca sellowiana. In our areas the common names of the fruit are:

- Feijoa

- Guavasteen.

Several advantages to grow Pineapple Guava are:

- a low maintenance pant

- a small tree with sweet fruit

- and beautiful flowering

Fig 02 - Guavas in the bowl.

The skin of the fruit is hard, and they are very rot resistant. When ripe the fruit is very fragrant. It is a very tropical flavor.

Fig 03 - A little tree of the Pineapple Guava.

It is extremely cold hardy that 9* F (-13* C) hard freeze. Had no effect on our small shrub.

Fig 04 - Flower of the Pineapple Guava.

Have you tasted of the Pineapple Guava.

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Climbing Roses in the Garden - Gardening and Hobby 74

 Peggy Martin Rose is one of well-known climbing roses in our state, Louisiana. Flowers could survive during the Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Fig 01 - Climbing roses. 

You may know other climbing roses. some of them are: 

- Climbing Iceberg

- Fourth of July

- New Dawn

- Lady banks

- and Don Juan

It seems that these climbing rose varieties grow well in the area with hot and humid climates like our state.

Fig 02 - Beautiful buds.

The flowers are very pretty with lovely colors, but fragrance is not strong, only mild fragrance.

Fig 03 - The gorgeous flower.

Do you know about climbing roses?

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A Little Flower Garden - Gardening and Hobby 73

We have a spot of tiny flower garden at the lawn path of Boulevard entrance. The garden was started about 5 months ago.

Fig 01 - Just starting, 5 months ago.

I saw flowers are blooming, many varieties of them, unfortunately, I don't recognized their exact names. They are beautiful. 

However, some flowers for small garden in our community are:

- Purple Coneflower

- Butterfly Weed

- Black-eyed Susan

- Camellias

- Daffodils and etc.

Fig 02 - Blooming at little garden

You may see some pumpkins as part of decorations. The pumpkins make tiny garden more colorful.

Fig 03 - Kind of flowers

Fig 04 - Beautiful of little garden

What do you think?

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Blooming of Angelonia - Gardening and Hobby 72

Angelonia is one of the few plants that loves southern states of USA hot temperature and humidity.  

Figure - Blooming of Angelonia

This beautiful flower has common name or nicknamed, summer snapdragons. Drought tolerant but well with our rain. Doesn't usually need extra watering.

Angelonia is annually, but our plant did great until the big freeze in January. Replanted these in the Spring.

New (young) leaves of Angelonia are not tolerant to several animals (critters) such as:

- deer

- rabbits

- squirrels

- and other small wild critters.

We actually did cover them before the freeze. But the frost cloth was too lightweight. We used a heavy one (tree cover) doubled and it saved our Angelonia. Lesson learned. No deer, just squirrels and small wildlife.

Do you know about Angelonia?

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Blooming of Pineapple guava Bush - Gardening and Hobby 71

The Pineapple guava bush with scientific name Acca sellowiana, has very "distinct" beautiful flowers. 

Figure 01 - Blooming of Pineapple guava

The combine colors include white (petal or flower) , pink and red colors. Interestingly, some information said the flowers are edible. 

Taste of white petals:

- good

- tropical flavor

- really sweet

The squirrels love them. They don’t, however, eat the red part, don't know why. Fun to watch them.

Figure 02 - Beautiful sunset

The tree has minimal maintenance. We have two that came up from seed and have pitted till large enough to plant.

Figure 03 - Ready to be planted

Do you know about flowers of Pineapple guava Bush?

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Colorful of Purslane Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 70

 Purslane is one of the flowers which are blooming in the middle of summer, especially in our areas.

Fig 01 - Purslane Flowers

Many people said the flowers like the “Angel Drops” from Heaven due to their "absolutely gorgeous."

There are plenty colors of Purslane, some favorites in our areas are:

- orange

- yellow

- white

- pink

- and bi-colors

Fig 02 - Beautiful flowers

In our areas, little bit warmer, Purslane Flowers may come back every year. The flowers might regrow from roots.

Fig 03 - Colorful

Do you know this flower?

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Colorful of Snapdragons - Gardening and Hobby 69

 The photo was from Spring, then we enter very hot Summer with temperature reaches around 97* F (36* C). 

Image of Snapdragon flowers

Some said the Snapdragons with scientific name Antirrhinum majus could bloom until Fall, I don't know.

The flowers have many colors, our favorite includes:

- yellow

- pink

- orange

- red 

- and white

Few people grow the Snapdragons from seeds. It could take months until flowers blooming. We never did it.

Do you know about Snapdragons?

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The Orchid Blooming in the Room - Gardening and Hobby 68

Many beautiful orchids come from tropical regions; however, they live in the forest with "calm" temperatures. 

Fig 01 - Blooming of the tropical orchid

Our area is hot and humid during summer; hence, it seems fit for tropical flowers include orchids to grow well. 

Phalaenopsis is one of popular orchids in our neighborhoods, it is because the orchid has some distinct characters such as:

- long lasting blooming 

- easy to care.

- colorful

- good as an indoor plant.

Fig 02 - Second blooming

Do you know about tropical orchids?

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Vivian Mae, The Native Iris Hybrid - Gardening and Hobby 67

 As you might know, Iris has at least 300 species worldwide. Many love them due to their attractive colors. 

Fig 01 - Native flower of our state

The above photo (Fig 01) is our state, Louisiana native Iris, people called it Vivian Mae or Louisiana hybrids.

Other well-known species (hybrids) are:

- Iris hexagona, Dixie iris

- Iris nelsonii, Abbeville iris

- Iris brevicaulis, Lamance iris

- Giant Blue, Iris giganticaerulea

- Copper Iris, Iris fulva.

Fig 02 - Another native species.

There are many colors of Iris flowers in our areas, some people including me love purple ones.

Fig 03 - Louisiana iris.

What species of Iris flowers in your areas?

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Blooming of Japanese Magnolia - Gardening and Hobby 66

 Blooming of Japanese Magnolia is a strong sign that Spring is near in our areas. The flower come to USA about 200 years ago.

Fig 01 - White Japanese Magnolia flowers.

Amidst a world in chaos (for many reasons: politics, economics, security etc.), nature calms the spirit. 

In addition to the Japanese Magnolia, our state, Louisiana has own five (5) very well-known native species:

- Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla).

- Cucumber-tree Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata).

- Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

- Umbrella (Magnolia tripetala) and Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). 

Fig 02 - Dead Magnolia tree, illustration

We know Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) as large trees with evergreen leaves and fragrant flowers.

Fig 03 - Pink flowers of Magnolia.

What variety of Magnolia do you familiar with?

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Petunia Midnight Gold - Gardening and Hobby 65

We have several reasons to have Petunia Midnight Gold in our areas. First, it is well grown in early Spring. 

Image - Petunia midnight gold 

Their colors are stunning with purple and gold when blooming. Other purposes to plant Petunia are attracting pollinators such as:

- hummingbirds

- butterflies

- bees

- beetles

- and other insects

The visitors come to Petunia midnight gold due to its rich in nectar. We saw two species of hummingbirds frequently feed on nectar, they are Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds.

Do you know about Petunia midnight gold?

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The Roselle in the Yard - Gardening and Hobby 64

Roselle with scientific name Hibiscus sabdariffa comes from warm regions and grow well in the tropical and subtropical temperatures. 

Fig 01 - The calyces of Roselle. 

Since our city has warm climate, we may find some of the Roselle flowers in our neighborhood areas.

As you might know that the plants have calyces which are red (light part) parts, not fruit of flowers. 

I don't know the benefits of calyces or never aware whoever consumed them in our neighborhood but reported by Southern University A&M College systems (2024, Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa): A Functional Food) that Calyces could be used as jams, tea (beverages) and other purposes.

Fig 02 - Leaves and calyces 

Do you know about calyces of Roselle?

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