All Hallows Inventoreve

Despite factors out of my control, I was able to maintain homeostasis in Pergola-tory this Spring, Summer, and Fall. I'm pretty much ready for Winter now (such as it is here). The plants are largely healthy, except for 'Blue-Eyed Susan' which has highly yellowed leaves for some unknown reason. Going into the sunless season, my inventory is:


Container 1:

• P. holosericea 
• P. 'Manta' (xiikzodz × coriacea)
• P. 'Jennifer Grace' (quadriglandulosa × poslae) 

Container 2:

• P. parritae

 Container 3:

• P. × decaisnea (alata × quadrangularis)
• P. 'Blue-Eyed Susan' (incarnata × edulis) × (incarnata × cincinnata)
• P. 'Lady Margaret' (coccinea × incarnata)
• P. 'Saphire' (edulis × caerulea)

Container 4:

• P. racemosa
• P. × belotii (alata x caerulea)

Container 5:

• P. 'Exoniensis' (antioquiensis × tripartita var. mollissima (aka tarminiana))
• P. nephrodes

Container 6:

• P. 'Sunburst' (gilbertiana × jorullensis)

Container 7:

• P. trisecta

Container 8:

• P. antioquiensis
• P. 'Mission Dolores' (parritae × antioquiensis) 

Container 9:

• P. 'Coral Sea' (P. manicata × ?)

Container 10:

• P. 'Warmlands' (vitifolia × macrocarpa)

Container 11:

• P. cirrhiflora

Bi-color Lady Margaret

Something strange showed up in Pergola-tory recently  While doing my rounds, I discovered a mutant blossom on 'Lady Margaret' It had half red petals/sepals and half white. The extra strange part of this is that two of the sepals were divided down their mid-lines the same way - half red and half white. I'm not sure how the mutation occurred though between all the pests and the poisons, I'm not really surprised. I had hoped that the mutation would persist throughout that branch of the vine, but it did not. If it had, then I would have tried to propagate it and start a new variegated variety.

Coral Un-Sea-sonably Hot

It's the middle of October, and the weather in Redondo Beach is in the low 80's! To me, that means it time to garden...of course, that's what time it is every spare minute. Nevertheless, I decided to replant some of the front yard. The mealy bugs from the neighbor's yard had done a number on my plants there. I fought them the best that I could, but decided in the end to start fresh. So, I pulled out the most afflicted, and pruned aggressively those that could handle it. The best news there is that the peony which I thought was dying for no apparent reason, was actually just dropping some branches, and new ones were coming in at the nodes. Anyway, I picked up some new inhabitants for the front yard. I have high hopes of course, especially for something I had never seen before. It's called 'Hairy Balls'...yep. Gomphocarpus physocarpus.

Every time I go to the garden store I check the back where they keep the vines. I found some passi's there. They had P. x belotii, P. edulis, and 'Coral Sea' (manicata x ?) in stock. All were healthy with fruit and flowers on most. I couldn't resist, and picked up a 'Coral Sea'. I had an empty pot after all. The only question was where to put it. I decided to put it in the front yard and lean it tendrils on the palm tree growing there. My friend from the Facebook Passiflora group promises me that it will climb up over the house and strangle all the plants on the block. I look forward to that!

Blue Seed Group

I've harvested a few of the 'Blue-Eyed Susan' x 'Blue Boquet' seeds now. They're sticky little things. Since scooping them free of their shells, I've dried them, and freed them from their casings. They're in baggies now awaiting their sowing. I'll have to read up on the best ways to do this before I lose patience and just jam them in the dirt. Wish me luck!

Alata Patience

I've been impressed with the size of my P. alata 'Ruby Glow' (see edit at end of this entry). Late this Summer it took off up one of the legs of the pergola, over the top, and then on a direct diagonal across. Very recently, I noticed that there were a few buds on the main vine. I was as excited as I was surprised, since P. alata doesn't typically bloom the season that it's planted! The leaves look healthy, the tendrils are tentaculous (I made that word up), and now I might get some spectacular Fall flowers. I won't hold my breath though in case the buds are dropped, which is what happened to my P. trisecta.

Well...it turns out that 'Ruby Glow' is actually P. x decaisnean a cross of P. alata x P. quadrangularis. I discovered this vicariously through a very well informed passie friend in the Facebook passion flower group. He noted that 'Ruby Glow' has smaller, less wild, more purple coronal filaments. I agreed, posted the discovery on the Facebook page, and the other experts agreed. So, that's a mixed bag revelation. On one hand, I didn't get what I ordered from Logee's. On the other, I got a spectacular plant with fruit which are rumored to be delicious. I did try to pollinate the blossoms before I knew what I really had. The first with P. racemosa and the second with 'Blue-Eyed Susan'. I'll have to wait to see if I get a delicious reward!

Update: Nope.

Exoniensis Escapade

I took the little path between my house and the condominium complex when I walked home from the grocery today. When I got to the fence that I share with them, I checked out the tops of my bamboo. But, something else caught my eye. Something pink and pendulous was hanging from the bamboo. It was Passiflora exoniensis!! More specifically, it was a withered bloom that I had missed, and when I checked the ground around it, I found one that had dropped!! So I had missed at least two of my first tacsonia blooms!

Well, I pried its wiry grip off of the bamboo and slung it back over the fence the other way toward my pergola. I came around the house, and situated it properly, so that when the next bloom comes to fruition, I'll be sure to see it. What a pity that I missed the others, but at least it's in full health even if it seems to want to run away from home. So, once again, I wait for my first tacsonia blossom.

Laced with Nightshades

I've been patiently waiting for P. trisecta to open (at night) for a few weeks since I returned from my extended time away from home. This morning when I inspected the largest bud to make sure that I didn't miss it, I found an tiny little carnivorous lacewing resting. I still haven't figured out why the plant smells of tomatoes when it's rustled -  a very strange trait.

Update: The bud dropped without ever opening, and I do not know why. I guess I'll wait again.