Winter Flowers in Middle Georgia

December 24, 2008

Daphne Odera are just about ready to burst forth in full bloom. These usually are at their peak bloom in the Middle of January.

Two Camellia Blooms which have been blooming every Winter here in Bibb County, Georgia. These plants were acquired in the early 90s and have never been pruned and they thrive in the protection of the many trees which adorn the Gardens.

This Lenten Rose Bloom was the first of the Season. They, like the Daphne Odera usually bloom in the middle of January, but I am enjoying their beauty here on Christmas Eve 2008.

This is a close up of a Christmas Cactus Bloom which was in full bloom on Thanksgiving Day 2008.

Angel Trumpet Reproduction

also known as

Brugmansia X candida

Benefits of a Plant Patent

A plant patent lasts for 20 years from the date of filing the patent application and gives the inventor the right to exclude others from asexually reproducing, selling, or using the plant so reproduced.

Rooting is considered asexual reproduction. This Author investigated several Web Sites to ascertain Patent Information. The status of Patent Information for this Plant is listed as unknown.

Today I will display a rooting technique that I use to have additional plants to share. The first picture is of an Angel Trumpet Plant that is currently flourshing (November 17, 2008) in my Gardens. You can see the bloom pods, which are about four inches long. Unfortunately the cold weather this evening here in Middle Georgia may freeze this plant. Thus I have taken steps to insure that I have these lovely plants again in 2009. I have performed this routine for the last five or six years with great success:

This is a picture of a plant that I rooted during the Winter of 2007-2008. It is currently in a pot in the garage so that I can Winter it over. I also have the first plant that I acquired about seven years ago in a larger pot, which I also keep in the garage.

This is a set-up picture of a stem that has developed roots over the Winter and I place the stems in individual fiber pots like this in Mid-March each Spring so that I can transplant them in the ground in Mid-April, after all danger of frost is past. Please remember that on April 14, 2008 we had overnight temperatures lower than 32 degrees.


Here is a picture of what I accomplished today, November 17th, to root my cuttings. I cut several stems about eight inches long. Placed them in water and then put them in Rootone - a Rooting Hormone with Fungicide; before placing them back into this high tech plastic jug with about two inches of water so that they can root over Winter. Then, as I displayed above I place the rooted cuttings in individual fiber planters for further growth until it is safe to transplant them outside in the Gardens.

Angel Trumpets flourish in full Sun, however I have mine placed on the Northeast corner of our two story home. On hot Summer days I have had to water them twice a day because they do like plenty of water. Please note that I do maintain a heavy mulch around the plants once they are in the Ground.

The first picture clearly shows plants that I hope do not freeze soon, because I want to see another flush of blooms from them. They had three already this Year. Once they are killed by cold weather I cut them off to the ground and then place a pile of hardwood leaves one foot tall over the roots. So far they have come back each year.

I hope you find this post useful and please leave your comments here regarding the maintaining of these lovely, and yes interesting plants throughout the State of Georgia. The methods I discuss above have worked for me here in Bibb County, which is in the Heart of Georgia.

Gardening Equipment

This spade was a gift to me from my wife one year as we attended the Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta, Georgia. The vendors from Lee Valley had this on special for $28.50 which included shipment. They now cost $35.00. It is a finely balanced tool and a pleasure to work with. Which is an introduction to the following information:

I recently attended a Garden Club Meeting here in Macon, which featured a Guest Speaker who is a Master Gardner.

The following is an outline of his presentation:

Gardening Equipment – Selection and Care

Use Chemicals for Caution – Always comply with the directions.

Keep tools in the same place – You will know where they are.

Wear a brimmed hat – Skin Cancer is not fun.

Wear Gloves – Protect your hands.

Use the correct pruner for the task. Bypass for green material. Anvil for dead or dry material

Clean tools after each use – Then they are always ready.

Keep cutting tools sharp

Have emery paper handy – Then you can keep the surfaces of knives clean.

Use WD-40 – Or any other water displacement liquid to prevent rust.

Obtain the best gardening trowel you can afford. Stainless steel is the best.

For gas powered equipment always use STA-BIL when you place equipment in storage for the next season of use. STA-BIL is a fuel stabilizer that prevents fuel from deteriorating so engines start quickly and easily after storage.

Select a shovel with a well balanced and long enough handle and keep it sharp and clean.

If you garden in a tree filled property the use of an AXE is a fact of life. Obtain the best you can afford. Keep the Axe sharp and clean and you will never have to obtain another one.

Obtain a Mattock/Pick Ax or

A Prong Hoe

Confederate Roses

The Confederate Rose, while not a "Rose" is certainly a unique "Pass Along" plant. The three plants that flourish in our East Garden were passed to us by my Bride's Aunt who lives in the Country.
The beautiful feature of this plant is that various colors can appear on one bush. The pinks, white and even a fairly dark red. Unfortunately we had no red blooms when we conducted this photo shoot.
The originator of this Blog is shown here to give you an idea of the size of the Confederate Rose Plant. This shows a six foot tall person and the plant towers above.
This picture gives you an idea of the size of the plant and how the blooms are spread out. The Confederate Rose is easily grown. I cut them to the ground after the first frost here in Middle Georgia and mulch with a generous pile of tree leaves until Spring when I uncover them after all danger of frost is past. A very rewarding plant to grow because of the bountiful blooms every Fall.

Angel Trumpet Flowers

Gardening Tidbits

I have been fastinated with the Angel Trumpet Flowers for several years. I first saw them while on a road trip to Athens, Georgia to observe the 1996 Olympic Games Soccer Matches.
These pictures are from my Gardens here in Macon, Georgia.

I have had as many as twelve blooms on one plant. A future Blog entry will focus on taking cuttings and sharing this fun plant