Quirky

Strange plant, is it a weed? Grows slower than ordinary grass weeds. Quite cute, seems evergreen to me because no buds at sight.

Stranger still, Gerbera daisy in half ?

Torenia fournieri (Bluewings) bent into 2, circled in white. It has been 2 days and still green, fresh looking. It has a bud, I wonder if it will bloom?

Whaddaya know? 4 days later, the crippled Torenia stood up!

Blooms purplish blue in real life but the photos shows them in striking blue despite Periwinkles still looked pink on photos. Amazing.

Countless buds :)

Blooms 4 days later :)

Self seeds sown early June.

Seedlings emerged late July (shown in pic) and when they've grown, I've replanted into planter box mid-Sep for bigger space. Spotted buds in late Sep only then did I realised they were Dot's Torenias, given to us last June.

Of course we were delighted :)

In succesion

Spotted little flowerheads of Gerbera Daisy's (Gerbera jamesonii) late Aug, pic showing a week later.

Couple days later, 2nd Gerbera grew matching petals, catching up with the 1st. Oh look! 3rd petiole a peekaboo (left)!

 

2 weeks since late Aug, 1st Gerbera bloom is getting tired.

Closeup on 1st and 2nd bloomer. Notice the center called 'capitulum' contains tiny floret bud. You will know the daisy will fade, when all the florets bloomed and petals wilting. 

Pic left, 1st bloom starting to fade and 2nd has its florets blooming halfway on right.

Left pic, 3rd bloom and next our 4th a peekaboo baby.

Amazing Gerbera Daisy, they bloom in succession hence seemingly endless. A fun to be prying into its masses of huge leaves everyday, on lookout for little petiole with a flowerhead. I call them peekaboos :)

I think Gerberas will flower beautifully & vibrant in filtered sunlight although its label (when purchased) instructed "in full sun". Coral coloured Gerberas took 2 months to establish in the flowerbed, yet to see signs on our Yellow coloured Gerberas (which is our keen interest *fingers crossed*).

Meantime, I'm having a field time at snapping fat swelling green caterpillars. Counted today, 4 noticeably large and 1 skinny caterpillars. Will post their pics soon.

"Shui Mei" (Wrightia Religiosa)

A close up on Gerbera Daisy.

A shot of two Gerbera Daisy's new buds. Left growing very tall but the right, a shorter, has a wider and open face.

This morning, the first bloom of "Shui Mei", in Mandarin (Wrightia Religiosa or Water Jasmine or Wild Water Plum).  A great delight in sniffing to my heart's content. I sure missed its fragrance since seven months ago.

White Sui Mui illuminates.

I tried lifting to get a closer look at the bloom. It has inflorescence of buds, in an umbel, takes turn in blooming. Bloom once before it fades and fall off.

Gerbera jamesonii

Spotted little flowerheads. Coral coloured Gerbera Daisy's (Gerbera jamesonii) second round of blooming after planted in my flowerbed end Aug.

Flowerheads grew from the middle of the plant, less than an inch taller in 5 days.

They looked like mini sunflowers to me.

Top view of Gerbera daisies in my flowerbed.

Gromphrena Globosa's seedlings growing and filling up the spaces in the bed nicely. Seeds germinated in mid Aug and planted into this bed two weeks later.

The last yellow Marigold amongst the orange, like the 'The Last of the Mohicans'.

Little blue bug wants to be in this picture. Unfortunately, it was getting dark and my camera zoom didn't do justice.

Gerbera Daisy catches eyes

Down the neighbourhood street, we fondly call him 'Indian uncle' who is as obsessed with gardening like me - his obssession with gardening overtook the public 5-foot ground green space accross the street and surrounding his house. Many young plants with green leaves, a couple of mini rose plants - many not flowering except his pretty pink Barbeton Gerbera Daisy. It has only one flower stalk swaying along with the breeze as if nodding as you drive by. Really cute!

We bought Gerbera Daisies (Gerbera Jamesonii), also known as Transvaal Daisy, yesterday. Striking yellow and Coral-pink, both with black hearts. Could be that both are Gerbera hybrids - a cross between Gerbera Jamesonii and Viridifolia. There are 4 to 6 flowerheads each and 2 to 4 small buds in the center. So many? So pretty!

Gerberas comes from sunflower family (Asteraceae), smaller version of sunflower - notice how similar the capitulum, flowerhead and flower buds?

HortChat.com has the total gardening advice on growing and caring (sickly) Gerberas, great for beginners - checkout the FAQs and comments below. Save this URL into your favorites for your future referencing.