Thursday, April 28, 2011

Easter cactus / Schlumbergera gaertneri

I planted these cuttings last year sometime and never knew it was an Easter cactus. When other Holiday cacti were blooming during Christmas time, this plant showed nothing so I thought it was still young.
This morning, to my surprise, I've found a big bloom and two buds on the plant.

Clearly, it is an Easter cactus, and a beautiful pink one too.


It's so much the better because I haven't got an Easter cactus in my garden yet.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Phaius and other species orchids

In my trip to the north last month, I was able to visit some plant vendors in Hanoi and bought myself a Phaius orchid at a very reasonable price.


It's said that Phaius prefers cool weather so I hope it will grow well in my garden.
At this time of year, my species orchids are starting to bloom after their long nap during the dry season.




Unlike other hybrids that can bloom occasionally throughout the year, species orchids only bloom once, usually at the beginning of the rainy season here. Some of them are fragrant but some don't carry a scent.




I like them because they are not so fussy; I just hang them under the trees and they can manage themselves quite well.

Monday, April 4, 2011

The first ever hybridized Daylily in Vietnam

The seedlings from Annette (Canada) have grown quite well during last season and now one of them is blooming for the first time.




Annette said that, although the bloom doesn't look totally similar to Hamlet, it could be a cross between Hamlet as the mother and another flower as the father.



It doesn't matter whether it's anything, it is GRAND to me in that it's the first ever hybridized Daylily in Vietnam, so far and I'm so proud to be the owner!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Amaryllis blooms

It's the amaryllis season now. All my mature plants have been blooming since February.
This week, I have these showing off their pretty faces in my living room.
Candy floss



Pink salmon



Exotica x Dancing queen



And some new hybrids whose parents are unknown to me. I grew them from seeds given by friends from Gardenweb.




I like amaryllis for their easy-to-grow and gorgeous blooms.

Friday, April 1, 2011

The jacaranda tree in my garden

We planted a jacaranda tree in Tuysonvien about 4 years ago. Last year, it started to bloom, but sparingly.
This year it is giving out a more spectacular show of clusters of blueish blooms.


I really like the blooms.



Do you have this tree in your garden?