@Groundskeeper: Thanks, no angel trumpets are not hardy in Michigan's zone 5. I have to bring them in the basement in the fall and they go somewhat dormant. At night they have the most wonderful smell.
Great photo, amazing flowers. I remember a big plant in CA festooned with dangling flowers. The perfume was almost too much. I wonder why the plant works so hard at fragrance. Maybe to beguile humans into propagating more plants? :-)
@Groundskeeper:Thank you....This photo is from last year. This year my angel trumpets got a late start because of the cool spring and have not bloomed as early as they usually do. I have had a flower here and there; but they are much prettier when there are 50+ blooms. I love how the angel trumpets smell and my husband thinks their scent is overpowering. It's a good thing they are only fragrant at night.
I tried to grow this and had no luck, and I am in CA! You have a very green thumb (and I very bad soil). I really want to photograph the just opening buds, so exquisite.
@TaraGillBotanica......: I grow mine in pots and have to bring them in the basement every fall. I would think in CA, they would like your weather and they would be able to stay outside all year long. Normally, I water them in the morning and again in the late afternoon. We've had a lot of 90 degree temps and on those days I water a third time. They are stunning when they are loaded with flowers. If you want to grow it, I would suggest a pot.
Datura does not like wet feet. At a guess, you have clay soil. The only remedy is lots of organic matter, inches of it every year. Eventually the clay opens a bit in the top four or five inches, enough for datura and many other plants.
@TaraGillBotanica...: It's so funny that you mentioned Brugmansia sanguinea.....on FB the other day, Annie's Annuals either came out with a new catalog or a preview of new plants.....whatever, I was going through it and they have Brugmansia sanguinea and I ordered one for myself and one for my mom. They should come next week. I am so excited. I have about 10 different kinds now. You are right, it is stunning.
@Liz:There is sanguinea in the air! The link that I sent is from Far Out Flora and they are connected to Annie's via Twitter and FB. The plant world I guess is a small one. Annie's has the most amazing catalogues as you know. Her descriptions always entice me. I hope the sanguinea works out as well as your others.Are all of your brugmansias in pots or do you dig them out every year to winter them?
@TaraGillBotanica...: I did look at the link you posted and the sanguinea in that photo is gorgeous.....I have so many and some duplicates that I did plant 2 in the rocks by the pond. I normally dig the clumps out of the pots in the fall, cut the roots and top growth a bit, put them in Rubbermaid containers, and put them in the basement for the winter. They get watered occasionally just so they don't die.....they do look pretty bad by spring, but as soon as they are transplanted into pots, fertilized and watered, and get nice warm weather.....they bounce right back. Usually by now I have tons of blooms, but our spring was pretty windy and cool. My yellow brugmansias bloom ahead of the others and I notice that the others are all forming their buds. So in a few weeks, they should all be blooming. I have had an occasional bloom, but I like them when they are loaded with blooms. They are very easy to grow from cuttings. I just put them in water until they root. My sister lives in Dana Point and my niece lives near San Francisco; so I have already told my sister that I want to go to Annie's the next time I visit.
@Liz:Annies is not to be missed. Ace Garden in Oakland is also a wonderful nursery. It is small but packed with interesting plants and the most knowledgeable staff around.
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