Hibiscus

Lordy, Lord Baltimore!

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ Leave a comment

I’m out of town, but the Grill-Meister keeps me up to date on Glover Gardens happenings. My day started off right this morning with his “digital postcard” of this gorgeous red hibiscus with blooms as large as dinner plates:

Lots of blooms on Lord Baltimore this morning!

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It’s the little things.

Did you know? Lord Baltimore hibiscus are a very hardy hybrid that’s quite easy to grow in hot climates. They get frostbitten in our garden in Southeast Texas each winter, but always return the spring after being cut back close to the ground. These low-maintenance beauties get revved up as it heats up, and are super-showy by July when other bloomers are starting to get a little wilty and tired. Go, Lord Baltimore!

© 2018, Glover Gardens

 

The Yard Misses You! (says the Grill-Meister)

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ 1 Comment

When I travel, the Grill-Meister keeps me posted on happenings at home. I love it when he sends flower photos – they make me feel so connected to Glover Gardens. This week was no exception.  I was in Washington, where it was cold and rainy all week (although I was almost never outside because I was attending a conference), and these pics with the Grill-Meister’s cheery messages provided all the sunshine I needed.

“Frank-biscus is showing off!” (The hibiscus below is named after my Dad; see Death is Life-Affirming: Hibiscus Haiku).

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“….So is Mahogany Splendor aka Hollywood Video….” (The Grill-Meister gives nicknames to many things, and calls this unusual hibiscus with the red foliage and velvety maroon flowers Hollywood Video.)

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“And Yuletide Camellia sez ‘Don’t Forget About Me!'” (This winter beauty is blooming early this year.)

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I love how the Grill-Meister’s shadow is in the photo above, and how he keeps me grounded in the flora of Glover Gardens when I’m away.

Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook

 

“Frank-biscus” Blooms! Just in Time for Harvey

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ Leave a comment

A couple of days ago, I shared a lovely hibiscus haiku written by my cousin’s wife in the wake of my Dad’s death, which accompanied a hibiscus. We named it “Frank-biscus” to honor him.

We have an abundance of hibiscus at Glover Gardens, and I used some of them in the post instead of highlighting Frank-biscus, which hadn’t yet bloomed after being re-potted.

A red Texas Star Hibiscus
Hawaiian Hibiscus (I think)
A white Texas Star Hibiscus

Yesterday, as Hurricane Harvey was sending advance rainstorms to herald his impending arrival, Frank-biscus opened up a beautiful, bright pink blossom!

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To me, this was a reminder from God – during all of the fearsome ravaging brought by the hurricane – that nature is also beauty.

Here’s the haiku again, now properly paired with Frank-biscus.

your much-beloved dad
like this hibiscus flower
blossomed love and life

Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook

Death is Life-Affirming: Hibiscus Haiku

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ 9 Comments

Death is life-affirming.

Family gathers ’round when a loved one dies, sharing memories and telling stories, all a reminder both of the value of the life of the lost one and the interconnectedness of those who remain. We experienced this at Glover Gardens recently when my Dad died, rejoicing in the togetherness of family and friends even while we mourned together. In addition to their continual prayers and love, my cousin’s wife brought a gift to our informal celebration of Dad’s life, a live and blooming hibiscus, with a heartfelt haiku.

your much-beloved dad
like this hibiscus flower
blossomed love and life

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Lucy, my Aunt-Mom and Dad’s widow, took this beautiful picture

I’ve posted before about how we love love love both hibiscus and haiku here at Glover Gardens; this gift was as appropriate and welcome as a hug to smooth a hardship – and so life-affirming! A quick little poem, at the second grade level (I couldn’t resist):

I have a wonderful cousin
who has a wonderful wife.
She wrote a hibiscus haiku
to celebrate Dad’s life.

 

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A white Texas Star hibiscus, blooming for the first time on Dad’s death day

Find more about Dad here.

And here’s a tour through our hibiscus flowers (also shared in this previous post).

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Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook

~ with help from Marsha (haiku) and Lucy (cover picture) and Dad (inspiration) ~

Digital Postcard: Glover Gardens Hibiscus

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ 3 Comments

I love hibiscus! And hibiscus seem to love Glover Gardens. Here are a few of my favorite Glover Gardens hibiscus pics, a late-summer garden digital postcard.

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I love the bright yellow

 

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A white Texas Star Hibiscus

 

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A red Texas Star Hibiscus

 

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Mahogany Splendor Hibiscus; it’s relatively rare and hard to find

 

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Another Mahogany Splendor

 

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Hawaiian Hibiscus (I think)

 

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A beautiful pink double-bloomer

 

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Tall and leggy Lord Baltimores; that’s Godfrey on the left

 

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A Lord Baltimore, close up

 

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Lord Baltimore Hibiscus, blooms as big as dinner plates

 

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I don’t know the name of this beauty

 

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The red bud to the left is the newest hibiscus, with an interesting shaped-bloom (pics to come)

 

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See the bee?
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Another white Texas Star, which bloomed for the first time on Dad’s death day

 

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A rose peeking through the hibiscus bush

 

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A double bloom, in the midst of opening

 

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Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook (feel free to share with attribution and links)