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Thanks Eileen, you’ll enjoy Norfolk. We’re just back from a few days there … friendly people and very relaxing.
Have fun and put your feet up, and all best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

This one has been growing on my shade structure in the front yard since 2010. It never stops growing! Ugh! But, I do love the flowers!

I’m surprised it didn’t do well there. I know it’s native to the tropical rainforest of Central America. Although, my plant doesn’t get any water, except for when we receive rain.

Thank you Eileen, Merry Christmas to you too and I hope 2025 will be a better year.

I'm glad Elizabeth is doing ok ... There's nothing wrong with spending Christmas on one's own, I will be doing the same, it's too cold and dark to be driving about visiting people, better to spend the time snug and warm at home where you can relax and please yourself. Visiting people is for the spring and summer :)

Enjoy not having to cook !

OK Thank you :)

Thinking of you ... :o)

That is a special plant BB...is it seen often in your area?

That's fine Hywel. My lovely friend Elizabeth, known to you as Libet has always called me Rosie. I quitelike it.

I have several bright flowers, bromeliads and aloes start flowering at this time.

I pulled out dozens of tomato plants that germinated. Currently, I have started Senecio Cineraria and the first true leaves are developing.

It obviously loves that spot.

Oh my goodness! It's a monster. A good looking monster though.

I love the vibrant natural look of this.

Love it! I had one, first in the ground which it hated, and then in a pot, but a particularly severe monsoonal wet season was one challenge too many for the poor thing.

Bushbernie & Shirley tulip , thank s

Klahanie,

Of course, Jamaica is extremely common here, as I live only 12 miles from the Mexican border. It’s sold as a drink everywhere and at every Mexican restaurant.

I make my own and use less sugar in it. The hips are sold very cheaply here. Usually 5 to 7 hips will make 2 quarts of Jamaica tea.

Bushbernie,

Thanks. They very dark cranberry colored.

Is Bacopa easy to purchase there?

Yes, Licuala species are typically very expensive because they grow so slowly.

I only can imagine how much these posted Licuala palms cost. Probably $500.00 to $700.00 ea.

Yes, the soil is literally like concrete and we haven’t had any rain this season.

This area in front of this big industrial building used to have royal palms, Kentia palms, Licuala spinosa, Caryota mitis (Fishtail palm). One of the bottle palms died about 10 years ago. Now, only Dypsis decari (Triangle palm); Sabal species and Wodyetia (Foxtail palm) along with Mexican fan palms grow there.

I really like this croton. It seems like an easy one to grow in San Diego. Unfortunately, this pic isn’t so clear. The 85 ft Norfolk Island pine is shading this plant.

I would be curious. I’m sure someone there would have one. I saw a YouTube video of someone in Brisbane with a gorgeous tree.

It grows very well in tropical rainforest (Kalihi Valley, Honolulu, Hawaii) where I’m from. It appears to like very wet soil. Although, I’ve seen very nice healthy plants growing in the ground in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Yes, you’re lucky. It’s only available spring and summer here. It’s expensive, usually $5 to $6 a pound.

Local trees produce fruit from July through October here, depending on the variety.

Well rescued!

Wow now that is one healthy tradescantia!

I had a tradescantia for years Balc, yours looks strong and healthy..

Thank you Balc, yes it's really grown on!
And to you Sheila yes, I'll drink to that! xx

Lovely

It was very popular drink (iced) in the part of Mexico where we wintered....."Jugo de Jamaica." It was widely available in restaurants and from street vendors. Not sure if it was all form Hibiscus acetosella.
We had the plant in one of our gardens there . Very beautiful flowers. I have numerous pictures of it.
I did not realized that it grows so tall like yours Delonix.

I see it occasionally in our garden center here on the Island but it is sold as annual.

A great building, Andy! :)

I wish you, Klahanie & Sheila, a happy Christmas & New Gardening Year 2025.

Lovely plant, Janey. Have a great Christmas, and a happy and healthy new year🤞! xx

It wasn't the Tradescantia zebrina that died but the flowering plant, I think it is was a Bacopa.

I threw the Tradescantia in the rubbish bin as a great deal of it was dying. It's cheap plant here but I've never bought any. All my plants have come from cuttings I've taken from my own plants.

That's a big, expensive plant, Andy!

Dear Rose, I'm sorry I called you 'Rosie' in my previous comment, I'm so used to it because Beryl had a cousin by that name, I just write it from habit lol
I'll try to remember next time.

Yes I am Sue. Going to my grandaughters Christmas Day and my son and wife comes on Boxing Day.
I hope you are too! Will send you a pm. x

A friend gave me a red poinsettia, Karen. We kept getting midges flying around the kitchen, and the plant started to die off, so I repotted it into a slightly bigger pot and gave it water, and it's fine now.

Thanks David, hope you have a very happy Christmas.

They definitely look like they're struggling.

Beautiful flowers.

Green and gold, the Aussie colours. I have one very similar to this.

Will have a look around here for it.

It grows beautifully in the southern part of my state, identified as a sub-tropics zone.

We're lucky that lychees are available in our supermarkets here six months of the year and at fairly reasonably prices as well.

Thank you. It’s my favorite.

Thank you. The two desert roses I just posted are grafted varieties. I can’t remember the name of this variety.

It’s never had this many buds during this time of year. It typically blooms in spring and summer. I’m so looking forward to the beautiful fragrance.

It’s very sweet. It’s a very popular fruit in Latin America and India.

Yes, it is very dense.

It most likely will grow and fruit very well for you. I’m not sure if it’ll ever fruit in San Diego and it’s long term survival outside is questionable.

It needs semi-shade and lots of water. But, even here the leaf tips dry out, not sure why. I cut all the tips on the leaves. 😂

In Hawaii, where I’m from originally this plant is common and grows to perfection.

I love lychee, too! It’s expensive here.

I like longan better, though. I can eat many pounds of it. 😂