Confederate Rose

[Tom]

For those who haven't seen one, this is a Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis).  It is a popular flower in the south and is the size of an open hand on a bush that can be 10 feet tall and 20' x 20' in footprint. 

This one was a gift from a neighbor, who gave it to my wife and planted it outside of my computer room window.

This is its first bloom.  There are seven more buds and the plant is only 3' tall.

[DanG]

Wow!  That's a beaut Tom!  Is that the one they planted when I was there?

[Tom]

Yep 

[Don K]

There is one at my grandmothers old place and one at my uncles. They bloom white but by the end of the day they have turned a light pink and at the end of the next day as they are wilting they are a hot pink. My uncle said they bloom on new growth so he cuts them back to the ground every winter.

Don

[Tom]

 



This is actually the third day for this flower.  It opened about midday on friday, was white as a ghost when it got dark Sat. nite, and by noon on Sunday, this is the color it had become.

 



On the way back to the front door, I noticed that the impatiens had started to bloom again, and there will be a bunch of those big yellow, double hibiscus coming on today or tomorrow.

[SwampDonkey]

Looks lovely Tom. 



Won't be any blooming here for a while though.  The frost bit the dahlias last night.

[pigman]

You are correct SwampDonk, they won't grow north of the Mason-Dixon line.

[Tom]

It's cool (53°) this morning and it didn't open all of the way, but it is deep pink.
 

[isawlogs]

 Rea lly nice flowers , Tom , we had another big frost here last night ,all was white this morning . Horses have started there winter coat .

[SwampDonkey]

Crusted the soil the first time this morning. It warmed up by 10 am and got up to 52F today. Rain, then snow on the horizon for tomorrow. It was a nice day today, no wind and I had a good time on the woodlot hiking and looking over things. Sure is amazing how stuff grows in just 4 months.

[Don K]

It amazes me how early ya'lls winter comes.    Our leaves have barely started turning. I helped my uncle remove 13 trees from his yard today and it was only in the low 70's with a nice cool breeze.

Don

[WDH]

Don,

Is some sawing in order?

[Don K]

No, these were pines that grew up in my grandfathers pasture after he passed away. 18 yrs ago now. My aunt inherited 36 acres and they built a house there a few years ago. The pines grew like hair on a dogs back and he thinned them over the years. Most are in the 8 to 12 inch range with extremely wide growth rings. I am having to carefully take them down with a cable or either a nudge from the FEL to avoid hitting other trees or flowers. I have taken out about 30 in all. sawed in 12 foot lengths, piled everything on the forks and have hauled them away to rot. Finished today. I did cut three big full growed trees last week from the woods that died from beetle damage. they will go on the mill.





Don

[WDH]

Nice!  I have been cutting pecan and oak.  Also some pine siding for a guy's smokehouse. 

I need to plant a confederate rose to get this thread back on track .

[Don K]

I'll help.   I told Stew I would get a picture of my grandmother's rose tomorrow. I am going to get some cuttings for the both of us when the time is right whenever that is. I have to research it first.

Don

[Tom]

Donkey, those 8-12 inch, wide grain pines make some marketable 4x4's.  Do you have a treating plant close by?  That's easy money.  Just cut them and stack by the road with a sign on them.  You could even saw 12 footers and cut them into a special product, 6 foot fence posts, after they are treated. 

[Don K]

Tom, I'm not sure if there is a treatment plant open around here anymore.

Ok, I am going to get this thread back on track. I told Radar67 I would post some pics of the bush that was at my Grandmothers. She passed away almost 4 yrs ago and the house burnt to the ground. This rose blooms magnificently every year. I have a hydrangea transplant from this yard and if all goes well me and Stew will have Confederate Rose bushes from here next year. Terry as soon they stop blooming I will cut them back and try to root some. If not I will get some next spring. This variety blooms in hot pink. I want several scattered around my place.

 



 



Don

[pineywoods]

Hey don K, I would like a couple of those....How about root some extras for Radar67 and I could scrounge off him I need to make a visit anyway to see what he's doing on that gasifier project....

[Don K]

There are some long stems. I'll try to root as many as possible.

Don

[Tom]

Did they open white?   Mine opened white as a sheet and then turned pink, but not as deep as yours.  Those are really pretty.

Coming from your Grandmomma's place makes it special too.