First post of 2010 - my Scott Pratt plumeria is not dead!

It's been a pretty uneventful spring, flower-wise. I moved to Houston last June and have been working on my patio garden. I just now have anything to blog about! I had a TON of seeds left over from my 2008-2009 seed-buying spree. I was starting to get a little anxious that some of the ones I'd never germinated would no longer be viable, so I planted about 20 different types of flowers. Here are the results so far!

I don't know what kind of Zinnia this is, but I started these in April and I got my first bloom this past Monday morning!

Here's the dwarf Pomegranate tree I ordered from Gurney's in about 2007(?) It's doing alright - needs some more sunlight to really take off, but I'm just glad I've kept it alive for so long. The pink things are flowers. If you've never seen a pomegranate flower, I suggest you google it!

THIS is the HIGHLIGHT of my post!! I ordered a cutting of Scott Pratt Plumeria in 2008 or 2009, can't remember. A cutting is a clone of a plant, if you will. It's basically cut off the mother plant and sent with no roots. Cuttings range from $7-$30(!?) and the ease of rooting depends on the variety. Scott Pratt has a deep, red flower, and are known for their difficulty to root. They often rot before they can send out root. I decided to send the cutting to Florida Colors nursery, where Luc, the owner, will graft cuttings to a stock plant for only $4! Of course, the sender is responsible for shipping to and from Florida. However, some find the almost guaranteed success worth the extra ~$20 for shipping and grafting.

Anyway, since it gets a little too cold here in Houston for young plants to survive the winter, I brought this plant inside and it sat in my living room all winter. When spring came, I put it outside and it started showing signs of exiting hibernation, then...... nothing. I poked the plant with a thumbtack to see if it would start oozing white sap which would tell me that it was alive, and....nothing. In a drastic decision which might shock Plumeria enthusiasts, I cut the top off the plant to check for rot. Results were inconclusive - the flesh didn't look pure white, but it wasn't black . I sought advice on a Plumeria forum (yes, I'm a nerd) and was told to water it - perhaps it was dehydrated. At first, the water just ran through the soil, but I watered until the soil stayed slightly wet. I waited. And waited. When I got back from a trip out of town, I saw this!

Can you see it? A teensy, tinsy, little growth starting from an old leaf scar!!! I'll post updates later about what it looks like!

This next one is a Torenia plant I bought at Houston Plants and Garden Center

Here's the pot the Torenia is planted in. To the left is flowering tobacco, Nicotiana, the rest are Zinnias

Here's a little of everything. On the left, Sage. going clockwise, basil, then Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost', next is Purple Melic grass. In the middle is Rosemary.

Here is one of the two planters I bought at Ikea, Starting from the left, sage again, then purple Basil, then Calibrachoa.

Lastly, ornamenal Oregano. Interesting flowers