2026 Time To Start On The Back Yard!

 

Was outside all day cutting back plants, almost

have the area cleaned then the next step is cutting

back the hydrangeas on the west fence line.

The whole time the phone would go off.  Now 

one knows why I don't take my phone out.

2026 Moving Plants Inside

You have a new plant that you want to bring 

inside for the winter months.  It depends on 

the lighting and if the plant can be brought 

inside to over winter.  Our favorite to 

bring inside is the Abutilon/Flowering 

Maple or  Parlor Maple, and the tropical 

Hibiscus,  zone 9-10.   Depends on the 

plant and what you want to do with it.  If 

the plant has gotten to large it's would be

best to take cuttings.  If the plant is young and 

you just want it to grow then bring it in 

now.  Our nights are getting to cool for 

tropicals, to us the 55 degrees is just a 

little to cool.  You can set them by the 

house for warmth but remember to bring 

them inside soon.

These plants will not take a lot of light, so

no direct light from the south or west windows. 

Save them for heat lover plants.  Then you 

need to look at the windows you have in the

house, low E windows, you will need extra 

light. 

The goal during the winter months is to let

the plant to rest.  Less water and fertilizer.

When bring them inside I recommend spraying

them with warm water first if you are concerned

about bugs.  Inspect them carefully.

I recommend the Sunset books for your area

to read and learn from.  

2026 Stripping Brugmansia Part 2

This was the morning to pull the 

last Brugmansia out of the huge

cement pot out front.

She is still in bloom so this will be

fun, bees and all the bloomers.   I 

started digging the trench around 

the bucket at 9:51 am and by 9:15am

she was on the ground so the roots

could be cut.

She weights more than I do!  This

afternoon I started stripping her and 

had to put her in the garage to protect 

her over night since I didn't get to 

finish stripping her.   In the morning

I'll finish.

The fragrance in the garage will knock you

over it is so heavy.

10/20/2026

I finished stripping her this evening.

2026 / Stripping Brugmansias

 

I am down to the last one to be pulled andS

stripped but there is a huge problem!  Bees!!

While stripping one of the smaller B. Shorty's

Variegated, this was spotted.

A green branch with a normal bud and an

albino bud with one small leaf.   Strange things

due to what I am noting.   When I see a the 

branch with Albino buds it's also albino.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10/19/2026

Sad to say this morning the albino bud was

found on the ground, only the leaf remained.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This year we have had several albino buds,

most of them have dropped off.  We have 

had albino blooms in the past and seedpods.

On another plant this is the branch.

10/19/2026

I was asked today why do I strip off all the 

leaves before putting away?

There is many reasons....... outside leaves are 

different from the inside leaves.  They grow back

fast and if you haven't seen them drop the leaves

when they are unhappy.  It's a huge mess.  All

year long with the burning we deal with to keep

the yellowing leaves need to be removed.  Keeping

these lovely ladies of the night healthy is the key.

It also gives me the chance to remove all the worms

that come with growing them. 

Good Morning!!

 Been busy getting all the collection 

inside for the winter months.  Besides

all the maple leaves from the north needs

to be picked up!  My yard debris is totally

full and all 4 of the garbage cans are the

same!  This time of year I have plenty to

recycle.  

But from the greenhouse the blooms

are starting to put on a show!!

Ya know where I'll be hanging out!

Tonight I went out to check on this

one and she was in her glory!

Saying good night!

Hanging With My Friends!

 

2026 Time to Move The Collection Inside

 

All removed from the yard area, where they

spent their summer months.

Time to strip the leaves and get them ready for

their winter home.

Our two oldest Brugmansia.  One is 25 the other 

is 20, well worth saving!

Tucking them in for the winter months.

The view before adding the front top piece of 

plastic.  Triple layer of plastic due to El Nino!

10/15/2026

As of tonight the last plants went in the Brug

House!   No room in the inn now.

I have the 3 large B. Shorty's Variegated to 

put in the greenhouse.  Still working on getting

the plants in for the winter months and put the

tarps on.

One more to go, got to remove my Mom plant

from the cement pot, then strip her before she

goes into the greenhouse.  The bees love her!

The black potted one is stripped and ready to go 

into the greenhouse but I have another to finish

stripping in the morning.  It's the smallest to go 

into the back of the greenhouse.