My youngest
grandgirl is here for her week so if anyone is wondering where I am
(because I just know that I am first on everyone's mind), I'm busy
with her.
In the meantime,
enjoy the altheas.
The altheas,
also call rose of sharon, are exceptional this year. Or so it seems
to me. I think I said the same thing about them last year, the ones
in front especially. We have 8 on the property, 4 white and 4
purple.
The white ones
started blooming first and they are winding down. Since we built the
shop behind it, this one doesn't get much sun once the pecan trees
leaf out so I'm surprised it blooms at all.
The purples are
in full bloom.
Same small tree,
different day
Altheas are a
member of the mallow family along with hibiscus and like hibiscus,
the flowers last one day only. They can be small trees or shrubs, depends on how or if you prune them.
These are old
established specimens for the most part. A couple of them have some
serious trunks.
Gorgeous! For some reason they make me think of my grandmother, although I don't remember one on her property. I mostly remember her crepe myrtle & the persimmon tree.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with the grandgirl!
Love the Buddha sitting under the altheas. Enjoy that grandchild...
ReplyDeletewow, they're gorgeous! enjoy your time with grand #1!
ReplyDeleteOf course she's first. We all know your world stops the moment she closest her eyes, and you just kind of sit around waiting for her royal highness to wake up ;-) Kids are just a dream.
ReplyDeleteI love altheas. My grandma used to have several of them around the yard. I used to lay under the shade of the biggest one, which was right by the kitchen. Red and perfect, and it seemed to bloom all year long...
I love rose of sharon. I planted them completely down two sides of the fence at my old house. They were at least fifteen years old when I left 25 years ago. I won't make a special trip, but on my list now, if I pass that way again.
ReplyDeleteI do love these. I shaped mine as trees and they are huge.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if I thanked you for explaining to me what altheas are. I have heard of Rose of Sharon, and in fact we had several of them behind my apartment building in New York City. It's funny that I didn't even recognize them here! I think yours are bigger than the ones I've seen before, maybe because of the warmer weather down your way.
ReplyDeleteThey're gorgeous! Not quite in bloom here yet. This year I'll know their name - rose of Sharon. Cool. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYour Altheas are beautiful. every time I see one I think of my iguana Bob. We had a white althea outside of the window where she basked. Dandelions and althea flowers were her favorite snack. Bob was almost 5 feet long when she went across the rainbow bridge. I know it is bizarre but I miss her very much. Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteThese are very lovely shrubs, called hibiscus over here.
ReplyDeleteI have two but they don’t flower until late summer, sometimes not at all, if the summer is cold and wet.
We may have similar plants in our gardens but they certainly don’t behave the same.
It’s wet again, no gardening for me today or yesterday.
You say Althea. I say Hibicus..
ReplyDeleteWe could write a song about these beauties. Or we could just call the whole thing off. ;)
Your blossoms are just gorgeous.