GardenOpus
@gardenopus.bsky.social
🌱Gardening & Botanical insights from Award-Winning Horticulturist, Hybridist, Author, Designer & Consultant Robert F. Gabella.
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GardenOpus
@gardenopus.bsky.social
· Jun 11
🌱🍑🌹 Part 2 of #RoseWednesday, Miniature Shrub Rose (Rosa) 'Apricot Drift®' (Meilland International, 2009) is my favorite from this great series. Eyecatching color, bloom recurs in quick cycles, and will often flower past the first hard freezes of Autumn. Rosaceae
Reposted by GardenOpus
My blue star fern, phlebodium aureum 🌱🪴
#Houseplants #Ferns #PlantSky #TuesdayBlue #BlueTue #ColorADay #EastCoastKin
#Houseplants #Ferns #PlantSky #TuesdayBlue #BlueTue #ColorADay #EastCoastKin
January 6, 2026 at 8:14 PM
My blue star fern, phlebodium aureum 🌱🪴
#Houseplants #Ferns #PlantSky #TuesdayBlue #BlueTue #ColorADay #EastCoastKin
#Houseplants #Ferns #PlantSky #TuesdayBlue #BlueTue #ColorADay #EastCoastKin
🌱😅 LOL - and in the only other mirror selfie I've posted here, in '24, I just counted on a smudgy mirror.😂
January 6, 2026 at 8:55 PM
🌱😅 LOL - and in the only other mirror selfie I've posted here, in '24, I just counted on a smudgy mirror.😂
🌱🍅Thanks, and the flavor! Generally crack resistant, too, although one in the photo is cracked - I left them on a bit long before I harvested.
January 6, 2026 at 8:53 PM
🌱🍅Thanks, and the flavor! Generally crack resistant, too, although one in the photo is cracked - I left them on a bit long before I harvested.
🌱🍅 You're very welcome. I tasted it at a trial garden years ago and had since forgotten about it - glad I saw it available online last year & still have 5 seeds left! Will still order another packet of 10 as backup.🤞
January 6, 2026 at 8:51 PM
🌱🍅 You're very welcome. I tasted it at a trial garden years ago and had since forgotten about it - glad I saw it available online last year & still have 5 seeds left! Will still order another packet of 10 as backup.🤞
🍅🌱KEEPS ON GIVING! Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) 'Lizzano' F1 (Pro-Veg Seeds Ltd., 2011; 🏅AAS - All-America Selections, 2011) is an indeterminate yet compact cherry Tomato with outstanding flavor.😋 2 plants wintering in the cold 3-Season Room keep the Tomato supply chain open and moving! Solanaceae
January 5, 2026 at 11:29 PM
🍅🌱KEEPS ON GIVING! Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) 'Lizzano' F1 (Pro-Veg Seeds Ltd., 2011; 🏅AAS - All-America Selections, 2011) is an indeterminate yet compact cherry Tomato with outstanding flavor.😋 2 plants wintering in the cold 3-Season Room keep the Tomato supply chain open and moving! Solanaceae
🌱💘 TOO SOON? 😄 Anthurium andraeanum over the weekend at a local garden center. In case you're not exhausted enough from recent holidays, more to come - a cherub that shoots love arrows, the rabbit that lays colorful eggs, & a Saint that conquered nonexistent 🐍. Araceae
January 4, 2026 at 8:04 PM
🌱💘 TOO SOON? 😄 Anthurium andraeanum over the weekend at a local garden center. In case you're not exhausted enough from recent holidays, more to come - a cherub that shoots love arrows, the rabbit that lays colorful eggs, & a Saint that conquered nonexistent 🐍. Araceae
🌱My running joke with this RARE mirror selfie (pretty sure I've only posted one other since the last time pigs flew 🐽😄) is I should stand under the glare of an overhead light more often - makes the crinkles disappear better than any filter!😅
January 4, 2026 at 5:21 PM
🌱My running joke with this RARE mirror selfie (pretty sure I've only posted one other since the last time pigs flew 🐽😄) is I should stand under the glare of an overhead light more often - makes the crinkles disappear better than any filter!😅
🌱Potted up lightly rooted cuttings of Paliavana prasinata, a Sinningia relative. Surprised sections without foliage rooted, too, unheated & in Winter light. This large (to 7+ feet) shrubby 🦇Bat pollinated Gesneriad from Brazil blooms late Autumn here in Chicagoland, as days shorten. Gesneriaceae
January 2, 2026 at 12:28 AM
🌱Potted up lightly rooted cuttings of Paliavana prasinata, a Sinningia relative. Surprised sections without foliage rooted, too, unheated & in Winter light. This large (to 7+ feet) shrubby 🦇Bat pollinated Gesneriad from Brazil blooms late Autumn here in Chicagoland, as days shorten. Gesneriaceae
🌱 LOL that's always the way, but hey, wouldn't hurt to check back at your next opportunity. Although they are looking a bit rough after sitting a couple months - shriveled bulbs, sprouted with broken leaves & stalks, etc. - I still managed to come home with more rescues - half price!💰😃
December 30, 2025 at 11:37 PM
🌱 LOL that's always the way, but hey, wouldn't hurt to check back at your next opportunity. Although they are looking a bit rough after sitting a couple months - shriveled bulbs, sprouted with broken leaves & stalks, etc. - I still managed to come home with more rescues - half price!💰😃
🌱❤️ AND we have an ID! Had been thinking this mislabeled Hippeastrum was 'Blossom Peacock' (L.G. Vreugdenhil & Zon, 1999) - another Home Depot with a different assortment confirms. Does that excuse the mistagging? No, a rampant problem. Yet she is beautiful - here continuing her Holiday show!😎
December 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
🌱❤️ AND we have an ID! Had been thinking this mislabeled Hippeastrum was 'Blossom Peacock' (L.G. Vreugdenhil & Zon, 1999) - another Home Depot with a different assortment confirms. Does that excuse the mistagging? No, a rampant problem. Yet she is beautiful - here continuing her Holiday show!😎
🌱May be cold outside but definitely some 🔥 indoors! Aphelandra tetragona has suddenly burst into bloom - after a dozen years of my apparently not handling it correctly!😄 Sold variously as Spring/Summer flowering, but kicking blooms now after a hard Summer pruning outdoors. Acanthaceae
December 30, 2025 at 7:52 PM
🌱May be cold outside but definitely some 🔥 indoors! Aphelandra tetragona has suddenly burst into bloom - after a dozen years of my apparently not handling it correctly!😄 Sold variously as Spring/Summer flowering, but kicking blooms now after a hard Summer pruning outdoors. Acanthaceae
Reposted by GardenOpus
Happy solstice everyone, turn to catch the light 🌱🪴🌵
#SucculentSunday #PlantSky #Bloomscrolling #GardensHour #GardenersWorld #EastCoastKin
#SucculentSunday #PlantSky #Bloomscrolling #GardensHour #GardenersWorld #EastCoastKin
December 21, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Happy solstice everyone, turn to catch the light 🌱🪴🌵
#SucculentSunday #PlantSky #Bloomscrolling #GardensHour #GardenersWorld #EastCoastKin
#SucculentSunday #PlantSky #Bloomscrolling #GardensHour #GardenersWorld #EastCoastKin
🌱❤️Please pardon the rerun - this double Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) NOID asked for another chance - she felt I'd not painted her in the best possible light on the first go-round. So here she is in all her Holiday busyness! Amaryllidaceae
December 21, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🌱❤️Please pardon the rerun - this double Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) NOID asked for another chance - she felt I'd not painted her in the best possible light on the first go-round. So here she is in all her Holiday busyness! Amaryllidaceae
Reposted by GardenOpus
I’ve never really studied the fruit of an Elaeagnus before, but it’s quite fascinating. #FruityFriday
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening
December 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I’ve never really studied the fruit of an Elaeagnus before, but it’s quite fascinating. #FruityFriday
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening
Reposted by GardenOpus
Hoverfly on fennel flowers 🌱
#FlyDay #FlowersOnFriday #Bloomscrolling #FloralFriday #EastCoastKin #MacroPhotography
#FlyDay #FlowersOnFriday #Bloomscrolling #FloralFriday #EastCoastKin #MacroPhotography
December 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Hoverfly on fennel flowers 🌱
#FlyDay #FlowersOnFriday #Bloomscrolling #FloralFriday #EastCoastKin #MacroPhotography
#FlyDay #FlowersOnFriday #Bloomscrolling #FloralFriday #EastCoastKin #MacroPhotography
🌱🎄'TIS THE SEASON - for butchering holiday fruits!🎅 Just happened to have Abutilon 'Voodoo' (Malvaceae) handy to conceal where I twisted the calyx from the Persimmon. Yes, these are sugar bombs too - but hopefully healthier than all the candy, cookies, and pastries!😋
December 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
🌱🎄'TIS THE SEASON - for butchering holiday fruits!🎅 Just happened to have Abutilon 'Voodoo' (Malvaceae) handy to conceal where I twisted the calyx from the Persimmon. Yes, these are sugar bombs too - but hopefully healthier than all the candy, cookies, and pastries!😋
🌱❤️ Feeling a bit QUADRAMEROUS? Yup, so does this double flowered Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) NOID. May even be sneaking transposon (jumping pigment gene) action on that lower central tepal, AND was purchased as 'Red Peacock'. And you thought YOU were having a day!😅 Normally trimerous - multiples of 3.
December 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🌱❤️ Feeling a bit QUADRAMEROUS? Yup, so does this double flowered Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) NOID. May even be sneaking transposon (jumping pigment gene) action on that lower central tepal, AND was purchased as 'Red Peacock'. And you thought YOU were having a day!😅 Normally trimerous - multiples of 3.
🌱Yes a light Marigold (Tagetes) foliage fragrance (since my gardening childhood it's one I find pleasing), also a very light sweet fragrance from the flowerheads - typical of most Tagetes upon a close sniff.🙂
December 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
🌱Yes a light Marigold (Tagetes) foliage fragrance (since my gardening childhood it's one I find pleasing), also a very light sweet fragrance from the flowerheads - typical of most Tagetes upon a close sniff.🙂
🌱🙏Thanks - glad you like them and yes they are a fiery red!🔥❤️ Here's a pic from early September while the pot was still outdoors. 'Fireball' and Pan American's companion intro 'Strawberry Blonde (yellow infused rose & red) represent unique new color genetics in Tagetes patula. 😎
December 6, 2025 at 9:43 PM
🌱🙏Thanks - glad you like them and yes they are a fiery red!🔥❤️ Here's a pic from early September while the pot was still outdoors. 'Fireball' and Pan American's companion intro 'Strawberry Blonde (yellow infused rose & red) represent unique new color genetics in Tagetes patula. 😎
🌱 Glad you like this one it needs some cheerleaders as its a sleeper - both Park & Eden Brothers list. Online photos vary - for me, even in warm to hot weather the flowers never aged all the way to gold. It may need warmer nights & longer days to trigger, as I bought these in bloom end of August.
December 6, 2025 at 1:42 AM
🌱 Glad you like this one it needs some cheerleaders as its a sleeper - both Park & Eden Brothers list. Online photos vary - for me, even in warm to hot weather the flowers never aged all the way to gold. It may need warmer nights & longer days to trigger, as I bought these in bloom end of August.
🌱🔥❤️ New favorite Tagetes patula (Spreading Marigold, Cempaxúchitl) 'Fireball' (PanAmerican Seed, 2017; 🏅RHS AGM, 2017) still bringing joy despite ☃️ snow & cold outside. Saturated with color, now revealing underlying yellow pigments on mature flowerheads. 3 Season Room ~ 50°F/10°C by day. Asteraceae
December 6, 2025 at 1:19 AM
🌱🔥❤️ New favorite Tagetes patula (Spreading Marigold, Cempaxúchitl) 'Fireball' (PanAmerican Seed, 2017; 🏅RHS AGM, 2017) still bringing joy despite ☃️ snow & cold outside. Saturated with color, now revealing underlying yellow pigments on mature flowerheads. 3 Season Room ~ 50°F/10°C by day. Asteraceae
Reposted by GardenOpus
I know I said that the Echinops were getting a little out of hand through seeding. However, this is Echinops ritro ssp ruthenicus. I only have the one and the leaves are so spiny. 🌱
December 4, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I know I said that the Echinops were getting a little out of hand through seeding. However, this is Echinops ritro ssp ruthenicus. I only have the one and the leaves are so spiny. 🌱
Reposted by GardenOpus
I take the opportunity over the festive period to have a couple of weeks off #GardensHour while it’s quiet. Our last #GardensHour of 2025 will be on Monday 15th December and then return on Monday 5th January.
Next week, we’ll do your TOP HITS of 2025 and celebrate the year.
Next week, we’ll do your TOP HITS of 2025 and celebrate the year.
December 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I take the opportunity over the festive period to have a couple of weeks off #GardensHour while it’s quiet. Our last #GardensHour of 2025 will be on Monday 15th December and then return on Monday 5th January.
Next week, we’ll do your TOP HITS of 2025 and celebrate the year.
Next week, we’ll do your TOP HITS of 2025 and celebrate the year.
🌱Good Evening All at #GardensHour! Happy December, recovering from November as we emerge from a snowy Thanksgiving weekend.☃️ Ahead of which got the Dahlias dug & packed. A bit more work to do - eyes visible at digging won't be in Spring so will further divide to singles.
December 1, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🌱Good Evening All at #GardensHour! Happy December, recovering from November as we emerge from a snowy Thanksgiving weekend.☃️ Ahead of which got the Dahlias dug & packed. A bit more work to do - eyes visible at digging won't be in Spring so will further divide to singles.
Reposted by GardenOpus
Hello and welcome to #GardensHour as we welcome DECEMBER into our gardens.
What’s happening for you this month? What are you looking forward to? Is this a month you enjoy, or one you can’t wait to see the back of?
What’s happening for you this month? What are you looking forward to? Is this a month you enjoy, or one you can’t wait to see the back of?
December 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Hello and welcome to #GardensHour as we welcome DECEMBER into our gardens.
What’s happening for you this month? What are you looking forward to? Is this a month you enjoy, or one you can’t wait to see the back of?
What’s happening for you this month? What are you looking forward to? Is this a month you enjoy, or one you can’t wait to see the back of?