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
🌱💜🐝 Even after last week's snow & 24°F/-4.4°C, found some late native Symphyotrichum (Aster) - from the highly variable cordifolium group - on the Illinois Prairie Path, a short walk from my home. Here with non-native & invasive Apis mellifera (European Honeybee). Asteraceae & Apidae
November 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
🌱💜🐝 Even after last week's snow & 24°F/-4.4°C, found some late native Symphyotrichum (Aster) - from the highly variable cordifolium group - on the Illinois Prairie Path, a short walk from my home. Here with non-native & invasive Apis mellifera (European Honeybee). Asteraceae & Apidae
🌱❤️💛 Abutilon 'Voodoo' revealing #SundayYellow from within. Malvaceae
And not for lack of trying as it's now Monday in much of the world - finally got tired of BlueSky crashing when uploading pix so this evening uninstalled & reinstalled.
And not for lack of trying as it's now Monday in much of the world - finally got tired of BlueSky crashing when uploading pix so this evening uninstalled & reinstalled.
November 17, 2025 at 4:15 AM
🌱❤️💛 Abutilon 'Voodoo' revealing #SundayYellow from within. Malvaceae
And not for lack of trying as it's now Monday in much of the world - finally got tired of BlueSky crashing when uploading pix so this evening uninstalled & reinstalled.
And not for lack of trying as it's now Monday in much of the world - finally got tired of BlueSky crashing when uploading pix so this evening uninstalled & reinstalled.
🌱🎶🎙"Despite all my rage I am still just a..."
OK OK I know, used that one already!😅 BUT...
🎶🥬 "...Kale in a cage!"🙊
Brassica oleracea v. acephala 'Redbor' & 'Blue Curled Scotch'. Brassicaceae
OK OK I know, used that one already!😅 BUT...
🎶🥬 "...Kale in a cage!"🙊
Brassica oleracea v. acephala 'Redbor' & 'Blue Curled Scotch'. Brassicaceae
November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
🌱🎶🎙"Despite all my rage I am still just a..."
OK OK I know, used that one already!😅 BUT...
🎶🥬 "...Kale in a cage!"🙊
Brassica oleracea v. acephala 'Redbor' & 'Blue Curled Scotch'. Brassicaceae
OK OK I know, used that one already!😅 BUT...
🎶🥬 "...Kale in a cage!"🙊
Brassica oleracea v. acephala 'Redbor' & 'Blue Curled Scotch'. Brassicaceae
🌱Decided to give the 📷 Canon EOS a short workout after PAINFULLY re-linking to their updated Camera Connect App. Encryption Key ✔️ IP Address ✔️ MAC Address ✔️ WiFi Network & PW ✔️ - and FINALLY 🌺 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Glamour Gal™'. Malvaceae
November 12, 2025 at 5:29 AM
🌱Decided to give the 📷 Canon EOS a short workout after PAINFULLY re-linking to their updated Camera Connect App. Encryption Key ✔️ IP Address ✔️ MAC Address ✔️ WiFi Network & PW ✔️ - and FINALLY 🌺 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Glamour Gal™'. Malvaceae
🌱🍁🍂 So about all those Autumn leaves still on the trees...seems like they got a little help with the "Fall" part of the equation.😅 Plastered everywhere! Good news is we may tickle 70°F/21°C by Saturday, if not windy enough to blow them off the roof, you may catch me up on a ladder with the blower.😎
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
🌱🍁🍂 So about all those Autumn leaves still on the trees...seems like they got a little help with the "Fall" part of the equation.😅 Plastered everywhere! Good news is we may tickle 70°F/21°C by Saturday, if not windy enough to blow them off the roof, you may catch me up on a ladder with the blower.😎
🌱🌶🥕🍅🥒 Did I just do this???😅 Apparently! With end of season crop rescues comes the "What Now?" part. A modest total of pickled pints compared to what some may do over a season. Use a mandolin to assembly-line the slicing, but pace yourself as Heroes get their fingers cut off.😱😄
November 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
🌱🌶🥕🍅🥒 Did I just do this???😅 Apparently! With end of season crop rescues comes the "What Now?" part. A modest total of pickled pints compared to what some may do over a season. Use a mandolin to assembly-line the slicing, but pace yourself as Heroes get their fingers cut off.😱😄
🌱☃️Thus effectively ending the growing season for all but the toughest plants, a #SevenOnSunday curtain drop! Fall cleanups will continue for weeks.🍁🍂 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY, locally 2"-6" and a WINTER STORM WARNING for 1-4 FEET 😱 🌨 along the near Chicagoland Lakeshore! Be safe wherever you are!
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
🌱☃️Thus effectively ending the growing season for all but the toughest plants, a #SevenOnSunday curtain drop! Fall cleanups will continue for weeks.🍁🍂 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY, locally 2"-6" and a WINTER STORM WARNING for 1-4 FEET 😱 🌨 along the near Chicagoland Lakeshore! Be safe wherever you are!
🌱For #SixOnSaturday, some of the 18 exhibition Chrysanthemums I did NOT grow to perfection!😅 In this phase of trial, chose earliest blooming from King's Mums - in Chicagoland must be mindful of hard freeze date.🥶 Then grew unpinched w/no disbudding to observe. In 2026 will train & display.😎
November 8, 2025 at 10:58 PM
🌱For #SixOnSaturday, some of the 18 exhibition Chrysanthemums I did NOT grow to perfection!😅 In this phase of trial, chose earliest blooming from King's Mums - in Chicagoland must be mindful of hard freeze date.🥶 Then grew unpinched w/no disbudding to observe. In 2026 will train & display.😎
🌱🌶 Some end of season garden rescue. After yesterday's light frost had two mild afternoons, but the Autumn days of mercy are coming to a close - snow showers or flurries this weekend. Phaseolus vulgaris (Bean) 'Jade', & Capsicum annuum (Chile Pepper) 'Jalapeño M' & 'Tropic' F1. Fabaceae & Solanaceae
November 8, 2025 at 2:34 AM
🌱🌶 Some end of season garden rescue. After yesterday's light frost had two mild afternoons, but the Autumn days of mercy are coming to a close - snow showers or flurries this weekend. Phaseolus vulgaris (Bean) 'Jade', & Capsicum annuum (Chile Pepper) 'Jalapeño M' & 'Tropic' F1. Fabaceae & Solanaceae
🌱🔥❤️ Has been slow to catch on, but Tagetes patula (Spreading Marigold, Cempaxúchitl) 'Fireball' (PanAmerican Seed, 2017; RHS 🏅AGM, 2017) deserves a wider audience. Opening rich ruby red rather than mahogany, underlying yellow pigments surface as flowers mature. Asteraceae
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
🌱🔥❤️ Has been slow to catch on, but Tagetes patula (Spreading Marigold, Cempaxúchitl) 'Fireball' (PanAmerican Seed, 2017; RHS 🏅AGM, 2017) deserves a wider audience. Opening rich ruby red rather than mahogany, underlying yellow pigments surface as flowers mature. Asteraceae
🌱Mixed sun & clouds may have given these Crocus speciosus (Autumn Crocus) confusing signals - should they stay open? Should they close? But it definitely brought out depth of color - almost a stonewashed look. These bloom late October into November here in Chicagoland. Iridaceae
November 2, 2025 at 12:31 AM
🌱Mixed sun & clouds may have given these Crocus speciosus (Autumn Crocus) confusing signals - should they stay open? Should they close? But it definitely brought out depth of color - almost a stonewashed look. These bloom late October into November here in Chicagoland. Iridaceae
Reposted by GardenOpus
A little Halloween horror for the last day of #Arachtober. This is a male cross orb weaver spider (based on the smaller sized abdomen) and as he's missing three and a half legs I suspect he already survived at least one attempt at mating 🌱🕸
#BugSky #Inverts #nature #UKWildlife
#BugSky #Inverts #nature #UKWildlife
October 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A little Halloween horror for the last day of #Arachtober. This is a male cross orb weaver spider (based on the smaller sized abdomen) and as he's missing three and a half legs I suspect he already survived at least one attempt at mating 🌱🕸
#BugSky #Inverts #nature #UKWildlife
#BugSky #Inverts #nature #UKWildlife
🌱🎃 More Halloween Shenanigans - funnier than me singing "Werewolves of London" is tryin' to get the fake hair outta my mouth - it got into EVERYTHING!
🍕🍺😅
🍕🍺😅
October 31, 2025 at 2:53 PM
🌱🎃 More Halloween Shenanigans - funnier than me singing "Werewolves of London" is tryin' to get the fake hair outta my mouth - it got into EVERYTHING!
🍕🍺😅
🍕🍺😅
🌱🎃 Not that you were warned ahead LOL!😅 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
October 31, 2025 at 2:45 AM
🌱🎃 Not that you were warned ahead LOL!😅 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Reposted by GardenOpus
Fatsia japonica flowers are starting to blossom, providing much needed food for insects right now. #InsectThursday
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening #FlowerFeed #BloomScrolling
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening #FlowerFeed #BloomScrolling
October 30, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Fatsia japonica flowers are starting to blossom, providing much needed food for insects right now. #InsectThursday
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening #FlowerFeed #BloomScrolling
🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening #FlowerFeed #BloomScrolling
Reposted by GardenOpus
October 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by GardenOpus
October 29, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by GardenOpus
Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday 🌱
#RoseWednesday
#RoseWednesday
October 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday 🌱
#RoseWednesday
#RoseWednesday
🌱🧡💜THE FUTURE: Scattering collected seed of beloved Chicagoland natives Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Mikweed) & Liatris spicata (Spiked Gayfeather) into cleared & roughed up ground. Both will germinate readily in April - Asclepias flower first year, Liatris will the next.😎 Apocynaceae & Asteraceae
October 28, 2025 at 10:15 AM
🌱🧡💜THE FUTURE: Scattering collected seed of beloved Chicagoland natives Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Mikweed) & Liatris spicata (Spiked Gayfeather) into cleared & roughed up ground. Both will germinate readily in April - Asclepias flower first year, Liatris will the next.😎 Apocynaceae & Asteraceae
Reposted by GardenOpus
#GardensHour I planted my pumpkin seeds way too late so I ending up buying these lovely ones. They’ll be carved up a few days before Halloween 🎃 👻
October 27, 2025 at 6:47 PM
#GardensHour I planted my pumpkin seeds way too late so I ending up buying these lovely ones. They’ll be carved up a few days before Halloween 🎃 👻
Reposted by GardenOpus
Strawflower, Xerochrysum bracteatum 🌱
#Bloomscrolling #MacroMonday #PinkMon #EastCoastKin #DailyFlowers #GardensHour
#Bloomscrolling #MacroMonday #PinkMon #EastCoastKin #DailyFlowers #GardensHour
October 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Strawflower, Xerochrysum bracteatum 🌱
#Bloomscrolling #MacroMonday #PinkMon #EastCoastKin #DailyFlowers #GardensHour
#Bloomscrolling #MacroMonday #PinkMon #EastCoastKin #DailyFlowers #GardensHour
Reposted by GardenOpus
'Nicholas'still going, and looking lovely in golden morning light. Has got some large golden fungi appearing at ground level which I hope isn't on the tubers just something in the compost. #Gardenshour #Gardening #Dahlia
October 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
'Nicholas'still going, and looking lovely in golden morning light. Has got some large golden fungi appearing at ground level which I hope isn't on the tubers just something in the compost. #Gardenshour #Gardening #Dahlia
Reposted by GardenOpus
Ghostly pebble for tonight's theme. #Gardenshour
October 27, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Ghostly pebble for tonight's theme. #Gardenshour
Reposted by GardenOpus
@gardenshour.bsky.social a spooky bulbophyllum for Halloween #GardensHour
October 27, 2025 at 9:03 PM
@gardenshour.bsky.social a spooky bulbophyllum for Halloween #GardensHour