GardenOpus
@gardenopus.bsky.social
🌱Gardening & Botanical insights from Award-Winning Horticulturist, Hybridist, Author, Designer & Consultant Robert F. Gabella.
🌱❤️💛 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
🌱🍂🍁 Nice work! After a pelting of snow knocked leaves from trees & shellacked them to everything, sun came out, breezes blew, & seems they all landed on my driveway!😅 In-progress pics & please pardon the rough asphalt - holding off on replacement until the village finishes our new street next year.🤞
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
🌱🍂🍁 Nice work! After a pelting of snow knocked leaves from trees & shellacked them to everything, sun came out, breezes blew, & seems they all landed on my driveway!😅 In-progress pics & please pardon the rough asphalt - holding off on replacement until the village finishes our new street next year.🤞
🌱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
🌱I have to agree - it was difficult to commit but I told myself I would, so after bartering with my various internal voices telling me to do anything but - I did.😃 For now will stick to quick pickle recipes and maybe some sauces and preserves.
November 12, 2025 at 2:28 AM
🌱I have to agree - it was difficult to commit but I told myself I would, so after bartering with my various internal voices telling me to do anything but - I did.😃 For now will stick to quick pickle recipes and maybe some sauces and preserves.
🌱🍁🍂 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!
🌱Not sure your location, but here in Chicagoland, Zones 5-6, most garden Chrysanthemums are perennial with a caveat - if planted late from retail in bloom may not have enough time to root in well & survive Winter. A few sources offer young specimens for Spring planting which establish strong roots.😎
November 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
🌱Not sure your location, but here in Chicagoland, Zones 5-6, most garden Chrysanthemums are perennial with a caveat - if planted late from retail in bloom may not have enough time to root in well & survive Winter. A few sources offer young specimens for Spring planting which establish strong roots.😎
🌱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
🌱🎃 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!
🌱🧡💜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
🌱If you want THAT, you may need to do THIS, if not in a frost-free area. Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Night-Blooming Cereus, Gooseneck Cactus), in the Autumn part of a 2x yearly ritual, in May back outdoors for fragrant blooms Summer to Fall. Corner of living room starting to look a bit woodsy.😅 Cactaceae
October 25, 2025 at 10:46 PM
🌱If you want THAT, you may need to do THIS, if not in a frost-free area. Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Night-Blooming Cereus, Gooseneck Cactus), in the Autumn part of a 2x yearly ritual, in May back outdoors for fragrant blooms Summer to Fall. Corner of living room starting to look a bit woodsy.😅 Cactaceae
🌱It's all about 'Vera Seyfang' - I'm just the 🐵 monkey for scale. Had trouble even wrapping my arms around for a decent pic. Had mentioned before this AA (10"+) Formal Decorative (FD) Dahlia is a bit wonky - but once fully open rays synchronize nicely, and the SIZE! Asteraceae
#FlowersOnFriday
#FlowersOnFriday
October 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
🌱It's all about 'Vera Seyfang' - I'm just the 🐵 monkey for scale. Had trouble even wrapping my arms around for a decent pic. Had mentioned before this AA (10"+) Formal Decorative (FD) Dahlia is a bit wonky - but once fully open rays synchronize nicely, and the SIZE! Asteraceae
#FlowersOnFriday
#FlowersOnFriday
🌱Breathing a sigh of relief, Streptocarpus 'Bristol's Cool Breeze' & 'Bristol's Tropical Sunrise' are now safe from Autumn's wrath outdoors - under lights in basement with other Gesneriaceae friends. As they are understandably modest, I cropped out their ⛈️ hail damaged foliage.
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
🌱Breathing a sigh of relief, Streptocarpus 'Bristol's Cool Breeze' & 'Bristol's Tropical Sunrise' are now safe from Autumn's wrath outdoors - under lights in basement with other Gesneriaceae friends. As they are understandably modest, I cropped out their ⛈️ hail damaged foliage.
🌱Though a July 25th sowing of Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) 'Carmine Splendor' appreciated warm to hot Autumn days, it balked at cooling nights.🥶 Yet the small harvest made for a delicious mixed vegetable fried rice.😋 Next year an early start for a season-long crop.🤞Malvaceae
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
🌱Though a July 25th sowing of Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) 'Carmine Splendor' appreciated warm to hot Autumn days, it balked at cooling nights.🥶 Yet the small harvest made for a delicious mixed vegetable fried rice.😋 Next year an early start for a season-long crop.🤞Malvaceae
🌱💡ZINNIAS BY GARAGE LIGHT - which if taken in today's wet, raw & howling wind would have been anything but a still life!😄 These Z. violacea (Z. elegans) 'Señorita' were sown July 25, seedling pic is August 5. Asteraceae
October 22, 2025 at 3:01 AM
🌱💡ZINNIAS BY GARAGE LIGHT - which if taken in today's wet, raw & howling wind would have been anything but a still life!😄 These Z. violacea (Z. elegans) 'Señorita' were sown July 25, seedling pic is August 5. Asteraceae
🌱ALL THAT AND MORE: AA (10"+) Formal Decorative (FD) Dahlia 'Vera Seyfang' (Baynes, 1958) is a classic Dinnerplate giant. Though kinda floofy & irregular 😅 for an FD, what she lacks in precision she makes up for in Largest in Show awards - with care & disbudding can push to 14" across. Asteraceae
October 21, 2025 at 1:47 AM
🌱ALL THAT AND MORE: AA (10"+) Formal Decorative (FD) Dahlia 'Vera Seyfang' (Baynes, 1958) is a classic Dinnerplate giant. Though kinda floofy & irregular 😅 for an FD, what she lacks in precision she makes up for in Largest in Show awards - with care & disbudding can push to 14" across. Asteraceae
🌱💛 Well THERE'S a different view! Have been growing Cucurbita pepo - Squash & Pumpkins - since childhood & never noticed the flowers were bearded!😃 Not quite like an Iris or Penstemon but serves the purpose.🐝 C. pepo (Zucchini) 'Dunja' F1. Cucurbitaceae
October 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
🌱💛 Well THERE'S a different view! Have been growing Cucurbita pepo - Squash & Pumpkins - since childhood & never noticed the flowers were bearded!😃 Not quite like an Iris or Penstemon but serves the purpose.🐝 C. pepo (Zucchini) 'Dunja' F1. Cucurbitaceae
😥I just now saw this, my sincerest condolences to you and your family for your heartbreaking loss.💔
October 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM
😥I just now saw this, my sincerest condolences to you and your family for your heartbreaking loss.💔
🌱🍷Gesneriads sure seem to love the great outdoors - which should be no surprise, as that's where these traditionally housebound indoor garden prisoners 😄 are originally from. Streptocarpus 'Bristol's Tropical Sunrise' - a Dr. Ralph Robinson original - is no exception!😎 Gesneriaceae
October 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
🌱🍷Gesneriads sure seem to love the great outdoors - which should be no surprise, as that's where these traditionally housebound indoor garden prisoners 😄 are originally from. Streptocarpus 'Bristol's Tropical Sunrise' - a Dr. Ralph Robinson original - is no exception!😎 Gesneriaceae