Friday, April 3, 2015

Chinese Lanterns.. thirteen dollar beauties!



Aside from the birds I don't often show photos from my own back garden but I'm so thrilled with these two beauties that I had to share :) It all started when I was searching for two standard plants for the patio. All of the established standards I saw were horribly expensive plus I couldn't find anything visually appealing. About a month ago while in Bunnings which is basically a huge hardware store with a nursery section attached, spotting the Chinese Lantern shrubs I had the brilliant idea of creating my own standards. Selecting plants that had at least one strong central stem which I taped to a strong stake, I clipped off the bottom branches leaving just the top section, and there you go.. they haven't stopped flowering profusely since and look so perfect they were mistaken for fake plants :) If you can find them in your nursery I would highly recommend them, they are gorgeous and flower like this for most of the year.. result!


It's almost as if the Plumbago hedge below knows it's living on a prayer :) it's a pretty messy plant but each time I think of removing it, it spontaneously bursts into bloom like this and survives for another year! Happy Good Friday, take care and most of all stay safe...


40 comments:

  1. These are so beautiful! Just got to keep them Grace. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. So lovely - like their mistress


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd say that plant was doing a little more than just surviving.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd say that plant was doing a little more than just surviving.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely flowers, great pictures: I like how you matched the reds in the first photo and the whites in the second one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You sure got your $$'s worth. That's one big Plumbago! Tom The Backroads Traveller

    ReplyDelete
  7. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, eh?! :-) Your garden is a pure delight and messy is gorgeous. I wish I could invite myself over for tea dans le jardin. I'll help with the laundry! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love chinese lantern plants - I remember them fondly from when we lived in warmer climes! Clever you making your own standards as they always charge such a premium for those. As for plumbago, is that the shrub with the "sticky" leaves?

    ReplyDelete
  9. There is so much to like here. The Chinese Lantern plants are gorgeous - I'm going to check if they are sold here (I think our climate is much like yours). I really like that statue! And the flowering hedge - don't ever get rid of that!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You can't get rid of that hedge, Grace! The Chinese Lanterns are annual plants here - can't take the cold.

    ReplyDelete
  11. They are beautiful and perfect for a long lasting flowering plant!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Plumbago--so that's what it's called!

    I think they're beautiful--but the red one's even more so!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful colours in both cases, Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful flowers. I've not thought of Chinese Lanterns for many years. When I was a child I was fascinated with them and planted them all over the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Definite beauties Grace and I like the French street sign in the background:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Very artistic Grace ... what a delightful colour and I love your French signage in the background.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Don't they grow into decent sized shrubs? Or is a different variety? They look great anyway. If we walk around the corner of the house will we come across Avenue Montaigne?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, that red really pops. Love that plant.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Certainly looks better than my backyard!!! Lovely shots.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow - so gorgeous! Love that red.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I know Plumbago. Happy Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Both plants looks great Grace, love the red flowers, they would brighten anyone's day!
    Enjoy the Easter holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow, beautiful and delicate !

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such a small price to pay for an AWESOME hit of RED!! Those of us born with black thumbs salute you!! Happy Easter, my friend!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. The Chinese lanterns are a splendid red. I can imaigine that as standards they could pass as nature's Christmas tree. And the plumbago is so profuse. Amazing growth.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I go with Red, Grace :-)
    Beautiful! Also the last pic with the clothes, arty!

    ReplyDelete
  27. You have some beautiful flowers in your garden and a beautiful lady as well!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Beautiful Chinese Lanterns, what a clever idea, a bargain. I like the statue of the water carrier. I've never heard of a plumbago, it reminds me of a plant we have over here in the UK, but I can't think what! I couldn't remove it, perhaps you could just prune it down to half its size :-) Happy Easter

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow, your yard is just awash in colorful blooms. That Chinese Lantern plant is gorgeous. I'll have to look for one here.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sharon says your yard is awash in colors; I've also noted that you actually do have a wash on your line. Don't have one anymore, and I miss hanging out clothes. Back to your flowers. Gorgeous, and they are responding to your lovely touch.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Nice photo! I love anything red, especially flowers. In fact, my hippie name in the 60s was Bauer Flower. Today just grow them and am known simply as Susan. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nice photo! I love anything red, especially flowers. In fact, my hippie name in the 60s was Bauer Flower. Today just grow them and am known simply as Susan. :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. The Chinese lantern blossoms are gorgeous. What a great buy! As for the plumbago, I don't know how plants know when they are in danger but they do. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  34. You did a great job with the Chinese lanterns. And, maybe you should just accept that the plumbago hedge is staying. And that it should.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm looking for a few bugs in my post. But I think I should have someone look and point out it. http://colorswitchplay.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Come to Kizi 4 school you will have the opportunity to discover thousands of the hottest games in the world with many genres such as action games, puzzle games, strategy games, fashion games or racing games. Click now!

    ReplyDelete