Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Oh happy day! My Embothrium coccineum is going to bloom...

Wrapping up an afternoon in the garden and what should my tired eyes see but this:

Squee!!! My Embothrium coccineum is going to bloom!!! After seeing the ones just down the street at McMenamins Kennedy School blooming weeks ago, and hearing tales of others blooming in here in Portland and up in the Seattle area, I'd thoroughly searched my plant for any sign of buds. I thought this was not to be my year. BUT IT IS! Let's see, I planted it in 2012 so that's 3 years from short little guy to tall (kinda odd looking) tree that's going to bloom! Last December I featured it as a favorite plant, and wrote about the fact it was loosing some of it's leaves. It's rebounded nicely (obviously) although it is a little awkward looking. Sort of "poodle-like"...

And in case you're wondering there are several buds.. You know I'll be taking lots of pictures when they open and illustrate why the common name of this protea relative is the Chilean flame tree...

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

34 comments:

  1. Congratulations! Will you be having a party to celebrate? I'm excited for you!

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    1. Yes, Lila and I will be wearing our best party hats.

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  2. hey zeus h christ. wish my first reaction could be, oh, how wonderful for you. instead, I'm all g.d. it, so envious. I'm working on myself, though. don't be petty, Patricia!

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    1. I don't believe it, not for a second. Envious maybe (like how I feel when I see Heather's gorgeous Agaves) but I know you well enough to know you're happy for me too...that's just who you are.

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  3. Congratulations! And so looking forward to seeing pics once those blooms open :)

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    1. A couple of cloudy cool days seem to have put the brakes on development.

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  4. Looking forward to photos! Hope it isn't too impressive though because it's not hardy enough for my garden and you already grow plenty that makes me envious... :)

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    1. I do know that feeling Alan! I'm kind of looking forward to not having it during this year's Fling. During the San Francisco event I was rather envious the entire time.

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  5. Had to look this one up. Impressive flower power, and a brilliant fire-engine red color. I've never seen one around here. This might explain why: "This requires our cool and moderate climate" (Far Reaches Farm, Port Townshend, WA).

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    1. The ones at Kennedy School are in a fair bit more shade than mine, but their blooms last forever. Hopefully the sun won't fry mine right away. Well, when the sun returns.

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  6. Called it! ...I mean, congratulations! :) Looking forward to seeing the blooms open!

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  7. Wonderful news! Looking forward to updates!

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    1. I wonder if they'll stick around until June Bloomday? Probably not.

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  8. Congratulations! You must be excited - your post title includes a phrase from a gospel song and the first sentence of your post recalls one of the lines from "The Night Before Christmas"! (Okay, so that line refers to "wondering," not "sore," eyes but it's close.)

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    1. I initially typed "wondering" but then went with tired instead. Funny. Are you a choir person Kris? I feel like you've referenced gospel music some other time too. Maybe on Peter's blog?

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    2. No choirmaster in his/her right mind would ever allow me to sing in public. My friends would probably pay me NOT to sing "happy birthday" if I asked first. "Oh happy day" is just such a famous lyric that it occupies a spot even in my relatively limited musical knowledge bank.

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  9. Oh, what an interesting plant! Congrats!

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  10. AnonymousMay 19, 2015

    Success...since it's a protea relative, the blooms will be pretty amazing.

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    1. Indeed! Although much more "spidery" than the typical big lush protea flowers.

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  11. AnonymousMay 19, 2015

    Congratulations, Loree! Very cool, the one I noticed blooming 3 weeks ago is still going. Great tree with a long bloom season!

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    1. That's what I'm hoping for, and that like my Magnolia macrophylla once it starts blooming I am guaranteed an annual bloom-fest.

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  12. Congrats! Try to remember to post again when it opens. Mine is a single stick with a puff of leaves at the top.

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    1. Well as you can see mine isn't much better, it's multiple sticks with puffs of leaves. So not like the ones at Kennedy School!

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  13. Congratulations!!!!! so exciting :)

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  14. Ficará ainda mais bonito com as flores.
    Abraço.

    http://eueminhasplantinhas.blogspot.com.br/

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  15. Since I lost mine last year, I am thrilled yours is doing so well! Where in your garden is it located? - in the former Privet Lands?

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    1. Was your loss weather related Jane? It's planted at the back of the house, in the enlarged planting beds I created a couple years ago when I removed more sod. It's a little far from the house to get any protection from it, I just got lucky with placement I think.

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  16. Great news. Don't you love those first time flowers.

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  17. The "IT" tree of 2014 extends its moment of fame!

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  18. I'm anxious to see the flowers!

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