Raquel's Garden

alpine strawberries (RIP)

Added on 16 Jul, 2008

Genus: Fragaria.
Species: Fragaria vesca.

Bought them as seed in a little packet sold at Walgreen's (I blush as I write this!). Amazingly they actually g...

Australian violet. (Viola) (RIP)

Added on 4 Oct, 2008

Genus: Viola.
Species: viola heteracea.

Lovely while they lasted, but have taken them out now and planted the pot with a white impatien. They really nee...

Banana plant.

Added on 26 Mar, 2009

Boston Fern

Added on 2 Aug, 2008

Genus: Nephrolepis.
Species: Nephrolepis exaltata.

I inherited this fern from a neighbor who retired to Florida...in spite of perhaps not having quite as much shad...

Bromeliad

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Guzmania.
Species: Guzmania spp. and hybrids.

I'd always seen bromeliads but never thought to buy one because they need indirect light - and my balcony gets f...

Caladium, Florida Sweetheart

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

I love these leaves, but they might also not survive the heatwave. But we'll see. My mother told me to cut off ...

Coleus "Wizard Mix" (RIP)

Added on 26 Mar, 2009

Genus: Solenostemon.
Species: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Trying it out in the shady area of the stairwell. Planted with white and pink polka dot plants. Unfortunately i...

Dahlia (dwarf) (RIP - Rest in Peace)

Added on 2 Aug, 2008

Genus: Dahlia.
Species: dahlia x hybrida.

My poor dahlia died of some fungal or insect attack on its leaves - which I didn't see coming and couldn't stop....

Echinacea, "Bravado"

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

Genus: Echinacea.
Species: Echinacea purpurea.

Just bought these this summer, I am looking forward to them blooming and surviving the heat & humidity.

Garlic chives

Added on 2 Aug, 2008

Genus: Allium.
Species: Allium tuberosum.

I planted garlic chives to accompany the red rose, because I read that all members of the allium family helped k...

Geranium (scented)

Added on 31 Jul, 2008

Genus: Pelargonium.
Species: Pelargonium odoratissimum.

I read about the old-fashioned scented geraniums and wanted one. I thought I wouldn't find any, but I did at Wa...

Geranium (scented) Attar of Roses

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

Genus: Pelargonium.
Species: Pelargonium graveolens.

Just bought it this spring. I'm looking forward to the lavender flowers. The tag says it's rose-scented, but t...

Geranium (scented) Concolor Lace

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

Genus: Pelargonium.
Species: Pelargonium.

This one is also scented, it supposedly smells nutty though I can't smell it too much right now...the flowers ar...

Geranium (scented) Pink Capitatum

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

Genus: Pelargonium.
Species: Pelargonium capitatum.

This one truly smells like roses! I'm looking forward to the lavender pink blossoms.

Geraniums (zonal)

Added on 31 Jul, 2008

Genus: Pelargonium.
Species: Pelargonium.

I love geraniums - I have four kinds:

Americana 'Violet', Americana 'White Splash',
'Salmon' and a "Re...

Gerbera daisy (RIP)

Added on 2 Aug, 2008

Genus: Gerbera.
Species: gerbera.

I didn't realize how much I liked gerbera daisies until I kept being drawn to them in the cut flower section of ...

Grape tomatoes

Added on 11 Aug, 2008

Tried them out last summer, but became too tall an scraggly so did not plant any this summer.

Hybrid tuberous begonia, orange (RIP)

Added on 26 Mar, 2009

Genus: Begonia.
Species: begonia tuberhybrida hybrid.

It did not do well on the stairwell. I think that stairwell needs more ventilation. It is shady but gets too h...

Impatiens (sultanas, busy lizzies)

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Impatiens.
Species: impatiens wallerana.

These are some of my favorite flowers - my mother has always had a ton in her garden and I just love them. They ...

Marigolds, French dwarf "Safari Bolero"

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

I thought these might look good with the echinacea and they're supposed to be hardy as well. So far as the tempe...

Pansies

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Viola.
Species: Viola x wittrockiana.

This is one of my favorite flowers for Spring - in Houston as early as February. I plan to keep planting them t...

Petunias

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Petunia.
Species: Petunia x hybrida.

I love petunias, and I love them to cascade over the containers! Last year I planted 'Daddy Blue' and 'Cascade...

Portulaca (Rose moss, sun plant)

Added on 2 Aug, 2008

Genus: Portulaca.
Species: Portulaca grandiflora.

Last year I planted portulaca and it was just gorgeous. This year, wanting to try other things, I didn't plant ...

Rangoon Creeper (pink)

Added on 28 Jun, 2009

Species: Quisqualis indica.

I liked this vine and thought it might be good for the railing...we'll see how it does!

Roses (Miniature hybrids)

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Rosa.
Species: Rosa.

I have three which I love dearly but often give me headaches! A dark red one, a bright yellow one that sometines...

Sweet Alyssum

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Lobularia.
Species: Lobularia maritima.

I feel in love with sweet alyssum the second spring we spent in Virginia, when I saw it in the nursery and I lov...

Vinca (Madagascar periwinkle)

Added on 31 Jul, 2008

Genus: Vinca.
Species: Vinca minor.

It's a beautiful pale coral...and does wonderfully in full sun and in dry conditions...they're popping up everyw...

Wax begonia

Added on 1 Aug, 2008

Genus: Begonia.
Species: Begonia semperflorens-cultorum hybrids.

I have always enjoyed begonias, and decided to try planting them some this year in white. The variety I have is...

White and Pink Polka Dot Plants (RIP)

Added on 26 Mar, 2009

Genus: Hypoestes.
Species: Hypoestes phyllostachia.

They lasted longer than the coleus, but eventually they also succumbed to the heat. Perhaps if we hadn't had th...

White and purple orchid.

Added on 3 Sep, 2008

Genus: Phalaenopsis.
Species: Phalaenopsis.

I bought this orchid at IKEA of all places, because it was the most affordable one I could find. I have never h...