Survived Another One!

On an all too frequent basis here along the Farmington River, we are experiencing floods on an almost annual basis, since the '100 year flood' of 2007.

2011 has been no exception.

Earlier in March, we were once again deluged. The record-breaking piles of snow melted, the rains came, and we found ourselves underwater once again. Ugh!

We are constantly reminded in this business that we must respect nature and there are some things that we can not control. The river is powerful and we try to respect her and listen to her. We are unfortunately experienced at surving floods... and so we survived another one!

Happily, we are putting that nightmare behind us and gearing up for Spring!!

Brugmansia in Quito

Quito's Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to spend several hours. There is an amazing collection of orchids, succulents, bromeliads, cacti, grasses and other plants from highland areas (paramo) and cloudforest alike found here. All regions of Ecuador are represented and many plants are endemic to Ecuador.

Pictured here are some impressive samples of mature Brugmansia or Angel's Trumpet. The photo on the right is Brugmansia versicolor, a small tree or bush reaching 10-16' in height, bearing flowers that are 12-20" long. These flowers open white and age to pink, peach or apricot.

The picture on the left is Brugmansia arborea. Wow! Loaded with blooms, it was so cool to see these plants in their home country!

Angel's Trumpet is part of the Solanaceae family (tomato family). All parts of the plant Brugmansia are considered toxic and if ingested may prove fatal.

F.Y.I. Brugmansia can easily be grown in Connecticut for an impressive floral show on a seasonal basis (summertime). These plants thrive in fertile soil and average humidity and can survive moderate frosts. They do best in partial shade to full sun. Brugmansia will survive light frosts, moderate frosts will do significant damage to the plant.