[Billie]

Yes, I had a beautiful bougainvillea last year for the first time I ever tried it. It was a coral-colored hanging basket I got as a gift from a friend, and was sure it would be dead within a week or two, but after the first blooms dropped off, I just kept giving it a regular dose of plant food and daily watering, and soon it grew new buds and bloomed so well all summer long. My sister-in-law used to always bring hers in from a sheltered courtyard to 'winter' in the house, but I don't do houseplants very well. Figured I'd just buy a new one for this year. :)

Oh, my courtyard faces west - it is very hot, but I hang my hanging baskets in a large tree, so apparently that helps protect from heat and too much afternoon sun.

What we have never been able to grow is Azaleas - even my sister-in-law, who can grow ANYTHING, can't keep the soil right for azaleas.

[Mama_Bear]

Well, it is hard to believe that it is the heat here that keeps bougainvillea from growing, it grows like a weed in Mexico. Maybe I was giving it too much water, or fussing over it too much. I might try again this summer. I have seen some that is a raspberry color that is just gorgeous. I can’t wait for summer!