You Might Say,

"This was a blooming mystery!" ;-)

I traipsed downstairs to the basement storage room on September 19th. I was headed for the plant workbench to see about some pots, when "what to my wondering eye should appear?"

No... no tiny reindeer... but something nearly as amazing! It was a pot I'd purchased last Winter and completely forgotten about. There it sat, in the dark (until I turned on the light, of course). Upon closer inspection, there were Green Shoots coming out of the dry ground!

"What's this?" I said to myself.
So, I took it outdoors and watered it.

I had a sneaking suspicion, but I really had forgotten all about the purchase!

Would this be a better clue??

Here we are, on October 1st.
Tah-dah!

This was taken Wednesday, October 15.

Yep! A Calla Lily. Now what?
I guess I'll be taking it indoors again.

I also have a couple that I planted in front of the house that I'll need to dig.
But, this little fellow should be fun - don't you think? ;-)

P.S. Don't you think that someone would pick up that fallen basket?? hmmmm?

New Additions to the "Family!"

I returned home from a short visit with my parents on Tuesday. Mom sent this baby bromeliad with me. The parent plants were in full bloom. The leaves are streaked with red. I'm so excited!

On Friday, Jan. 11, I found a plethera of amarylis bulbs marked at $1 each. What a great surprise! I came home with 6 bulbs, five of which were only beginning to sprout. I had purchased a "half-price" bulb a few days earlier. You can see the line-up below. (Next to my cactus that sorely needs dividing and my friends' Norfolk Island Pine.)
Here are the two bulbs that have a good start. The hidden amarylis in the green pot is one I purchased before Christmas. It's stuck in "neutral."
Yesterday,while at the grocery store, I found two calla lilies that had been forced ($2 each). I brought them home. Shouldn't they get a rest before Spring? What's the advice, here?

And last, but not least, is a crazy thing I did! This next plant is a Hydrangea macrophylia-Lace Cap." Shooting Star. I purchased it because I was absolutely swept up by the blossoms... and thought the sale was a bonus! :-) This is a Zone 7 plant. Could it be a houseplant? I haven't spent much time looking for information. Could I put it outdoors in a somewhat larger pot this Spring and bring it indoors in the fall? Would it ever bloom again? Would it get too huge? Could it be trimmed? I'm thinking that would be a challenge... or is the $5 investment best enjoyed for the moment?