Floriferous Friday

I'll be a little quiet for the next couple of days or so... there's a post scheduled to appear Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I've been watching these hyacinth bulbs Very Closely! :-)
Can you tell that Bulb #1 is beginning to bloom?

(This photo was taken Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010)

(taken Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010)

(taken Friday, Feb. 12, 2010)

Bulb #1 - taken 2/9/10

taken 2/11/10

taken 2/12/10

Bulb#2 - 2/9/10

taken 2/11/10

taken 2/12/10

Bulb#3 - 2/9/10

taken 2/11/10

taken 2/12/10

Now - a few other items worth the mention...

Speaking of "floriferous!" (Did I mention, Messy?)

Can you find the three new "branches" on this orchid?

Loaded Kalanchoe

Want to take one more look at the hyacinth?
Mr. Shady's instructions? (Something I thought I'd never say. ha.)
"Don't go too near the kitchen sink!"

As well as being floriferous, the hyacinths are "odiferous!" (Something that makes Mr. Shady sneeze!) ha.

Happy Valentine's Day, early! Enjoy your weekend. :-)This little vase was purchased in Stillwater, MN - a "Sisters' Weekend" a few years ago. :-)

My Mom has a Very Green Thumb!

Last weekend I traveled 4 hours north of here (Clear Lake, Iowa), where it was suitably more cold and wintery, to visit my parents for a couple of days. This next photo shows one sight I relished! Walking into their little sun room where, no matter the temperature outdoors, I found it was certainly balmy indoors! Thought I'd share this pleasurable sight. :-)


Now. Wasn't that satisfying? ;-) Pull up a chair and enjoy a nice warm cup of tea, cocoa, or chai. Put your feet up and smile at that fella across the room. This is a little slice of heaven.

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?

I'm Plantsitting

Somehow I've not felt "finished" with gardening this year. The count stood at 11 indoor plants, after having brought everything indoors a few months ago (has it only been barely 3 months?). But before our friends Marty and Denny left for Arizona, they brought three plants for me to "sit" during their absence. (!) Yea! :-)

And here they are. Easy to care for, too (also a "yea" moment!).

Their Christmas cactus continues to have many buds. And the Norfolk Island Pine is such a healthy fellow. (There are a few brown tips... I'm thinking it didn't enjoy its ride to my house, as it was a VERY cold day, in the midst of several very cold days.)

The little bird below sits on the rim of the Pine above. The Pothos is in the cutest house ever!

I needed to share these photos. Hopefully M & D can tell they're still healthy! Perhaps you caught a glimpse of my year-round bird-tree on the right side of this last photo. I'll share about that in a later post.

You might want to come back tomorrow to see what else I've brought home this past 1 1/2 weeks! (Only slightly shady!) ;-)