Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical Plants and Gardens #128, 2 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Paula, post that dendrobium pic over on the Orchids forum. February bloom thread. Awesome people over there will surely ID it for you.

Here's what a tropical garden looks like when frost and wind chill threaten our tender babies:

1 On the roller top right is my big frost cloth "tent" that covers this tiered stand with 5 Earth boxes on it. (please ignore the scraggly tomato plants, just waiting for the last of the fruits to ripen before I rip them out and replant the box). I've pulled all my small pots of brugs and begonias in under there, plus the challis vine, caladiums blue clero and a few other odds and ends. See Deb's brug Monster White blooming lower left!

2 Here it is with the "tent" unrolled, and clipped together with bulldog clips. Florida snow?? My flurry only took about 5 minutes.

3 This is my big Brug. Charles Grimaldi under his windbreak. He's at least 8ft. tall and has been blooming non-stop all winter. Think this may be the end of that for a while . . Also sheltering the Colocasia and Spathoglottis orchids. Near the pool stays warmer anyway, water's in the high 60's.

4 Darned if the Nun's Orchids didn't choose today to start opening

5 A blue Thunbergia popped open today, boy, is he in for a chilly surprise!