my day is not complete until I have toured each room and each area..which is a lot better inside than outside right now..and can be very time consuming if I linger too much..
Tropical Plants and Gardens #116
a lot of the plants I look at and care for has come from someone here on Daves Garden.
everything acts like it is outside, only they are inside...
sometimes I am so engrossed with them, my college girl ( now called working girl) comes up from behind me and scares me ... she is just standing there watching me, and me not knowing until I turn around..
you can't walk around in this room without a leaf caressing your face, or a limb brushing your hair.... and I hear Joe from behind me asking, " who are you talking to, Deb?"
I really really belong in a tropical garden area ...
each little nook and cranny has someones name stuck on it..
Please know how much I appreciate all of you for this pleasure you have given me..
everything here is incredibly happy and humid and warm..
It is selfish of me to hog the thread, this is such a small area I have shown, I apologise for so many posts tonight.. I am just ... so GRATEFUL , to be a part of this group.
Deb, No need to apologize! Your plants are rocking in the basement. Everything looks ready to go outside, but, I know it will be mid April before that happens. When it comes to space on these discussions, all we have to do is start a new thread! It is good to see your Alocasia doing so well. I can't wait to return my jungle to it's rightful place!
Good morning, everyone! Deb, your plants look phenomenal! Feel free to post as many pics as you want - it inspires us, too!
Deb your not hogging...we love to see your basement garden.
Deb, every time I see your basement I am awed and amazed at all you accomplish. That is a lot of "a's" but you deserve an A+.
You got 'Paradise by the Basement Lights' down there, Deb. It's truly astonishing.
And, you're so right, you certainly belong somewhere you can grow all that stuff outdoors all year 'round.
Sure hope you are training 'working girl' and your dear Joe to take care of Paradise while you come down to Florida?
Deb keep the pictures coming! You need to update your zone because it must be at least zone 10 in your basement.
Hi folks-
Checking in real quick. Had to report Robin sighting today. A large flock of Robins cruised over. The garden is waking up, have had a very pleasant winter (something I will miss) so far.
Very busy now, cleaning out the attic, and downsizing- Am planning on putting the house up for rent March 1st. No, I couldn't sell it. I have been giving so much stuff away, and have plenty more.
The fern tree is doing well, however it is mutating. My theory is that during the extended hard freeze last year the center some how suffered. Have a lot of small mutant fronds 8 to 10 inches popping out now and then. The really interesting part, is that the top has developed a Y and is growing to separate tops. You can tell from the way the fronds are rotated out of each trunk.
Of course...the obligatory picture- next post will show the mutation.
It's going to be so hard not to play in the garden this spring!
Rj
The top of the fern, will make for an interesting plant in a couple years. Those renters better take care of the Precious!
OK, Randy - dmail and tell me what's going on with you! I have read a couple of excerpts on this thread, but don't know what's happening with you - are you o.k.?!
Yes, having to move to Chicago as a result of Continental/United Merger. Our headquarters is merging in Chicago at the Willis Tower (old sears tower). Lots of work, but they are moving me, paying a little bit to get the house rentworthy, and money for housing when I first arrive.
The top of the trunk on the fern is a mess.
Randy, you can garden in Chicago, even if it's an apartment (with a balcony) - ask GordonHawk
aka Gordon Hawkins - he's here on DG and a wonderful tropicals balcony gardener. Remember, GOD has something better in mind for YOU!
Maybe it's telling you to divide it and take a piece to Chicago with you?
I have baby P. Gloriosums growing bigger leaves, keeping company with the little 'chids. They get to come inside on the cool nights if it's going below 50.
Elaine, my Gloriosas grow in the ground here - year around - don't think you have to bring them in. Mine are vining out now, too.
Same here but I have not seen any yet, I'll be out there first thing tomorrow looking for them though. LOL
Randy, I wouldh, happy to "Plant Sit", and send on what you think you could not grow in your new home. I'll do my best.I just cannot imagine not having your experience for plants as a grower in environments not native. I so hope you are happy in your new home, and really all I or anyone can say is Make the best of it you can , We know you are very Unhappy to leaving your little house and the garden you created there.. but Best Wishes to you and your new en-diverseness, no matter where you are.
Oo, good to know, Kay. Thanks. I was definitely intending to put them in the ground next month. That way they'll have months to get acclimated and grow lots of roots before they have to survive through winter. They were just tiny little finger-size transplants when I got them in early November. Still just in 3in. pots so it's not a chore to baby them for one more month.
We are talking about Philodendron Gloriosum, (last two pics above) not Gloriosa lily (pic below), right?
My Gloriosa lilies are mostly underground but I have one shoot that has survived all the cold weather and is nearly 3ft. tall!
I first thought you were talking about the philodendron then I noticed the leafy shoots in the clay pot which do resemble the gloriosa lilies so that is where I was coming from. I don't know a thing about P. gloriosums.
My banana shrub, Michelia something, is about to perfume the front yard.
Every flower on this camellia has one petal or petaloid, that invades the circle of stamens. None of my other camellias do that.
Alice, those are both so beautiful! I hope to see some of those Joy Perfume tree shrubs up close some day, and I have NEVER seen a real Camellia, so it is in my Bucket to see and smell. Thanks for the great eye candy this am, you guys. Randy, Your Tree fern has an Appropiate name, Precious.
If I could rent your place, I would garruntee it's safety!
Ah thanks Joeswife, so wish you could!
Thanks for the offer MJ, our own Miss Prita took on that job! She came down twice in September and hauled all the beauties to her green houses in DFW. Wayne from Zone 9 adopted the rest .
I could do a little gardening in Chicago, in fact I saw a few gardening clubs around there. We will see what happens. May be they will accept volunteers at Lincoln Park Green house! Or......since I have nothing to care for, may take some frequent trips to Costa Rica, visit Carol in Hawaii and visit Katie bear...
May be I will go to the Texas gardening and mention a gardeners cottage for lease!
Randy, you might also call your local County Extension and let the Master Gardeners group know about your gardener's cottage for lease. Certainly the ideal renter would be someone who would love your garden. So if you spread the word through all the local gardener groups before you advertise it to the general public, maybe you will get lucky.
Renters, as a whole, are most definitely not gardeners in my experience and really will let the garden become a wasteland. Not to mention probably trash the house and alienate your neighbors to boot.
Has anyone heard from Rita lately? She's conspicuously absent from our threads this month.
Debra, the Camellias are in bloom right now and have been for a month - they're winter bloomers. When you get here, they will be gone already.
If Rita adopted Randy's babies, she's probably VERY busy!
That's a good idea, as I agree, there are not many renters who care about even being outside let alone like a garden. I most likely will have a service come in and keep it in check.
I wonder if Rita is in Belize ??
Here's Dancing Bones cactus....it will continue blooming thru March
Odd and beautiful, Martha!
Martha, I have never seen a Dancing Bones cactus before. Very beautiful indeed! That plant looks very happy there.
Randy, how about the botanical gardens or the better nurseries in the Houston area? They might have an employee looking for a place to rent.
This is one silly hydrangea that doesn't realize it is still January. The justicia is a little our of season also.
Well I give up on the weather folks...........was supposed to be a low of about 45...it's friggin 39º and a touch of frost out on the open parts of the yard. I have plants out that I would have put in....hopefully with them being up under the trees they'll be fine..........GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Oh, Alice - that red Justica is pretty! I have a red 'shrimp plant' that's perennial here, but it doesn't look like YOUR beauty!
Martha, no one thought it would get as cold as it did, EXCEPT the folks at Weather.com. I heeded their prediction and covered everything. NOW, they say it will be a low of 57 for the next seven days - these weather changes almost drives me to drinking - cover up, remove covers, cover up, remove covers - UGH!!!!