Most people are familiar with what a blooming Orchid looks like, but have you ever seen one with only flower buds?
This is a photo of orchid flower buds about a week before my purple orchid started blooming. This is the first time this particular orchid has bloomed for me in at least three years. I’m so happy that it’s blooming as it has the prettiest flowers.
Here’s what the orchid looks like when it’s blooming:
When my husband was in the hospital two weeks ago the nurses caring for him decided to get him a gift. They presented him with some lovely African Violets – in bloom. Now nurses don’t usually buy gifts for their patients, but considering that Chris works in the hospital and knows just about all the employees it was a different situation.
Here’s what the flowers look like two weeks after they were given to Chris:
They’re quite pretty, but the flowers are starting to die down a bit now I think.
Now I can grow just about any kind of plant, but the one that I’ve had the most failures with – believe it or not – is the African Violet. Yeah … I know. They’re easy to care for, but for some reason mine always die.
I think I over care for them or over-water them. These African violets came in a container that doesn’t have a drain hole so I’m either going to replant them into a new pot or get Chris to try to poke a small hole in the bottom of the current container. I figure that they don’t have a chance without drainage … but if I can get them in the right kind of pot it might work.
Do you have any trouble growing certain kinds of plants?
I don’t hate winter, but considering I live in a cold climate I have to admit that Winter is my least favorite season.
I am thankful that we do have seasons though! As nice as it might be to live somewhere where the temperature is always a nice 70 degrees I think I’d miss the new greens of spring and the colorful fall leaves, even the extreme heat and humidity of summer. After a while I’d probably even miss winter – a little bit.
So for all the people that feel like I do … I guess you could say we’re bleeding hearts? Well here’s an actual photo of Bleeding Heart flowers. LOL
I love these late spring bloomers. For some reason my Bleeding hearts didn’t really grow or bloom last year. As wet as last spring and summer was the area that I have them in (side of house near driveway in tiny garden bed) was too dry. I’ll have to give that area extra attention this spring and summer to make sure all my plants in that garden bed come up and do well!
What’s your favorite and least favorite season?
Last week I posted a photo of my huge Clematis Jackmanii on my gardening blog.
Each year it grows up from the ground and it’s vines spread out along the fence (with my help) for up to 8 to 10 feet in each direction! In the photo I post the vine was entwined around an old wooden birdhouse. Beautiful.
Here’s a close up of one of the Clematis flowers just after it rained. I love the water droplet at the end of the bottom petal.
Isn’t that lovely?
I think I’ve got an “I hate snow” theme going on my blogs today. Yep, I’ve decided that I’ve had enough of the cold fluffy white stuff and I need some color in my life.
What better than a bright pink Cosmo flower then?
Aw … that’s better. Aren’t Cosmo’s pretty?
I grow this flower in my backyard garden and in the front boulevard during the summer. Everyone seems to love them.
Do you grow Cosmos? Oh and are you getting tired of all the snow lately too?
BTW if you want to see some bright summer color take a look at this cheery daylily!