Last Hippeastrums Indoors

I don't know if there will be Amaryllis blooming in the garden later -- some foliage showed up here and there.

Spartacus

Spartacus and Apple Blossom

I love Apple Blossom because of the fragrance. There's one left to bloom, an offset that I potted up. Still waiting for seedlings; it may take a long time.

Another view of Spartacus

Broader views take in two plants in the Great Tomato Plan.

I haven't decided whether I'll haul that big heavy pot of 

Bromeliad tree outdoors.

The Plan is to grow tomatoes up through places where

they have support.

So far they're reaching for the sun.

Speaking of sun, it peeked out of the clouds just briefly.

NOAA warns of heavy thunderstorms headed this way.

Orchids on an Outing

My Orchids went outdoors today. It's easier to water indoor plants if they're outside on a ledge where water can drain away.

Maybe they don't really enjoy a bit of time outdoors.

In my mind, they do. Cloudy day, no chance of sunburn.

Two different Paphs are in bloom and one on the right has a little bloom spike with a mitten and other tiny buds forming. The one we bought at Christmastime has finished and the bloom spike cut back in case it takes a notion to bloom again.

In other news, Tomato plants are tall and leggy and need new and bigger pots again. There are some suckers I could easily pinch out and root.


You need to see Exotica and Apple Blossom. Again. I never tire of them.

Progress on wiring the Mule Barn moves right along. We now have outlets along the shelves but no electricity. Yet. Getting down on the concrete floor to attach conduit and run wires was so miserable for He-Who that I took Buffy's nice comfy dog bed out of the Dog Hut for him to lie on yesterday. Hey, we do what works. 

Today he sat in a chair to attach the outlet wires and tomorrow we're starting on the over head lights and the switch and outlet by the door. Big heavy ladder in place, preliminary plan worked out -- moving right along.   

What Blossoms We Missed in the Last Peek

When I posted the Spring peek into the Greenhouse, I missed these beauties completely. I found them today when I moved out the Epiphyllums and relocated the Hippeastrums.

 Burro tail sedum blooms! I could hardly believe it.

How did I miss these?

They were kind of hidden and there are not many of them.

Sedum blooms were revealed when I moved these.

Once the bulky Epis moved out, there was room for all the Amaryllis pots in one place, or so I thought. I discovered another pot, the one that bloomed before Thanksgiving, when I was looking at the Bromeliads, the next project for moving.

Another Apple Blossom bloomed -- the one on the potting bench-- my favorite only because it has fragrance. I love catching that fragrance, especially on days like today when the cat barfed up on the greenhouse floor.

What I thought might be seedlings turned out to be mostly offsets of Exotica that I dug last summer. Some of these have bloomed and have another bud. One that has not bloomed finally has a bud tip showing in the dark pot with the yellow tab. I think it is Spartacus. My best intention is to have every bulb labeled soon.

Further DIY Adventures of Tedious and Tinkle in the Mule Barn

Spring just opened right on up while we were in the throes of watching the Mule Barn get built. Now we are inside trying to make it the fun place I dreamed of.

When we're done there will be more than 47 running feet of 2 foot shelving around most of 3 sides at desk top level. Meanwhile there are plants of interest in the greenhouse.

While I was hardly paying attention to the greenhouse, Benfica bloomed.

Nymph

Exotica

Appleblossom

None of these are new this year. As a matter of fact, Exotica spent a couple of years outdoors and I dug it up last summer. 

Tomatoes are still ripening back there and new 'maters  coming on.

I did manage to take time to root four new tomato plants from suckers and they've already been potted up to bigger pots. Despite all the excitement and activity I tried to keep the watering done and once in a while something got planted or repotted or at least maintained.

Persian Shield and Purple Heart,

Lemon Grass and Bromeliads.

 

Begonias and friends, a clump of Echinacea and some Rhipsalis still blooming.

One more look into the Mule Barn where I brought in a piece of garden equipment to see how it is going to fit. 

... and I finally located a pic of the Mule (and Buffy). 

Daffodil season has almost flown by without notice except when I go to the mailbox. Today I noticed that Minnow jonquillas have decided to bloom for the first time in years. 

There's lots to see and do in the garden while I am caught up with work with Tedious and dealing with making sure water drains away from the building properly.

We talked today about how Spring seems to have arrived and the always present possibility that a late killing frost will happen on April 15. 

Crammed into a Corner of the Greenhouse

I can wait no longer. You need to see these.

Appleblossom

Better Boy

A sucker rooted from an axil of the summer's plants.

It reaches the roof now.

I stuffed the tomato container into the corner. 

Tomato plant is supported by what's around it.

Appleblossom, Again

Last year when I repotted, I took an offset off my big Appleblossom Amaryllis and potted it separately. It spent the winter in the greenhouse, went outside with the others when the weather warmed and bloomed last week.

I put it in the house for Mother's Day and returned it to the greenhouse for watering. I like walking into the greenhouse and catching the fragrance -- unusual for an Amaryllis to smell so good.

Strobilanthes is still blooming in the greenhouse. I like the combination with the chartreuse of Bird's Nest Fern. Persian Shield in the garden has commenced new growth. We rarely see blooms outside.

Bloom Day Preview

Angel Wing Begonia

Appleblossom in different stages of bloom.

White Shrimp Plant: White bracts, pink blossoms.

Sunday Best in the Greenhouse

We're having a warm spell during which I need to haul everything out and do some cleaning one day soon.

Kalanchoes are blooming and blooming and blooming.

Easily rooted, they bloom most of the winter.

Should I get other colors?

Burro Tail sedum. Every little bean that breaks off will

make a new plant. It takes time, faster with a longer piece.

Purple Heart Setcreasea and Persian Shield/Strobilanthes.

Both are starting to bloom.

I think this is a red and white 

Amaryllis, maybe Minerva. 

Various stages of bloom. Fun. 

Mostly Appleblossom, the unopened tight buds.

Another view of Appleblossom. When I'm in the greenhouse, what a treat to catch a whiff of the sweet fragrance of Appleblossom, a good reason for having several and timing the blooms to open in sequence. (You don't really think I planned that, do you?) New bulbs are blooming later than the one from a previous year because they were planted late, but it is a thought, to start them 2 or 3 weeks apart.

Are your forced bulbs all done? Do you have plans for forced bulbs next year?

Amaryllis Benfica and Appleblossom

My favorites are always the ones in bloom. There are 4 more in bud: 3 new Appleblossom and one from a previous year that isn't labeled.

Benfica has another bud developing. Companions are Donkey Tail

Sedum and pots of white Kalanchoe.

   These are bulbs that I brought back to bloom again, third year for Appleblossom. 

Benfica was new last year, an excellent choice.

Nymph Amaryllis from last year has great foliage, no bloom has appear. 

I gave away Elvas and have not heard about its fate.

Appleblossom  showing buds yet to open on a single stem.

For those of you who like the down the throat view.

Appleblossom has a wonderful sweet fragrance.

Benfica is the truest red I've seen in Amaryllis.

I stood on a stool to give you this view.

Up close with Benfica.

Perfectly Red.

My plans for next fall's order changes daily. Will I order more and different Amaryllis? Should I get Hyacinths for forcing, how many and what color? Maybe all my bulb money needs to go towards Daffodils. I've never tried forcing minature Daffodils. What about minor bulbs like Muscari and Bluebells?  So many choices and a whole summer to plan....

Linking to Tootsie Time's Friday Flower Flaunt.