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. 

Amaryllis in Pots Are an Inexact Science Here: Nymph

I thought I treated all my second and third year Amaryllis bulbs in Pots the same late last summer when I dried them off to prepare for winter bloom.

Nymph, June 16, 2014

Nymph, unlike the others who eventually put up a bud stalk or two or even three, grew a great flush of leaves and no buds.

As the others finished blooming and the bloom stalk withered, I put the pots out in the edge of the shrubbery that fronts the secret garden where Epiphytes spend the summer. Blossom-less Nymph moved out too.

 Imagine my surprise when a stalk suddenly appeared mid-June with two buds.

I'm glad to see Amaryllis blooms any time. They do not usually bloom in summer. Those in the ground bloom in May, those in pots during winter and spring if they are planned.

Nymph blooms when it is ready. Here, blooming as a newly 

purchased bulb in January, 2013.

I am thrilled to see them at any time.
I brought it into the house to enjoy every time we go in and out.

Best of February's Bloom Day

Blessed to have flowers for Valentine's of my own growing, and blooms for Bloom Day.

White Shrimp Plant -- really these are 

bracts, the tiny pink blooms come later.

Begonia semperflorens and some Alternanthera.

The Chartreuse Slternanthers has tiny blooms.

Begonias are about the easiest to grow and bloom.

White Kalanchoes got leggy. There's an Amaryllis

in bud. I will know its name when it blooms.

A wider peek at the greenhouse interior.

Purple Heart with Persian Shield behind it in the planter.

Amaryllis bud at upper left is Appleblossom. 

Bottom left is Birds Nest Fern

Persian Shield and its bloom. 

The blooms are on cuttings rooted in water.

Bromeliads above with Alyssum seedlings below.

Purple Alternanthera growing in the 

greenhouse floor is blooming behind a fern.

Last of White Pearl Hyacinths in a nest of Sedum.

Angel Wing Begonia

Indoor Plants Prepare for the Out of Doors

TThe first bud on Brugmansia cuttings appeared this week. Those who made it over the winter outside  had foliage emerge early only to be bitten back to the ground by frost; more foliage is visible now.

These inside seem to know it is time. I read that they have to have a side shoot before they bloom. This is one of the few without a second shoot. Maybe cuttings are different.

Kalanchoe cuttings are in bigger pots. Looking forward to next Christmas, I expect to have pots of white Kalanchoe and Schlumbergera in five colors. Christmas Cactus cuttings had filled their little six-pack, so now there's a good-sized pot and a little pot. There is another six-pack of small cuttings of each color that I plan to use in filling grapevine balls. I might be getting carried away with Christmas Cactus.

These and Epiphyllums will summer under shade outside.

Easter Cactus has a few buds but I don't think they'll open for Easter. Rhipsalidopsis species is a natural forest cactus, unlike the Schlumbergeras which are tropical forest cacti. The primary difference between the various 'Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving' cactuses is their time of bloom. The leaf shape varies as well.

Ike thinks everything in the greenhouse belongs to him. He supervised sorting/soaking Cycad seeds.

 

 

We hope that failure to float means the bigger seeds are viable. When the seed coat that inhibits growth softens and is scraped away, we'll plant seeds.

This is the last bloom on 'Nymph' amaryllis. Amaryllis outside have buds.

Amaryllis, Graptopetaum and Firecracker Fern

Nymph and Appleblossom; glimpses of white kalanchoe and red begonia.

Graptopetalum and Rusellia, Firecracker Fern. I planted a small piece of Rusellia and some Ghost Plant outside in a sunken planter improvised in an Azalea bed.

 

 

 

I brought back inside the Brugmansias I set outside because of the possibility of high winds tonight. I may be sorry for leaving Pentas and other pretties on the ground.

 

Finishing up this post so I can prepare for bad weather, winds and thunder have started.

 

 

 

Butterflies in the Greenhouse

Ike jiggled the butterfly mobile hanging by his wicker perch and I remembered it was there. Perfect for the back of the potting bench~

 

 

Twice this week I rescued a butterfly who wandered in. The best blossoms were outside; I'm hardening the Pentas so they can go into the garden. I have an old dip net that I found on the road. I tore off the heavier netting and made a tulle net secured with Duck brand tape. I pull the net into a deep shape, capture the insect and then turn him upside down outside and gently push up. It only takes a moment and he's free!

 

 

I can't get enough of the Amaryllis, prettier every day as more blooms open.

 

Nymph today.

Nymph today.

 

The current plan is to keep most of the Amaryllis in containers, even the second year seedlings.

 

Appleblossom today.

I was able to bring Appleblossom to bloom again this year but my timing was off. I had aimed for December bloom which I missed by more than two months. I'm happy to see blooms at any time during the winter.

Bloom Day in the March Greenhouse

In the house so you can see the orchid that came into bloom after years of sitting in a glass cyclinder once its first flush was over. It is surrounded by orchids I took courage to buy this winter when I realized the first one had buds forming.

You can see He-who-mows working on the greenhouse doors outside.

Let's join him outside and peek into the greenhouse.

 

 

Appleblossom has a sweet fragrance, noticeable when you walk inside. This is the second year of bloom for Appleblossom. I was hoping for Christmas bloom. My timing was a little off.

 'Nymph' Hippeastrum is new this season. It bloomed for Christmas and again, and now a third time.

Kalanchoe, a great winter houseplant. The next year, I take new cuttings.

 

Photo from earlier in the week before 'Nymph' opened.

 

Happy Bloom Day!