Cycas revoluta

Seedling

Rooted Pups starting to send up fronds.

The first little sprout is so exciting!

Update on the Poor Little Cycad

I found the caudex (structure just above the root) with one leaf attached, flung in the yard and abandoned by whatever tried to destroy it. Likely a squirrel. I figured he had eaten it; probably sensed that it was poisonous. I could now account for all the pieces, just can't put them back together.

I scooped up the caudex and attached leaf and gave it a little pot of soil in which to rest. A good sprinkle of water and it's over on a shelf to see what develops.

I realize now that I should have used Perlite. Since I don't have any that was moot.

The pot with the roots is still sitting there. Eventually I'll pull out the roots, replace the soil and plant the Guzmania trio in that square pot.

Death and Destruction on the Patio

Remember the cycad I grew from a seed? I was so proud of it.

It is no more.

Something, and I am blaming a squirrel because they are abundant and destructive, pulled it from the container, broke or bit off the leaves and tossed them under a tree. 

I couldn't find the seed pod that was still attached, nor the roots. I guess squirrel ate them. I hope he didn't develop a taste for cycad and doesn't start digging up the bigger cycads.

I had great plans for this little plant. When it grew up it was going to sit in a bed of Sedum acre in the summer. I pinned a picture of how it would look, just like the big Cycad in Martha's Garden sitting in a bed of succulents.

Sigh. 

I'll put a Guzmania in the square pot. 

When the Greenhouse Gets too Hot for Growing

We are very near to the time when nothing much can survive in the greenhouse except maybe Alternanthera dentata Rubiginosa.

Last year I just let it grow and cut it back in late Summer when it was time to bring in plants.

A few cuttings on the floor under mist. 

Temperatures in the greenhouse generally are 10 degrees hotter than the outside with a vent fan and mist trying to cool it. Plants on the floor have a better chance.

 Neoreglia pups freed from the mother plants.

I was trying to decide if I should try to save the mother plants and then I remembered how much space they take up when winter comes. Surely I can make do with 14 young Bromeliads. These six have brightened up in dappled shade under a fig tree.

Three Gerbera seedlings and some 

Mistletoe Cactus that broke off and needs rooting.

Thyme extras, seedlings.

 Peeks at the planted Herb Circle. Lemon Grass, Marigolds, Thyme, Parsley, Garlic Chives and Oregano. Dwarf Marigolds?

The patio table got a faux zinc finish on the rusty top. 

White Echinacea outside the greeenhouse.

Some Calla Lilies got a bigger pot.

They all need bigger quarters.

Cycad seedling has two new fronds, photo bombed by a Rhipsalidopsis. 

In the background are some rusty plow parts I dug up.

Joining the Meme at Tootsie's Friday Flaunt.

Another Look in Greenhouse and Out

Last week I mentioned that Bromeliads outside might have to move to shade.

 Evidence of too much sun is the light spot on the left. Evidence of enough water is the little critter in the cup. Tiny frogs inside and out of the greenhouse love those little cool spots to camp. Broms are behind the greenhouse for now.

Inside, the seed-grown cycad has a new frond. It unfurled yesterday. One of the outdoor cycads has new growth. The others are waiting.

The stacked red pots hold my single Agapanthus seedling, now about 4 inches tall. To its left is a repotted Tillandsia, actually 3 plants that grew around the old plant from last year. I think they make a better show in a single pot and saves so much space. I checked with experts -- they're happy enough to hang out together.

I shoved the bird's nest fern under the shelf months ago because it wasn't really happy in the house. I kind of forgot about it, except for occasional water directed under there. Imagine how surprised I was to pull it out and it had all this lush growth I hadn't realized. I gave it a little haircut to remove old, ratty fronds which were all I'd really been noticing under there.

I may leave it there if it can tolerate the light, or put it on the other side under a higher shelf. New, bigger fronds were beginning to curl back on themselves. It needs to stretch.

The west end of the greenhouse is shaded with plastic tablecloths secured with fancy paper clips from the stationery department. Last year I used thin polyester that came wrapped around new chairs. It disintegrated, as will the plastic but 2 one-dollar tablecloths are cheap enough shade. Plants remaining are grouped under the mist system for best cooling during the day.

We're seeing 90+ degree days in the greenhouse on 80+ degree days outside. When it gets really hot, more plants may have to summer outside.

Some of them might prefer to come inside to summer with me where it's cooler.

First Views, May 2012

In the midst of emptying the greenhouse of container veggies, I went out and made First Views pics for Town Mouse's meme. Pretend that you came to visit and caught me unaware -- nothing deadheaded, nothing swept or edged, just green blousy trees and other delights of Spring.

The Upper Garden with Oakleaf Hydrangeas left, 'White

Dawn' Rose in the middle and 'Little Gem' Magnolia in the

distance at right. Smells good out here.

Moving in closer, you can see spots of color including 'Silver Veil' daylilies.

I went back and changed these to a size that doesn't hang over the sidebar.

You might click on one if you need a closer look.

I can't decide whether to change the layout for bigger pics.

Looking to the right, you see blueberry bushes to the left, pear trees and some assorted shrubs including loropetalum. The thin dark green ribbon along the tree lines is 30 acres of corn. Perspective is lost in the distance.

 Looking left you see the path to the Front Garden.

We are going to walk around this little semi-circular

bed where we're standing on the Oval Lawn to

see a surprise.

Last month I showed two Cycad pups that had put out green fronds.

The biggest pup that had one old frond from last summer when it put on first roots has decided to show just what it could do.

Cycad fronds!

Echinacea in the shade is not yet making much of

a show. It's blooming in the Front Garden. 

Echinacea in the sunshine has started to show up well with

Salmon Sheen daylilies in front of Carefree Delight Rose.

It was intentional to put the golden cones of Purple Coneflower with Salmon

Sheen daylilies. California poppes are just an added bonus.

I tried to keep to broad views; this last one just tasted too good not to share. 

Bloom Day in the Greenhouse, March

Oh, OH! I forgot to put the link to Tootsietime so you could join in the linky fun for Fertilizer Friday. Here it is: Flaunt Your Flowers at Tootsie's.

March in the Greenhouse is about to be moving day in the greenhouse, except for a few of the most tender plants. Gerbera Daisies have been outside for a while, prefering cooler temperatures.



New in the greenhouse is a fogging system built from scrap parts: some copper tubing we had, mist heads used for some other purpose at our old house, a short hose from a hose reel and some purchased fittings to put it all together.

Fogging has a twofold purpose: cooling and humidifying. Cooling is in conjuntion with the fan we put up last week.

Five rooted Marieseii varigata Hydrangeas in one gallon pots over the winter went into the ground today. The biggest number of cuttings waiting now are Pentas in all colors.

Seedlings are coming along:

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. One

eggplant has not yet shown himself.

Parsley and chives. Pentas blooms fell into the parsley. Seedling chives are

threadlike. Other seeds planted are flowers, not yet ready for prime time.

Cycad pups have moved outside after spending the winter in the greenhouse.

Two have new growth. I planted out the one that had a single frond and not yet any

new growth. It has good roots.

Flowers and text are from the garden of Nell Jean blogged on Dotty Plants Journal in warm, humid Southwest Georgia.