Volunteers

I was watering plants last night when I noticed I had a couple new plants. A Cosmo and a Cleome (Spider plant).

Now to figure out what to do with the new seedlings. Leave them and risk losing my Croton, which is in the same pot that they have sprouted up in. Or transplant them into a different planter, and see how well they do over winter.

Or should I just yank them out of the planter and call it a day? What to do, what to do?

Here is another photo of the Bird of Paradise bloom.

December 1st and First snow

OMG, is it too early to be bitching about the weather. I thought so. Hell it is not even winter yet, but it sure looks and feels it. We are expecting to get 2-4 inches of snow on Saturday, ugh. I love snow, but only on Christmas, it can then melt away and immediately turn into spring as far as I am concerned.


The West Lawn is sleeping.

Poor fish.

Anyone want to take a dip? It looks so inviting.

Serenity gardens are closed for the season. Only 4 1/2 months before our next outdoor soiree.

Its Santa season once again

After much debate on whether to decorate this year or not, I decorated. We had to put "presents" on the endangered species list, but being festive is free. After all, I love the Christmas season, not to mention, that I have a Santa collection that needs to be shown.

I got this little tree at a yard sale a hundred years ago, to hang my Santa ornaments. I either need to get a bigger Santa tree next year, or stop getting Santa ornaments. I vote for a bigger tree, and how about some new curtains. I am over these funeral home curtains, that's what they look like anyway.

I wanted to capture the ambiance of the Santa tree lit up. This year, I combined a white feather Christmas tree with the artificial tree. I think it sings.

Sorry about the following photo, but I was once again trying to capture the lights on our Christmas tree.

Here is the same tree with a flash used on the camera. And BTW, not one Santa on this tree, thank you.

Not quite a flock

Looking at this plant, takes me right back to Hawaii. I know, people grow them all over warmer regions, but it takes me right back to our condo in Hawaii. OK, so it was not technically "our" condo, but it was for a week back in 2007, and they had them growing all over the complex. Having never grown the Bird of Paradise myself, this year has been full of surprises with this plant. Almost December, and having tropical blooms, I can get use to that. Maybe next year, the White Bird of Paradise will bloom. Fingers crossed.

Not quite a bloom

I have been watching this Bird of Paradise everyday, as you might have guessed. I am happy when I can keep my plants alive over the fall and winter months, but to have them actually bloom, that is amazing. The following photos were taken to continue with the evolution of this Bird of Paradise bud. I first noticed that she was sending up bloom stalks back in either late August/early September. Clearly it takes some time.

This photo was taken on November 8, 2010.


This photo was taken November 14, 2010


I know, not the best picture. I will try again tomorrow in better light.

Happy Halloween

We were surprised by a little duck on Halloween. She is delighted that I have yet to rake the yard. Halloween visitors were the only thing going on in the yard this weekend. I have yet to get started cleaning up the yard for winter. But looking on the bright side, I think it makes for a better fall picture. lol


One thing I have been diligent about, and that is watching the Bird of Paradise. Every day I poke my head into the winter greenhouse to see if the BOP is blooming.

I wanted to show you how I have the spare room set up for overwintering many of the plants. This is the north side of the room. Notice the BOP in the corner and the grow lights hanging overhead.

These are the east facing windows. You can see the BOP in the left corner. I
took the curtains down to not interfere with the sunlight.

Fall blooming

Mums that we got this year.

Mums that we got 2 years ago. I guess I should be happy that they survived at all.

I am thinking about dividing the Asters after they bloom. I need to get more fall color around the gardens.

And another photo of the yellow Plumeria. Sorry, but I never tired of them.