Nepenthes Bloom

Well, I know it is wonderfully spring, here in Nova Scotia, but my work and other hobbies have gotten in the way of my gardening and blogging.  And, I know it is time to blog on the great outdoors, but one of the rickety houseplants is blooming.  It's an unnamed tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes.  

This dear ole thing is a bit neglected.  It's had a dry winter, and all the pitchers that hang off the leaves are dried up.  I guess, like various other houseplants, it blooms when it is threatened.  This one is a male, producing these pollen flowers.  As I took these shots I noticed another blossom arising from another meristem.

 

OK, next post, I promise, will celebrate the plants outdoors.  Happy Earth Day, one and all.

Rhododendron hybird

My First Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

Over at the Cottage, the first crop of blooming things are making the most of the sunny days this weekend. 

The Striped Squill is holding its own (Puschkinia scilloides), and a Crocus clump is happy under a Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera flaviramea). 

Johnny-Jump-Ups rebound whenever the snow is off the ground (Viola sp.).  And even the raisin-like berries from the untrimmed Privet hedge are nice (Ligustrum vulgare).

Amid the buds of a honeysuckle shrub (Lonicera sp.) is the remains of a little nest from last year.  Likely belonged to a Sparrow or Yellow Warbler family.



The Daphne (D. mezereum) is fading, but the scent remains strong - it attracts attention.  

And back at the house, the first Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) are coming out, as well as the Periwinkle (Vinca minor).  I love true blue flowers, and spring is a good time for them.  Happy GBBD everyone!

Challenges of Early Spring

Well, one of our challenges at home is the lovely, local deer.  We like them a lot.  Sometimes as many as eight at a time wander through.  It's just that they happen to like our bird seed, and our tulips.  

And a little globe cedar, Thuja occidentalis.  No wonder that thing never seems to make much progress!   

They notice my rake and shovel, but decide to do some trimming instead.  They have not got to the tulip greens yet.  Here is the carnage from last spring.

Also, it's also too early to move some things from the windowsill out to the deck or garden.  Like these elderberry cuttings, Sambucus nigra "Black Lace."  So, the spider mites are having a field day. 

 

If I could just have an occasional rainy day, the mite infestation would be washed away.  The little banana tree (Ensete?) also needs this kind of weather, as does the parlour maple, Abutilon sp.  Instead, they get an occasional shower in our bathroom to ward off the hungry, little, web-spinners. 

Perhaps my biggest springtime challenge is the need for patience.  Soon enough, everything will be growing quickly, the houseplants will be outside, and I won't be able to keep up!