New Year's Growth

The New Year begins with a few blooms and promises of other things.  The festive flowers last a long time, of course.  But a few other houseplants are providing colour, including one Kalanchoe tubiflora.  

I've been fascinated with this kind of plant since childhood; the kind of plant that grows new plants along the leaves and drops them (A form of viviparous reproduction). As a houseplant it can become a bit weedy.  It spent the summer in the ragged old greenhouse, but then decided to bloom once it got inside.  

     There largest plant indoors right now is the Christmas Tree (Abies balsamea), of course.  Poor thing, its life is coming to and end and it will be put out on the weekend. 

Underneath it an indoor growing tool was to be found:  'Biosnacky" - a germinator for edible sprouts.  Here are some mung beans 'hatching.'  In a few days they will become a wonderful stir-fry.

All the best in 2013 - may you grow many healthy things.

Late Bloomers

As I was leaving the cottage the other day - and I was actually leaving: I was in my car - I glimpsed some vibrant pink things in an otherwise green and dormant bed.   Lycoris something-or-other had decided, at last, to bloom.  It is now November, and we are in Nova Scotia!  I had to go back today to get photos; buds still not open.

I just planted these bulbs in the spring, and the leaves, like mini-amaryllis, did not seem to flourish.  But here are the blooms, tempting fate.  Tempting frost, that is. I picked one stalk, along with the yellow rose (below) to put inside, in a vase of water.

This little bit of 'Toad Lily,' Tricyrtis, is also finally in bloom. This was a tiny bit of a thing when I bought it at a garden club plant sale.  I look forward to seeing how large this plant gets.

     The last of the Asters is hanging on amid the wet weather.  The cold days are still ahead.  This week is starting to feel like the end of autumn.  Down to freezing is forecast, and daytime highs will be maybe 8 above freezing.  

And this last shot is one of a few clusters coming out just now on a scraggly Japanese Spirea.  I'm so glad all these plants extend the season as long as possible, of their own accord.  No help from me!

     It is time to shut off the water at the Cottage for the season.  But some flowers will still bloom.  Thanks be for the Johnny-Jump-Ups and their tough friends.

Slash and Save the Banana

Ensete ventricousm maurelii

A few light frosts have hit the Abyssinian Banana.  Before more damage was done, it had to be hacked, dug, potted, and  brought in.  Below you see it just a couple months ago, before it overtook the Shoo-fly plants around it.

Thought I might as well attack all the damaged leaves.  I decided to leave parts of the best ones on.  I guess I will not attempt to keep it dormant; I'll find a spot for it where it can keep growing a bit through the winter.  I expect it's greatest threat will be the usual spider mites.   And my underwatering.

It spent a few days in the greenhouse, but the temp tonight is likely to be just above freezing.  In other words, a heavy frost.

So I just brought it into the basement for the night.  I think I'll take it to work next, and find a quiet spot for it in front of a big window.  And, I commit myself to watering it every week.  Yes.  I promise.