Roses: Blue Moon and Christian Dior

What a lovely way to brighten up a winter day! Two of my more recent rose acquisitions, rescued from the bargain bin: (1) Blue Moon, a gorgeous mauve-colored hybrid tea, and (2) Christian Dior, a stunning red hybrid tea. I’d planted them several months ago, with high hopes that they would “take.” I’m so happy [...]

Cymbidium Orchid: Flowering in Progress

It’s always a pleasure to see cymbidium orchids in flower. On one spike, flowers open up in a slightly staggered time frame. As  shown in the photo, taken minutes ago, the top center flower is almost fully open, while the other ones look like they’re about to burst out!
Notice the lovely cascade of wine-colored flowers [...]

White Iceberg Rose: Blushing!

When I first started my rose garden, I would look down or look face-to-face (face-to-rose?), but didn’t bother to look from any other vantage points. Ah, my early days of gardening!
I’m fortunate that my garden is sufficiently large and spaced so that I can view my flowers from all angles.  Looking underneath and behind, I see that [...]

Epidendrum Orchids: White Roots

Epidendrum orchids are very easy to grow in containers in a shade garden. Click on the photo and you’ll see the beautiful white roots originating from the stems. Also known as aerial roots, these structures help with photosynthesis.
On the lower left are leaves from the Japanese boxwood. The long, sword-like leaves are from cymbidium orchids. [...]

Red leaf lettuce

If there’s a container, I’m planting seeds! I planted red leaf lettuce seeds in much larger containers, but the few remaining in the packet,  I put into 5-gallon containers. A salad is in my future!

Christmas Kalanchoe: Closer To Bloom Time!

Oh, it’s going to happen, hopefully soon! If you click on the photo, you’ll see many salmon pink “dots” peppering these plants – these are future flowers. The kalanchoe are happily residing underneath a mature Japanese aucuba. Trying to steal the act in the top center is an epidendrum orchid! All of these plants are in the [...]

Dragon Tree: Branch Regeneration

I have one very mature dragon tree and a less mature one. Both have shown, expectedly, branch regeneration. Since my Spring tree trimming of the mature tree, I’ve been keeping an eye on the cut branches for any sign of new life. Well, there’s new life! Click on the far right photo to have a [...]