New Evidence

Here in the Twin Cities there is plenty of snow left...

 

...looks better zoomed a bit closer....

...but it still doesn't exactly scream "spring".

Yet while awaiting a cab the other day I spotted something in this tree....

...with a closer look and some observation with my aging eyes....

...I'm certain it's a robin! He seems bummed about the snow too, but here he is, ready for the warm weather...

...sure hope he's smarter than that groundhog!

Moth News!

                                                                    July 20-28, 2013


                                Look what I ran across on the web! More info here. Count me in!

Breaking News!

My tomato pollination worked! I have fruit!















There are more blooms opening, too...

...so I get to use the cosmetic brush I bought for "official" pollinating. Now we'll see if the fruit will mature in sheet-filtered southern exposure.


My air plant is doing exciting things as well-it has blooms!

Very cute! They kinda remind me of crocuses.

Even the african violet is beginning to bloom...

 

Spring has sprung! (In my apartment, anyhow :)

Winter Tomato Blooms!

 

Along about February 20th I noticed my tomato plant had blooms! This was surprising to me, especially since the plant is in sheet-filtered southern exposure only (not to mention being winter!)

Nice! I'll take any blooms this time of year.

More than one, as well. I wonder if I can hand-pollinate them and actually get tomatoes?

 

So I grab a kleenex and give it a shot.

 

 The plant looked too droopy, so I'm staking it with a nearby support.

 

 

Here's hoping for spring tomatoes!

Orchids Update

I'm glad to report that Phalaenopsis 'Happy Girl' is still happily growing and sending up a new bloom spike...

 

 

...looks healthy too, I can't wait to see flower buds eventually (apparently most everything that orchids do is slow. That's fine though, the flowers last and last, dying off slowly too.)

The old bloom spike is still green too, yet not doing anything. Huh. Oh well, green is good so it's staying put for now.

The other old spike is fully brown. I'll trim it off eventually, but right now I'm scared to do anything in fear of disrupting the blooming activities.

These two mounted orchids are doing well too, they are Oncidium 'Aliceara Alice'...

 

...and Brassavola nodosa, the fragrant 'Lady of the Night'...

...as well as this mounted Maxillaria Tenuifolia hanging out with terrestrial orchid Cymbidium 'Suzie Q'. Suzie pretty much looks the same as when I bought her (at least not worse!)...

...but Maxillaria has new growth! Yay!

 

Happy orchids make me happy!

Gettin' Some Air

I was email chatting with my friend in Texas about starting up a terrarium, and she was kind enough to send me some air plants, a.k.a. Tillandsia. She sent me several varieties, including Ionantha 'Peanut' (the tiny one), Ionantha "Mexican' (not visible here), and Ionantha 'Mexican'-the clumping one in the foreground (the names may be mixed up, I'm new to the air plant game).

 

 

This beauty that just bloomed is Ionantha 'Druid', I sure hope I can keep it happy enough to bloom again! I stuck her in this pot with my carnivorous plant that died back, if it returns later I can set the air plant elsewhere. They absorb water through their leaves and not a root system, so containers for air plants can be just about anything.

Like this orchid planter that didn't work out so well...poor thing.

There! Much better (and greener.)
 

Now I can explore the world of terrarium gardening, and the "air" around here is improving already!

Random Houseplant Stuff

At my workplace there were these cute mini poinsettias over the holidays, I forgot to mention them before. I really like the size, it makes the end-of-season "keep or discard" decision a real non-issue (space-wise, anyhow.)

On an impulse buy I snagged this item. Pretty silly, considering the fact that I already have "pet grass" seeds, pots, and soil. Something about a pouch project sucked me in.

 

Well the startup sure is easy enough.

 

Meanwhile, I acquired a new plant the other day from a friend. I'm not sure what it is, but it can take low light and and has nice foliage.

 

My friend didn't give me too much root...

 

...hopefully it'll be enough.

There! Everybody grow!

 

A week or so passes, and my new friend has a couple sick leaves...

 

 

...nothing a pair of scissors can't fix. Much better!

 

And check out the cat grass!

It got rave reviews  =^^=