Dragon Arum

Imagine my surprise when I saw this today!




It's surprising to see that the dragon arum has grown this much in the midst of freezing temperatures. It looks like one got bit while the other two are doing fine. I hope they *finally* like a spot that I've put them in so that they'll *finally* show me a bloom!

Jotting down a possible disaster...

Oh my gosh, an actual update! :o

I found out that there was a miscommunication yesterday. The heater never got turned on in the greenhouse and it snowed this morning. When I went to check the plants, most of them appear to be fine.

This is the second time it has snowed here in a short period of time. I can't believe it. Maybe the bugs won't be so overbearing this summer - though a colony of fire ants did invade the house the first time it snowed but all of them had mysteriously died from something by the time they were discovered.

The banana plant has bit it though but I'm not too concerned. I'm sure it'll come back after I cut it down when spring comes.

I also found out that the fruit/pod (I really need to find an actual term!) of the Thanksgiving Cactus had fallen off. It feels a bit soft so I don't know if it got bit by the cold or if it finally was ready to come off. I put it aside so that I can get the seeds out of it to try this spring.

Thanksgiving Cactus - Fruit? Pod?

Thanksgiving Cactus - Fruit? Pod?
Originally uploaded by dragonslumber

I'm surprised this is still attached. When the yellow thanksgiving cactus had one, the pod fell off a few months down the road. However, this one is still attached after all these months. I expect there'll be good seeds to grow from this one.

Big Update - Lots of Images

I was asked to give my blog a brand new update since it's been awhile. It's just hard to do when it is way too hot outside and nothing is remotely pretty to look at.

But anyhow, hold onto your hats... Here comes a bunch of ugly.





Coleus


Bonsai - Ginseng Ficus


Sago Palm


Sago Palm - Close-Up. New Leaves?


Amaryllis Seedlings - Still Going Strong


Pumpkin Bed/Hyacinth Bean Vine


Various Squash/Gourds Mixed


Hyacinth Bean Vine


Don't Know - Purple Flowers


Thanksgiving Cacti and Christmas Cacti in Shade


Thanksgiving Cactus "Fruit"? "Pod"?


Pachira Tree (The only survivor from the Money Tree)


Stargazer Lily (Not very healthy)


Illustris Elephant Ears


Illustris Elephant Ears (Can't get rid of them from this spot!)


Blood Banana


That should cover a good chunk of stuff!

Spider Plant Discovery

For several months now, I've been ripping out thick grass-like plants out of the pots of my jade plants. I figured that some seeds from weeds floated and landed in the pots and started growing a rhizome or bulb which made it nearly impossible to get rid of them but I've been too lazy in the heat to really dig them out. I could rip the leaves off but the main plant remained firmly rooted.

Today, I noticed a spider plant 'vine' sticking through one of my jade plants. I have tons of variegated spider plants in many pots that are all outdoors. I figured someone moved a potted variegated spider plant and that one of the 'vines' poked through my jade plant.

When I went to inspect, it turned out to be a 'vine' sticking out of one of the green grass-like plants! After double-checking, I realized that these plants were spider plants!

The spider plants are growing in several jade plant pots.



Here's a couple spider plants in a jade plant pot.

I asked online and found out that when seeds are grown from variegated spider plants, the seedlings are green. I guess when I had the jade plants beneath the flowerboxes that the spider plants were growing in, the seeds fell into the pots. This is really a pleasant surprise.

Cardinal's Nest near Hummingbird Feeder

Hmm... Are cardinals aggressive when it comes to their nests?

There's three cardinals out there right now. A male keeps chasing off an aggressive female who keeps trying to fly to the tree. The third is another female who brings stuff to her nest.

It makes me nervous. I have to go and change the hummingbird feeder tomorrow - I change it once a week. I wonder if cardinals nearby will chase the hummingbirds off. Oy.

Latest...

Plenty of these big green frogs tend to hide in leaves that are still coiled while growing out of a plant - such as the Peace Lily or Banana Plant - but once in awhile, I'll get a nutty frog that just insists on resting out in the wide open for all to see.





The Iris are coming out of one pot. Right now they're of darker colors. There should be some yellows and light purple coming out later.



The red Amaryllis is blooming!

Hanging Basket Grow Kit - 2

Finally opened the kit and assembled it. The seeds planted are "Tiny Tim Tomato Seeds". Looks like a strange set-up for the tomatoes but an interesting idea nonetheless. My fear is that a bird will make a nest on the side!

Hanging Basket Grow Kit

I had a very positive experience with Buzzy's Mini Tomato Grow Kit that I decided to buy this!

Buzzy's Hanging Basket Grow Kit. Yup, more tomatoes! It's still in the box and I've yet to take everything out and examine it closely.

Amaryllis Seedlings

I was asked to update the amaryllis I started growing from seed. They're sorta hanging in there. I'll admit the greenhouse is not a thriving environment for most of the plants. Now that I've dragged it back outside, it should start growing more healthy.

I know it'll be at least a year more before I can think of planting them in the ground. I just keep hoping their flowers will be awesome to look at. It'll be disappointing if they're flimsy and weak. The seeds came from a red amaryllis.