Category: Interesting Tidbits

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Interesting Tidbits

Jewel Orchid Joyous February Bloomer

I know, it’s March 1, but this beauty has been blooming since early February and still going gangbusters.  It blooms once a year, always early February.

The blooms last a month or more.  No scent that I’ve noticed.

The show starts in December as the buds begin to develop, growing plump and elongating as the weeks pass until one morning, poof, the first flower has unfurled.

Unlike the epiphytes more commonly seen in stores everywhere, this is a terrestrial.  I found it as a two or three inch baby by itself in a display of succulents in a nursery down in Kenner, Louisiana, and knew it was special. Kind of gangly, pink veined purple leaves, what’s not to love?

Have a great March, Spring is busting out all over, hooray!

Peace and Love – Nancy

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Interesting Tidbits Sales and Open House Events Tillandandsias a/k/a Air Plants

Air Plant Farmer at Arkansas Flower and Garden Show Feb 26-28, 2016

If you are in the Little Rock area this weekend, don’t miss the opportunity to meet a true character in the plant world, my friend Michael Seal, who has a large variety of tillandsias, commonly known as air plants, and other bromeliads for sale.  He imports and grows these fascinating plants in southern Mississippi at his nursery, The Funny Farm.  You can buy individual plants, or air plant arrangements on wood, stone, or even hanging air plant mobiles!

The show is at the Statehouse Convention Center, 101 East Markham, in Little Rock. For more info go to Arkansas Garden Show. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to buy the healthiest tillandsias you will ever see, with a wide variety to choose from, at direct from the grower prices.  Michael can tell you the tips and tricks for keeping these little fellows happy and healthy, so head over to the show this weekend and tell him the Memphis Plant Lady told you to say Hey!

Here are a few of the many beautiful tillies you will see at The Funny Farm:
   
    
   

Categories
Interesting Tidbits Sales and Open House Events

Take a Look at Some of the Terrariums at Diane's Art, Gift and Home for Your Valentine

I delivered some really lovely terries to Diane this week, special for the big flower power holiday.   She’s having an after work shindig on Feb 11, this Thursday night, with wine and chocolate and roses, so ya’ll come see us, you hear?

Go by and see her at 1581 Overton Park Street, she has a store full of lovely gifts of all kinds.  You might want to step next door and have a little bite to eat next door at Ecco, too.

   This begonia has to be in humid environment, unlike most begonias.  With red and green sworls of hairy leaves glistening with dew, he makes a perfect Valentine 



Green Mansions sit quietly on tables, counters,or  desks for years with very little maintenance required.  Zen gardens under glass.

    Closeup of begonia, look closely to see the red hairs on the green leaves

  A corner of woodland, quietly abiding, transport to mountain memories

  Secret candy bowl garden, see the Redbird hidden in the moss.  Are you sweet on a baseball fan?

  

Wild profusion of selaginella, a sweet little possum peering out

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Interesting Tidbits Memphis Gardens

Winter Perennials in Memphis Are Exquisite Surprises in Brown and Bare Gardens 

Memphis is a wonderful location for gardeners.  With some planning, over time, we can have beautiful foliage and blooms every day (and nights) of the year.

   

Golden Oregano is happy all year long and really pops in Janury.  Mine grows beside my front path
  

  Above, the wallflower just hunkers down in the snow, waiting for the sun to warm it up again. Wallflowers are unappreciated by Memphis gardeners, I think because they almost disappear in our summer heat and, like winter bulbs, can get damaged as we shift and plant while they are dormant.  Plant where they get really good drainage and bright winter sun for years of blooming when most other plants are sleeping.
  Above, day after snow, around 34 degrees and the wallflower is beaming back at the winter sunny sky.  Enlarge the photo to see all the buds clustered in the tops of the stems.  

Also in bottom of photo is little snapdragon.  He will grow whenever temps get above about 50 and sun shines, then draw in and slumber when it gets really cold.  I love snapdragons but they get sickly in our humid summers if not in pots.  Planted around walkways in our climate, they give a great show from late spring through early summer and the drier bed conditions might help escape the mildew that tags a lot of bedding plants
  

  Wallflower cluster of flower buds starting to open
  Carnations, dianthus, pinks, all have lovely silver foliage in the winter and will be in full scented bloom in April through hot weather. Violas in left corner are shivering after the snow, but a few hours of warm sun will make all the difference you need for happy faces smiling up at you
 

Verbena Bonariensis is a wonderful butterfly plant.  A rambling perennial, it grows large then subsides, throughout the year.  It will start blooming in late March or early April on small, almost tentative early stalks that grow hearty as the heat rises.  Three foot waving spikes of purple flowers feed the bees and hummers as it rambles through your flower beds by seeds and runners. 

 I’ll have some at my annual Almost Mothers Day Plant Sale and Faire this May.  Follow this page for notice of sales and events, and please post questions or comments