big bloomers

You might be thinking to yourself why am I going to be talking about big bloomers?  Let me assure you it has nothing to do with oversized undergarments!

Big Bloomers is a great, still-yet-to-be-discovered-by-many flower farm and garden shop in Sanford, NC south of Raleigh off US 1.  They have a HUGE selection of annuals, perennials, and tender plants.  While on an excursion to the Pottery Festival in Seagrove, NC today I stopped in Sanford to do some plant shopping. 

I have got to be insane for buying more plants!   Seriously, I need to have my head examined.  But, I bought some really great stuff, and I've already made a space for all of them in the house.  I purposely purchased mostly tender plants (well I did buy an ornamental kale) since it's the off-season, and I've been coveting some of these plants for a while. 

So, to add to my already large collection, I bought a Begonia, B. 'Madame Queen', a rhizomatous type begonia having large, glossy leaves with a reddish reverse and ruffled edges.  Stunning.  Just do a search for it online to find it.

Next up is a couple of Agaves: A. 'Sharkskin Shoes' and A. 'El Montevideo'.  I've always wanted to have 'Sharkskin Shoes' in my collection, Agaves are on my top 10 favorite plant list anyway, so it was time to get one.  It's winter hardy, so next year I'll just keep it outside, in a container.  'El Montevideo' is also winter hardy, so I'll give it the same treatment.  'El Montevideo' is unique in that is has a faint stipe running up the middle of each leaf from base to tip. 

I also grabbed a rather interesting succulent called Princess Pine, or Crassula muscosa pseudolycopodioides.  What?!  False something, right?  I'm a little unsure of the exact spelling, and not every online source spells it the same.  But wait, I just remembered I have a fabulous book with great info.  Okay, book says lycopodioides.  So, I looked up lycopodioides and found clubmoss mountain heather, Cassiope lycopodioides, an ericacious plant indiginous to the extreme northwest regions of  North America (Washington state, British Columbia, Alaska specifically), and northeast Asia.  So, this Princess Pine that I've picked up resembles that of the clubmoss mountain heather; indeed it does.  There's your botanical lesson for the day!  Anyway, I'm excited about using this one in a mixed container next summer.

On to the next succulent I purchased, Euphorbia triangularis, not sure which one; it has a dusky purplish color, reddish purple leaves.  Euphorbs are #1 on my top 10 list, so I had to have it.  Plus, it was only $3.25 for a 4".

Lastly, and I could not resist this one, is another Thai Crown of Thorns; yes, like the one I mentioned in an earlier entry.  This too is Euphorbia, did I mention that before?  I was so stoked to see it in their greenhouse becuase I haven't seen many folks carry it.  I bought the red one, 'Cherry Cobbler', since the one I already have is blooming pale yellow.  This plant is so big, and healthy, and multi-stemmed I could not pass it up.  It too was priced VERY reasonably at $6.25 for a generous 6". 

Price is just one of the many things I like about Big Bloomers.  I make trips there at least twice per year, sometimes more, just to get my fix.  All in all, it's always worth going there to see what they have, because they will inevitably have something that no one else is growing, or is growing at a much, much higher price.  Check them out!

beautiful botrytis

I took some pictures today of roses, some were really pretty, others knocking on death's door.  One in particular had a bad case of botrytis; it got me thinking: some fungus is really pretty.  I wonder how many might agree?

Take a look at this picture, for example.  I can't help but see beauty in this poor, wilted flower partially covered in hairy, gray fuzz. 

It reminds me of Edward Scissorhands.  He saw beauty in everything he touched, and others around him.  He couldn't help it; he just wanted everything to be good and perfect and beautiful.  Now, I'm not that naive, but I do enjoy the natural order of things, especially when it comes to plants. 

Botrytis is a common disease of flowers, affecting some more than others.  For roses, it's easy to contract because their petal counts are so high.  Add moisture and you've got yourself one heck of fungus.  We've had some good amount of rain lately, with the effects of Ida coming through, and an addtional rain event to follow.  So, conditions have been right for this kind of flare up. 

This fungus is not only seen on flowers, in fact, you might be more familiar with it when affects your strawberries or grapes.  It's that icky gray mold you see, and looks like a science experiement took place in your refrigerator. 

By the way, this is Moonstone, a hybrid tea, whose petals are so delicate and pristine when in perfect condition.  It's a flower that evokes innocence and purity; loaded with petals, which open to display quite a large flower head.  Gorgeous!

see more on my picasa web album:

rose pictures

of princesses and kangaroo paws

Now that my tender plants are in the house I have more time to really pay attention to them.  I've been noticing how they look, taking stock of their sizes, and what flower buds might still persist. 

I'm very pleased with how my princess flower, Tibouchina urvilleana, is blooming.  One by one, the buds have opened to reveal the perfectly delicate, purple flowers.  They are as soft and velvety as the leaves.  The best thing about growing this plant inside is its tolerance for drought, which means I don't have to water it frequently.  Our friends in south Florida can enjoy this plant year round outdoors, that is to say that it's hardy there. 

Kangaroo paws was a new one for me this year.  I saw it at the garden center on the sale table for $5.  It was a no brainer purchase.  The real question was how many I was going to buy (just one).  Anigozanthos 'Bush Pearl', an Australian native wildflower, bears vibrant, candy pink flowers.  Aptly named, the flowers are that of the shape of a kangaroo's paw.  I'm really enjoying the grass like foliage, and the way the flower bud stems come out of the ends much like how a tradescantia flowers, only longer.  Does that make sense?

As I was drawing the mini blinds on the window the other night, I noticed the biggest surprise of all: flower buds on my Thai Crown of Thorns.  I purchased this plant after having seen it the previous year at the Philadelphia Flower Show.  My friend John purchased one (I actually think he bought more than that!), but I just could not drop $20 for a little 4" potted plant.  Thinking that I could maybe find it somewhere at my local garden center, I decided to wait.  Well, I had not seen it anywhere. 

The trip to Philly Flower Show was coming back around again, and I knew we were going.  Sure enough that same vendor was in the exact same spot selling her Thai Crown of Thorns and other unusual plants.  I was torn.  I would be taking a chance if I did not buy it then and there, knowing that I still might not be able to find it.  So, there I was trying to make a decision.  I was prepared to pay the $20 for it.  But, there was a bonus!  She remembered us from the year before.  An unusual circumstance, actually, was what made her remember us, but I digress.  Anyway, she gave me a discount.  I was stoked.  It was only 10% off, but I didn't care; any amount off was enough to make me happy about it.  Now, it's about to produce flowers.  I remember being impressed by how much it grew for me this summer.  I've kept it on the dry side, and used a lot of perlite in the soil, especially at the top.  Tada! 

welcome to the jungle

The time has come where the overnight temperatures are too cold for my tender plants.  I've spent the last 2 days grooming, cleaning, repotting, and organizing, and transforming my living room into a wilderness of plant life.  I'm fortunate to have a pretty good sized room, with ample sunlight from a southwest exposure; I can situate the bright-light-lovers on that window, while the less-light-lovers go on the north window. 

I'm most excited about bringing some color in the house: I have several aloes in varying stages of bloom, a cyclamen loaded with buds, and a princess flower in bud.  I'm hoping my orchids and clivia will produce flowers in the coming months.  Doing orchids is a first for me, so we'll see.  But, I've been growing the clivia for years and have not had a bloom since when I purchased it.  I've tried so many different methods of treatment through fall before I bring it indoors, with no success, but I refuse to give up on it! 

I keep the house at 68, so that should be good for everybody.  I get a nice warm up when the days are pleasant, and when the sun is shining through the window, it warms up the living room nicely to about 70 or 71. 

My biggest concern is keeping my cat from making a mess.  She loves to chew on the leaves, scratch in the soil, and generally get herself into mischief.  I fear that everday I come home from work, I'll be welcome with potting soil all over the floor!