Amaryllis, La Paz & Hercules

Two more Amaryllis(Hippeastrum)have bloomed today the large pink one is "Hercules" and the small star shaped Cybister amaryllis is "Laz Paz".

More Amaryllis Blooms

My Amaryllis's are blooming out more so I thought I would share some more pics. I am a bit disappointed that they did not turn out to be "Minerva" and "Red Lion",

they look nothing like the pictures on the boxes, but they are still beautiful.

Thanksgiving Amaryllis Blooms

Some of my Amaryllis bloomed today, what a nice Thanksgiving surprise, in more than one way. The Large one in bloom in the first photo(and second) was supposed to be "Minerva" but it seems its probably something else because it does not have a white throat. Maybe a "Red Lion"? not sure yet. The one on the right in bloom in the the first photo is a "Red Lion". Oh well I recently started an Amaryllis collection going to try my hand at Hybridization. I have 20 different varieties and probably won't be getting any more because of lack of space. Well I say that now anyway, lol. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!! May you all have a blessed day!!!

Agave Winter Protection

I decided to start protecting my Agave Parryi and my Agave Harvardia plants 3 weeks ago by putting some old glass window panes over some posts and concrete blocks and other junk I found lying around to protect them. I put clear 4 mil clear window plastic over the windows and covered some of the sides with it to keep the moisture out. I left some areas open on the sides to help circulate the air. It is best to cover Agave's early I am told because this way the soil/sand around them can dry out, as they tend to rot when they are both cold and wet, its not the cold that gets them its the moisture. The dirt they are planted in is mostly corse sand and small rocks with some potting mix mixed in. It seems to drain pretty fast so that should help also to prevent root rot. They have to be kept dry all winter long. We have very wet winters here in southern Illinois USDA zone 6b, so they would not survive the winter here without moisture protection.

Mums the Word

I took some pics of my mums a few days ago. I just love these fall beauties, no fall garden is complete without mums.

Pineapple Sage in Bloom

My Pineapple sage is blooming. I like these plants but it's a shame it only blooms in the fall, it would be nice if it bloomed in the summer too. I love the smell of the leaves though also, they smell like as the name implies, pineapple. Every time I walk by them I wanna rub the leaves with my fingers and smell the sweet pineapple scent.

Creative Container Gardening

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a container. There are many unique and creative options when gardening in containers. You can use many common household items you may have that would otherwise be discarded, or maybe someone else's trash can be your treasure. Many of these items can also be purchased at yard sales and junk stores, just keep your eyes pealed. The amount of options are endless, just use your imagination and be creative. These are some creative container ideas I found on the internet that I thought were pretty cool.

Muffin Pan planted with baby tears. http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/decorating/Floral-Displays-0606#slide-1

Old Tool boxes, wooden crates, coffee cans http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/upcycled-succulent-planter-ins-79720

Shoe Planters http://www.shelterness.com/35-indoor-and-outdoor-succulent-garden-ideas/pictures/9433/

Old Wagon Planter http://www.faroutflora.com/2010/03/13/cool-and-creative-containers/

Garden Quote

In gardens, beauty is a by-product. The main business is sex and death. ~Sam Llewelyn

Mums

Sempervivum & Sedum in a Colander

I went to Goodwill the other day and picked up this colander for $3. I decided I would plant some Sempervivum and Sedum inside of it. It turned out pretty nice if I do say so myself, lol.

Flowers in the Garden

Well the plants are putting out there last flowers for the season. So I took a few pics in the garden today. French Marigold

Potentilla "Sun Drop"

Pink Knockout Rose

Zinnia linearis "Summer Solstice" Mix

Canna "Cleopatra"

Euphorbia "Ascot Rainbow"

Euphorbia "Ascot Rainbow" is a beautiful plant here it is in my garden showing off its fall colors.

UPDATE: Chinese Windmill Palm, Trachycarpus Fortunei

I took some photos of my Trachycarpus fortunei that I planted in the Spring of 2010. It's looking great and starting to get a nice trunk on it.

New Book

I got a new gardening book today, I ordered off Amazon.com. It is called Succulent Container Gardening by Debra Lee Baldwin. It has lots of great ideas for neat containers and plant combinations using succulents. I am starting to have a passion for succulents and cacti. Hopefully I can use some of the ideas from this book come spring. I highly recommend this book.

Kitty likes her TV

My Cat Ava likes to guard the remote, lol.

Bringing in the Tropicals for the Winter, Confessions of a Plant Hoarder

So as it is getting colder and winter is fast approaching I have been trying to lug in all of the tender tropicals and houseplants after they spent their summer vacation outside. Some of the larger plants were super heavy, my house looks like a jungle now. I keep telling myself I am going to get rid of some of these plants and I do give some away, but then I buy more. I guess I am a bit of a plant hoarder but oh well there are worse things in life, lol. I enjoy my plants though.

UPDATE: Palm Seedlings

As you may recall over the winter I started some palms from seed. I planted Trachycarpus fortunei, Needle Palm, and Sabal minor(the photos are in this order top to bottom, the first photo is all the palms together.) The palms are getting very large and looking healthy now, hopefully by this coming spring they will be much larger.

Garden visitor, White-tailed deer

Had a garden visiter a few days ago a White-tailed deer.

Death of a Giant, Castor Beans

I had several large "Impala" Castor beans in front of the house. We had a storm and they fell over the ground just became too saturated and it was windy. Well they fell over, lol. I thought about staking them up but they are too heavy. I am leaving them for now on the ground so I can harvest the seeds so ill have more castors next year, soon ill probably end up cutting them down. I included a few photos of them standing as well.