An escape to my greenhouse
You can see, from reading my recent blogs, that it has been a rather harsh winter here, where I live, as well as in many other locales. Bracing winds, heavy rains, and blankets of snow, makes one long for the arrival of spring. This time of year, it's always a pleasurable escape to visit the local botanical gardens. I look forward to the annual orchid show at The New York Botanical Garden, which begins on February 27th. I also love going to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where there are always exquisite displays. Of course, I am very fortunate because I have a greenhouse of my own, where Shaun Kass, my gardener, has been doing a fine job of nurturing my plant collection. Please enjoy this little escape tour.
- This beautiful plant is called Calliandra.
- The leaves of this begonia are covered with pink, fuzzy hairs.
- I love the way they look in the sunlight.
- Another name for Scadoxus is paintbrush lily.
- This unusual flower is called Scadoxus.
- Its common name is pink powderpuff.
- These buds are full of energy.
- It’s called Container Plants by Byron Martin and Laurelyn Martin of Logee’s Greenhouses. www.logees.com/
- Shaun uses this very descriptive book for reference all the time.
- These giant elephant ear leaves add so much height and interest to the greenhouse.
- With sunlight behind them, their texture is stunning.
- It’s flowers last for 2 weeks or more.
- Burbidgea scheizocheila – Golden Brush is a dwarf ginger.
- The very unusual flower of Aristolochia gigantea
- A miniature spiny cactus garden
- Shaun is rooting cuttings of Salix, or pussy willow – they will be planted outdoors near the wetland.
- Some of the cuttings are already blooming with a fuzzy catkins.
- This colorful leaf is coleus Odalisque.
- Very beautiful, indeed.
- These flowers are amaryllis Exotica.
- These cuttings from it will root nicely. It is a trailing plant, good for containers and ground covers.
- I love the vibrant orange of this Clivia, commonly called kaffir lily.
- There are many buds about to burst.
- The extraordinary bloom of a Lady Slipper orchid
- A darling miniature orchid blooming happily
- The oxalis is even busy blooming!
- And another
- Shaun is testing how much light the orchids receive. You need at least 3,000 foot candles for orchids to bloom. He’s happy to report that they receive about 5,000!
- This is the light sensor in one of the orchid pots.
- And another
- The waxy blooms of a Cymbidium orchid
- And another
Photos By Eliad Laskin