Sunday, March 13, 2011

Thanks for the Bloom

Just because you've only got houseplants doesn't mean you don't have the gardening spirit - I look upon myself as an indoor gardener.
~Sara Moss-Wolfe

I mentioned a few posts ago in February that while at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show I got waylaid at Andy’s Orchids booth. I bought an Australian native species orchid, Dendrobium pugioniforme, basically because I fell in love with the leaves! Bad idea I know but based on what he said of its culture I was also fairly certain I could make it happy. He had me sold when he said it's flowers had greenish petals with a purple and white lip. I love green flowers.

Today it made me happy…it bloomed! Yay a bright spot on this grey drizzly day, it’s soooo sweet. It’s tiny…only 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, and fragrant too! I can’t take credit for this bloom, it was already in bud, so my test will be if it will bloom again for me someday.

What a cutie…just thought I’d share. Do you grow orchids? I just love them.

In Bloom In My Garden Today: Daffodil ‘Tete a Tete’, Cyclamen coum, crocus, primrose (double English), Heleborus, Bellis perennis (English Daisy), violet primrose, Galanthus elwesii (snowdrops)

Authors photos

9 comments:

Shari B. (FitFeat) said...

Wow, beautiful flower!

I do not grow any orchids, but I LOVE their look so I actually have a few silk ones in my powder bath and my entryway.

Also, I love your opening quote on this post - makes me feel better about my minimal gardening skills! ;) I can consider myself an indoor herb gardener!

Joan said...

Hi Shari! Yes you are an indoor herb gardener AND you have roses outside so I'd say you are a gardener, even if you don't think so.

Shari B. said...

YAY! I'm a gardener! Wahooo! :)

Have a GREAT day!

Cindy said...

I LOVE Orchids!

I won one at a conference once years ago. Put it on my desk, and took good care of it. The blossoms finally faded and it never bloomed again, no matter what I did for it.

I never tried again.

I love your little guy. super pretty!!!!

Joan said...

Hi Cindy!
I don't get alot of rebloom either...but I keep trying. They are so worth it to me...it's just so exciting to see a bloom spike come up. They can be persnickity though.

Anonymous said...

Morgan loves orchids- she carefully nurtures them and does pretty well at keeping them alive.
Absolutely LOVE the leaves on this one you have and look forward to seeing it!
By the way- Happy Birthday, Joan!
:) Kathy J

Joan said...

Hi Kathy!
Thanks for coming by and for the birthday greetings!

How cool that Morgan keeps orchids...I didn't know that. We'll have to talk orchids someday. Aren't those leaves cool? They are what attracted me to it in the first place. See ya soon!

Debra said...

My friend Ed always splurges on orchids, he's the biggest fan. The picture you took is so delicate and beautiful, I'm going to check them out for my garden.

Joan said...

Hi Debra, thanks for stopping by. In our neck of the woods this is definitely an indoor orchid. It could go out for the summer but not our winters. For overwintering orchids in your garden check out Bletilla, Calanthe or Oreochis for starters. A great source is keepingitgreennursery.com