Tillandsia and friends

When our company moved into a new office suite, this large container had been left in the suite by the previous occupants.   I believe that before it had held a large artificial tree or something like that. 

No one wanted the container, so I gladly claimed it!  But rather planting a tall plant in it, I have enjoyed growing low plants in it!   Currently I have this collection of five different air plants.  I'm sorry I don't know their names, but I really like the variety!

I mist the plants every day or so and I keep a saucer of water in the pot to release moisture into the air for the air plants. 

The locally owned independent garden center where I bought all of the plants also carried the little metal stand that one of the plants is in.   I think it is very cool!  The little frog came from the local garden center also.  I think it's fun to have a little frog friend at work, too!   

The garden center also had the Baby Tears plant (Soleirolia).  Baby Tears was one of my first favorite plants when I was a little girl.  I have tried to grow it a few times during my life without much success but it is doing very well in the pot with my air plants!

   

Have a beautiful day!

Ruth 

String of Pearls

When I lived in California, I had a beautiful String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) plant hanging on the north side of the house.  It loved the California weather and even bloomed for me!

After we moved to North Carolina, I tried to grow it outside here as well.  There were a couple of problems, though!  The chickens that I had loved to eat it!   And it was simply too humid for this dry-air-loving succulent. 

But, since it is one of my favorite plants, I have to keep trying!   I have discovered that it tolerates my office!  So, I have it growing in an African Violet pot on the window sill in my office!   (That little glass dish is a candle holder.  Yes, I do light candles in my office sometimes!)

It keeps growing longer and longer across the window sill and I am hopeful that it will be happy enough to bloom one day!  And the little bird figurines do not eat it!   : )

Have a beautiful day!

Ruth

Leptinella

I love this low dish that I found at my local independently owned garden center.  For a couple of years, I had Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus) growing in it but the squirrels finally dug it up one too many times.

I was looking for something else to try and found Brass Buttons (Leptinella).  I have grown this plant before as a ground cover for a small area and I think it is very charming. 

I planted it with chicken wire, as you so, so hopefully it will grow in peace without interruption from the squirrels!

Have a beautiful day!

Ruth
 

Bluebirds

When I moved to the apartment, I saw that a neighbor had up a bluebird nesting box.   I also occasionally saw that bluebirds would come drink out of my birdbath.  So, I did a little research and put up my own bluebird nesting box! 

I've had the bluebird nesting box for several years now, and even though it hasn't been used every nesting season, it has been used numerous times.  This makes me so happy!   And one time, I found a chickadee in there, sitting her tiny eggs!

I was careful to position the nesting box where is would be attractive to bluebirds, facing in the right direction and so they would be able to have a clear view of their surroundings.  It turns out, they also really like to make use of the handicap parking sign that is near the box!  When they are nesting, I will often see one of the couple, usually the male, sitting on the parking sign. 

I have a critter guard on the pole so things, including snakes, can't get to the nesting box.

While these photos aren't the best, I'm glad to have them as the bluebirds usually fly away when they see me!  

The bluebirds make me happy!

Have a beautiful day!

Ruth

A Hydrangea (post) for Mother's Day

Somehow it seems appropriate to post about my Hydrangea (one of them) on Mother's Day, although I'm not sure why.  It wasn't a Mother's Day gift.

This is a Hydrangea called Mini Penny.  It was one that was advertised has having a longer blooming period.  And since it's always nice to have lots of Hydrangea blossoms, I thought this was worth a try!

I grew it in the ground when I lived in the house and it did well.   When I moved to the apartment and transplanted it into a container, it struggled.  

(Hmmm - maybe like me at the time?)

It's in the shadiest corner of my shade garden behind my apartment and it does pretty well now. I'm glad I have it!

Have a beautiful day!

A Blooming Hosta

 So, I don't know the name of this Hosta.  I'm sure I have the plant tag somewhere.

I bought it a couple of years ago because I loved the large variegated leaves.  I've collected a few Hostas for when I have a house.

Now it's going to bloom!  It will be the first Hosta I have at the apartment to ever bloom!  I'm so excited!  

Have a beautiful day!

An Old Friend

We were able to buy our first house at age twenty-one (long story) many years ago when we lived in California.  This Campanula was growing under a tree in the front yard of that house.  It makes a beautiful ground cover even when it is not in bloom.  Of course, when it is in bloom, it is so enchanting!

When we moved to North Carolina, almost twenty years ago, I brought a number of my plants with me, including this one.   It is one of only two (outdoor) plants that I still have from when I lived in California.

When I moved out of the house and to the apartment, I brought it with me again.   It grows in containers now, one in front of the apartment and one in back of the apartment, but it is still as lovely.

Have a beautiful day!

Ruth

Frog friend

Do you see the tree frog?

One surprise that came with our apartment was ... frogs!   I never imagined that we would still get to enjoy frogs when when my daughter and I moved to our apartment!   But we do have frogs, including this cute little tree frog!   

Have a lovely day!
Ruth
 

Chicken wire

The apartment complex where I live has lots of trees which I think contributes to there also being lots of squirrels.  And the squirrels LOVE to dig in my flower pots!  One of my neighbors puts out peanuts in the shells for the squirrels to eat and I often find these peanuts in my flower pots!

The only way I can keep the squirrels from digging in my pots is to protect the dirt with chicken wire!

Today I bought the Coleus at my local garden center.  (Support your local garden center!)  I didn't get home with the plant tag on this one, but I sure do like the colors in it!

This one is called Black Dragon.

And this one is Chocolate Drop, for the chocoholic in me!

So, yeah, chicken wire, so I can live in peace with squirrels!

Have a beautiful day!

Hope

It's been a long time since I've posted on this blog.  A lot has happened in my life since I last shared here. 

For one, I now live in an apartment.   Thankfully, I still have places to garden.  

I would not have survived without my plants. 

Today I went out to clean up one of the spots that I have.  It is the only spot that I have that is in the sun.

It's in a raised bed (that someone else built) that is 3' by 8'.  I fenced it last year to keep the deer from eating my plants. 

One of the plants that I have there is a red miniature rose that was given to me after my first hip replacement surgery (in 2021.)   Last year it didn't get pruned in the winter like it should have, but today I pruned it. 

Years ago when I lived in California I had a few full size hybrid tea rose bushes in front of my house and I diligently pruned them every January so they could give their best each year. 

Each year, pruning the rose bushes reminded me that there is hope.   These beautiful bushes seemed empty of life in the middle of winter.  But as I got in each one with my clippers, I would always find the small red leaf buds that held the promise of a full leafy bush and wonderful roses in the spring.

Today again I felt hope as I saw those tiny red leaf buds on the small branches of my miniature rose. 

Have a beautiful day!