Catalog of Botanical Curiosities: Mid-March

It is finally spring!  Or so I'm told.  The weather is still on the cold side and snow still threatens to cover the emerging bulbs.

In an effort to prepare for the warmer days to come, I find myself collecting all different kinds of flowering indoor plants, along with cut flowers.  I tend to these new companions, along with my emerging seedlings and mail-ordered rootstock that arrives at my door bit by bit.  (today I found lily of the valley at my door.)

Glancing around this morning, I began to see these things that I have surrounded myself with for what they really are.  A collection of strange specimens that bloom according to their own little time frames in the cycle of life.  Some of them venture outside during the warmer months, while others are forever destined to turn towards the sunniest window in my house.  A few of these plants have been with me for years and years, they have moved with me, been ignored by me, and have somehow kept on living.  Others are experiments, tests, and holiday decorations that I can't bear to get rid of.  (reference to the 3 remaining leaves on a white poinsettia from Christmas time).

I have created a collection of 33 images to share with you, of some of these curious items.  Enjoy!

CATALOG OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITIES: MID-MARCH

Specimen no.1- Blooming pink geranium saved from last year's frost, waiting patiently to return to the sun outside.

Specimen no. 2-  African Violet.  Stubbornly refuses to bloom.

Specimen no.3-  Mediterranean Olive.  Flowers but no Olives yet.

Specimen no. 4- Norfolk Pine Tree.  Acquired decorated and adorned with gold, sparkly ornaments from Home Depot for Christmas.  It seems to be quite happy now, though still a little sparkly.

Specimen no. 5- Orchid that blooms every March.  Recently outgrew it's pot and still continues to lean.

Specimen no. 6- Orchid acquired from last year's flower show.  Has not rebloomed yet.  Waiting....
 

Specimen no. 7- Coleus cutting from a summer plant.  A great way to have summer inside all year.  And does very well in water or as a houseplant.

Specimen no. 8- Orchid acquired from this year's flower show.  I am told it's Australian.  It's quite small and I think that it knows how adorably cute it is...

Specimen no. 9- New orchid.  It is blooming like crazy.

Specimen no. 10- A stubborn clematis that is on the enclosed porch that can't wait for spring.  It is winding its way up the shelves...It is rather impatient like me....

Specimen no. 11- Purple and Genovese Basil eedlings housed in a bell jar...the neigbor of a Jade plant that I have had for close to 100 years....

Specimen no. 12- Cute cactus surrounded by some blue rocks from Maine.

Specimen no. 13- Basil plant bought at Whole Foods....I just couldn't wait!

Specimen no. 14- Blooming Crown of Thorns Plant....Not sure where it's from but it keeps me company while I do the oh so annoying task of washing the dishes.

Specimen no. 15- A mini geranium, saved from the frost and made into a bonsai.  Waiting for a bloom...

Specimen no. 16- An awesome pig planter!  Oh and a succulent from Ikea.

 Specimen no. 17- Some bright sunny Gerber Daisies.  Again...I couldn't wait!

Specimen no. 18- Fig Tree brought in for the winter.  Decided to make some figs and leaves one day in my non-sun filled studio.

Specimen no. 19- First ever saved-from-the-frost rosemary plant (Behind the fig) that has lived through the winter inside.

Specimen no. 20- A newly acquired weeping pussy willow tree.  (My previous of 7 years died in a drought last summer...)

Specimen no. 21- Mini Irises from the flower show.  I had been searching for these little guys for years.  They have already bloomed.

Specimen no. 22- Ignored cactus that has been with me for many many years.  I am making every effort to give it the attention that it deserves....Unless it gets annoyed with my overbearing ways...and then I will back off...

Specimen no. 23- Terrarium made with a Jade plant cutting.

Specimen no. 24- Again....the coleus.

Specimen no. 25- New Orchid.  Also a crazy bloomer.

Specimen no. 26- The oh so great...purple fuzzy plant!

Specimen no. 27- A succulent that I got at the flower show this year.  It's got great greyish leaves and adorable purple flowers.

Specimen no. 28- I have no idea what this is or where I got it....but it seems to enjoy living in my house.

Specimen no. 29- Hanging succulent

Specimen no. 30- Succulent.

 Specimen no. 31- Lemon tree waiting not so patiently for Summer and sun.  It traveled to Maine with me one summer.

Specimen no. 32- Mini Violet from the flower show in a great orange hanging planter.

Specimen no. 33- Schefflera that has lived with me since college.  This old buddy lived next to my bed under a table lamp in a bright purple room for a year.

In this cataloging process, I realized that I am....in fact....a crazy plant lady...That's all for now!

Meanwhile outside....

Happy Spring!

Highlights from the Philadelphia Flower Show 2013--Part II

In addition to the themed displays at the Philadelphia Flower Show, there are rows and rows of specimen plants, that are judged and on display.

This is one of my favorite parts of the flower show, where you can see what makes the perfect begonia, poinsetta, and even snake plant.  It is a place to see every variety of cactus imaginable, countless orchids, flowering bulbs, rock gardens, and terrariums.  I love to see what I have grown and also get ideas.  Here are some of my favorites this year.

I could have spent hours and hours inspecting each and every plant.  But alas...after a little shopping....it was time for dinner.

We ventured over to Talula's Garden at 210 W. Washington Square to try out their fresh, seasonal, farm to table selections.  They had an amazingly diverse menu, yummy cheese plate, old fashioned drinks, and heavenly deserts.  I look forward to going back in a few months to sample their spring and summer menu.  There is a great outdoor patio area too!

Talula's was the perfect place to end our Flower show day!  Fresh ingredients, botanicals, terrariums, long wooden country style tables, tulips, and garden lights.

Here are some of the dishes that we sampled...

Carrot Soup, Spicy Cucumber Radish "Pickles," Torn Mint and Yogurt

 Pear Salad, Red Watercress, Endive, Walnuts, Port Pears, Blue Cheese, Poppy Seed Dressing

 Seared Gulf Snapper, Kumquat Vinaigrette, Chervil, Mint, Sunchokes, Radicchio, and Creamy Cauliflower Puree--Yum!

and for dessert....

Crisp Creme Brulee Napoleon--Vanilla Bean Creme, Pistachio Tuiles, Blood Orange Sorbet

Oh....and don't forget the Maple Glazed Brussles Sprouts with Alpine Cheese, Cider and Leeks
and the Creamed Kale with Fontina and toasted pistachios.

And their coffee and espresso is really good too!

And so ends the Flower Show 2013 adventure.  Can't wait until next year!