This and That

It was a lovely day here among the leaves, and I spent most of it outdoors, cleaning up my garden. Sometimes it is hard to focus on house plants this time of year. But there are some goings-on to report.

Some of the flowers have opened on the Noid Mammillaria I wrote about in my last post, and they are lovely. The pink color was washed out a bit by the flash; it is deeper and richer than in the photograph.

I've tentatively ID'd this as Mammillaira zeilmanniana, but that could change. In the meantime, I've nicknamed it Captain Hook.

I decided to make a new Haworthia bowl using the Haworthia attenuata and NoId Haworthia I purchased last weekend.

The third plant is an Haworthia tessellata. I wish I'd have noticed the bits of gravel between its leaves before I took the picture. D'oh!

Last but not least, the buds on the plant that I had tentatively ID'd as Mammillaria spinosissima 'Un Pico' have opened. Again, the photo doesn't do justice to the pink of the flowers.

Mammillaria spinosissima 'Un Pico,' I believe

Despite the length of the spines, this plant is not nearly as treacherous as "Captain Hook."

I Can't Seem to Stop: More New C & S

On Saturday, my husband and I went to Home Depot to pick up some topsoil to level an area in our back yard. Of course, I had to wander into the houseplant section. And of course, I couldn't resist the impulse to buy new plants. So for the fourth time this month, I found myself purchasing small pots of cacti and succulents.

Clockwise from the top left: Haworthia NoId, crested Echeveria (perhaps E. runyonii) NoId Mammillaria, some cactus or other that is not a Mammillaria, and a Haworthia attenuata variety. These are in 1.5 inch pots.

I was drawn to the Mammillaria largely because it was the only plant with real flower buds in a sea of glu-fers (Garden Web C&S forum slang for cacti with glued-on strawflowers, a heinous marketing ploy among certain suppliers.) This Mammillaria returned my admiration and became quite attached to me. Literally. This thing has really horrible hooked spines that stuck in my skin while I was setting up this photograph, and refused to let go. The whole plant was dangling from my fingertips, and hurt like hell. I had to call my husband for assistance.

Up close and personal with the hooked spines.

The other NoId cactus. I think those might be beginnings of flower buds at the crown, which I why I bought this one.

Not to be outdone, Bob picked up the non-Mammillaria cactus and found himself with a spine embedded in his finger. And to think, I don't buy Opuntiads because I'm afraid that the animals might hurt themselves. If tonight was any indication, I think the biggest danger would be to the Homo sapiens in the household.

Aloe, I'm Back

No, I wasn't overwhelmed by the little gasp of winter we had last Saturday--a good old case of acute viral rhinopharyngitis has kept me from posting for a few days. My brain tends to get foggy when I have a cold, which is not the best state for writing, or for taking care of plants, for that matter. I did manage to keep up with the basic watering, however.

Anyway, when I went down to the basement to check on my succulents, I found this:

Aloe variegata with bloom stalk

Closer view of stalk and the soon-to-be flowers

Aloe variegata is a particular favorite of mine, with its beautifully patterned foliage and generally easygoing indoor demeanor. I've had this plant for four or five years now, and I think this is the first time it has bloomed. Think is the operative word here; it could actually be the second time. I wasn't kidding about the brain fog. I'm also blaming said fog for the awful pun in the title of this post. I couldn't think of anything else to call it.

Why I Hate the Month of March: A Photo Essay

Yesterday:

Today:

And of course, there is Peppermint.

Yesterday:

Today:

He seems unperturbed.

Chicago Flower and Garden Show 2010, part 2

In Part 1, I mentioned that the emphasis on tropicals in many of the exhibits might have been perplexing to those who garden outdoors in Chicagoland's USDA zone 5. Well, this was not to say that temperate climate gardening was ignored entirely. One thing that was demonstrated very well was the seasonal use of containers in the garden.

One of the nearest exhibits to the entrance was Shakespeare in the Garden which utilized plants referenced in his plays. Here is an example of herbs in pots from that exhibit:

Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary), Ocimum basilicum (Basil), Petroselinum crispum (Parsley), and Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) in square containers. Every year, I say I'm going to make some decorative herb plantings, and never do. I'm not much of a cook, but I love the idea of an herb garden. Seeing them right in front of me at the show just might have been the inspiration I needed.

The Chicago Botanic Garden's Great Performances: The Art of Bonsai exhibit also included containers with ferns and other shade plants. Some of the ferns used in the containers were non-hardy types, but still gave an idea of what a lovely outdoor shade planting might look like with hardier ferns substituted. The troughs were made of hypertufa, something else I want to try. Luckily, Bob is on board with that idea. I need someone to hoist the Portland cement, which never seems to be available in less than gargantuan bags around here.

Pyracantha angustifolia bonsai

Above, and immediately above: Hypertufa planters with Davallia, Nemesia, Ajuga and mosses

Another couple of containers from the Broadway in Bloom--Four Seasons of Gardening boulevard I mentioned in Part 1.

Ornamental cabbage (Brassica spp), Hedera canariensis, and Chrysanthemum in an urn make a decorative fall planting, while the copper pot with Solenostemon, Primula, and Buxus was pretty but puzzling--as far as I know, it's a little cool for Coleus when Primroses are at their best.

One of my favorite exhibits every year is the enabling garden sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. This year's was called Our Town: Your Garden. I love this vertical garden, not least because it uses succulents as well as garden plants in the display:

Primula, Impatiens, Viola, along with Echeveria varieties and Kalanchoe orgyalis planted vertically, with Tulipa at the base.

From the exhibit Spring Awakenings:

A spiral garden meant to evoke the French potager or kitchen garden.

Last, but not least: I don't remember which exhibit the container below is from, but I wanted to include it because it looks so spring-y and fresh.

Primula, hedera, Hydrangea, Tulipa and more.

I regret that I didn't get pictures from what could have been the most inspirational exhibit in the show for those of us who love the outdoors here in Illinois: Jeckle and Hyde: Prairie Restoration. It works through the stages of identifying invasive plants in the natural landscape, eradicating them, and encouraging the regrowth of natives in their place. My stepson Dave is involved as a volunteer with our local Conservation District, and spends several Saturdays a year helping clean up natural areas. I'm very proud of his efforts, and I was so pleased with this exhibit, which emphasized the importance of this work.

A Show of Force

Okay, not a show. In fact, barely an appearance. Last November, after I finished planting my daffodils (Narcissus cvv) outdoors, I had maybe a dozen bulbs left over. I thought I'd force them in pots, in my unheated garage. The result? Two flowers, one now open, one bud. The remaining bulbs put up leaves, but no flowers appear to be in the offing. I'm guessing the problem is with the bulbs, as I did the same thing a couple of years ago, and got flowers from everything I planted.

Probably Narcissus 'Dutch Master'

I had better luck forcing some Forsythia, but then again, all I had to do was cut a few branches and bring them inside. They went from bare stems to flowers in about three days.

Forsythia cv sharing a vase with a few Pussy Willow (Salix discolor, I think) branches purchased at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show

In other news, the flower bud on the Parodia I purchased at the Flower Show has opened:

Parodia haselbergii. The flower appears deeper red to the naked eye.

In still other news, Part 2 of my Flower and Garden Show will appear tomorrow.

Chicago Flower and Garden Show 2010, part 1

Well, this has taken me longer than I had anticipated when I first mentioned posting about the show. There were a lot more ideas to digest, and a lot more photographs to organize than I thought. Let me begin:

Last Monday, my husband Bob and I attended the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, at Navy Pier in Chicago. It is a bit of a tradition with us. We attended our first one together in March 2003, while we were engaged, but still in a long-distance relationship. I was living in New York and he was established here in Illinois. This was the sixth show we've attended together. We did skip the two years it was held in Rosemont, IL, as opposed to Chicago.

A container from the Broadway in Bloom--Four Seasons of Gardening boulevard which stretched for most of the length of the show. This year's show had a theatrical theme, entitled: "Cultivating Great Performances.".

I was very happy with the 2010 show, after being seriously disappointed last March. In 2009, there were some cool-looking exhibits. But few of them made me feel connected to plants and gardening. It was more like an art exhibit that made use of green materials, and at times, seemed a bit hastily thrown together. (Greening Up and Paradise in a Parking Lot, are two of the exhibits I did like a lot from 2009. I'm grateful for MrBrownThumb's posts about last year's show, which I used to refresh my memory. )

Alocasia amazonica cvv, Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' and Nephrolepsis surround a fountain near the entrance. This was part of the Cultivating Great Performances Garden, which set the stage (hah) for the show. All photos benefit from being seen in their larger versions, so click away.

Actually, now that I think about it, one of the things I liked most about the 2010 show had the potential to make it a bit disappointing for some other show-goers: There was extensive usage of tropicals and houseplants in the exhibits, but at least, as it seemed to me, not as much space devoted to climate-appropriate garden plants as in the past. I know that while many people come to the show just to enjoy the spectacle, many others come in search of practical gardening ideas. I know, from reading the show guide, that there are classes, seminars and presentations at the show that generously cover these topics. But I'm not the sort of visitor that these appeal to. I prefer to come to wander through the exhibits, enjoy the visual impact of it all, and take photographs and a few notes, rather than sit in a classroom. I'm sure I'm not alone in that preference.

On to some show highlights:

The next three pictures are from the Sun & Moon--Miss Saigon: A Garden for the Day and Night exhibit. There were a variety of lighting styles to simulate different times of day, and several water features. Most of the exhibit used tropical plants in the landscape.

Peniocereus greggii

More Sansevieria and Ferns

Dracaena, Yucca, and Ananas (variegated Pineapple) species, along with Aechmea fasciata. There are also pink Hydrangea plants visible.

The next two photos, of epiphytes hanging from the show hall's ceiling, are from the Lincoln Park and Garfield Park Conservatories' Best in Show exhibit:

Bromeliads, Phalaenopsis orchids, and an impressive Hoya kerrii variegata

More hanging loveliness, along with a glimpse of some of the Palms on the ground.

My darling Bob, taking a little break, as I ran around taking pictures like a madwoman.

Part 2 will contain more photographs from those exhibits that did feature more Illinois-friendly garden ideas, as well as more tropicals, and more of my thoughts on the show.

Spring is Here....

...And I don't want to hear any arguments to the contrary. I know it is certainly possible that we could get another major snowfall, but I'm going to pretend that it isn't. You see, the earliest of my Crocuses are up:

I believe that these are varieties of Crocus chrysanthus, aka Snow Crocus. I have later blooming varieties of C. vernus that I will likely post when they bloom.

While the main focus of this blog will always be houseplants, as the warm seasons progress, I will probably make at least one post a week devoted to my outdoor flower gardens. I am not as confident of my expertise in this area, but my enthusiasm for it is almost as strong.

New Plants Again, This Time from the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, 2010

My next post (or maybe even two) will be devoted to my annual visit to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. In the meantime, here are the new plants I purchased at the show.

Top row, left to right: Stapelia hirsuta, Graptopetalum hybrid, Crassula 'Buddha's Temple'
Bottom row, left to right: Parodia haselbergii, Aichyrson bethencourtianum, Astrophytum myriostigma.

These are the IDs of the plants as given on the very informative labels. They included a common name, a botanical name, a brief description of growth habit, and growing instructions, all in a very small space. I do think the "Graptopetalum hybrid" is a Graptosedum though, maybe Graptosedum 'Bronze.'

Proper labeling: It can be done!

The plants were all purchased from the Ted's Greenhouse/Cactus and Succulent Society of Greater Chicago booth(s).

In Praise of Succulents: Echeveria Edition 3; The Rest of Them

In previous posts, I've written about my Echeverias by assigning them to (fairly loose) categories. This post highlights those that didn't fit with the others, or that I just didn't think to mention at the time.

But first, the promised update on Echeveria ramilette, mentioned in part 2, when it was about to bloom. Here it is with the flowers open:

Echeveria ramilette with its yellow and orange flowers open. I'm also pleased to see the small offsets to the right and left.

Here is another of my favorite Echeverias: E. pulvinata. This plant was once considerably better looking. One of my cats knocked it off its shelf a couple of years ago, breaking what was once a single, multi-branched plant into several pieces. I was able to root the parts that broke off, and replanted them in the same pot, but it is not quite the same.

Echeveria pulvinata

Close up of a single rosette, showing the texture of the leaves. Click the picture for more detail

Another hairy one. I think this is Echeveria setosa. The center of the photo looks blurred, but it is not, the leaves are just that fuzzy.

Here is one I've shown before, and two I haven't:

Echeveria 'Black Prince'

Echeveria nodulosa and Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'

'Black Prince' is an easy one, but I'm very surprised that the latter two are doing as well as they are. I've had at least two of each before, and they were rather temperamental. 'Topsy Turvy' seemed to become etiolated if we'd had so much as a cloudy day, and I never knew what to do to keep E. nodulosa happy. It even seemed to decline while outdoors in summer, which is usually everything that a succulent could want, and more. But for now, they seem happy enough in my basement under lights.

But Wait, There's More!

More new plants, that is. Yesterday, I was out and about, running a few errands. I needed to drop my stepson off at a friend's house, go to the post office, and buy a case of dog food. Buying new houseplants? Nope, not on the list.

So first, I drop the kid off at his friends house, a couple of towns over. Next stop, the post office. But then I realize that there is a nursery on the way (if I tweak my route a little.) So I decide to stop by. Turns out, it is the last day of their 40% off houseplant sale. So I purchase this:

Aglaonema 'Golden Bay,' I believe. Love those white stems!

I then proceed to the post office, without further incident. This is followed by a quick trip home, to drop off the plant. Next planned stop: Costco, to purchase the dog food. But what is on the way to Costco? Lowe's. (This time it is truly on the way, being right next door.) My local Lowe's isn't much for houseplants, at least not in the winter--but I've gotten a few pleasant surprises from time to time. Yesterday was such a day. "Distressed" plants were from 50-75% off. I purchased the following:

Guzmania. No further ID. But I love that yellow.

This one was only slightly past its prime. (There were other Bromeliads that were really distressed and done--definitely not worth it even at a deep discount.) It also had a mysterious white substance on two of its leaves. At first I thought it was bird poop. (Sometimes, birds enter the store through the greenhouse section.) It turned out to be paint of some sort, and was removed easily enough with rubbing alcohol. But even though the plant was attractive and in decent shape, the real reason I bought it was this:

One of the three pups on the new Guzmania. So even when the main plant passes on, it'll leave me with three new ones. Let us hope I can raise them to blooming age.

Also on sale, and no more distressed than the three others in the store that weren't marked down, was this:

Nephrolepis cordifolia, aka Lemon Button Fern. Other than one dry frond at the base, there was nothing wrong with this. I don't generally have much success with ferns, but I'm willing to try.

So time to get the dog food. Since it will be a quick in-and-out trip, I leave the plants in my still-warm car. While I can't say that I've never been tempted by plants at Costco, it is relatively rare. (Well, there was that time that my husband and I managed to maneuver a six foot tall Strelitzia nicolai into our Prius, but that was special.) Yesterday, it became that much less rare, because along with the dog food, I purchased these:

Two Cymbidium orchids, bursting from their pots and as tall as my living room sofa, seen behind them. 19.99 apiece!

Close-ups of the flowers

Alas, with the purchase of the dog food, my errands came to a close, and there were no more places I could find an excuse to stop at on the way home.