High Altitude Gardening: January 2014

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day ~ January, 2014

Geraniums enjoying the sunny window.

Endless summer indoors, pesky winter outdoors... Putzing around in what I call the Oxygen Garden (humans muddy up the indoor air; plants help purify it) keeps me sane during the long winters.

Amaryllis

This one has felt like a particularly long winter because I've spent half the month in bed.

Hey! Here's a hot tip for anyone who does not want to die (or, feel like you're going to...) If you haven't gotten your flu shot, get thee to the doctor lickety split.

A long dangle of Orchid buds preparing to flower.

I did not get a flu shot (because, you see, I'm invincible and I never get sick and I don't have the time, and is it really necessary...) and those were just a few of the lame excuses that kept running through my pea-size brain ~ during the two solid weeks I was lying in bed, recovering from that nasty bug.

Plentiful blooms on the Christmas Cactus (who started flowering for Halloween.)

So, here it is, January bloom day and naturally there is nothing to be seen outdoors.

However! This is a fine time for the indoor gals to shine.

Forced Hyacinth bulbs

These are candle holders I re-purposed for the forced Hyacinth bulbs. Love, love, love that fragrance. Is there anything more delightful when cabin fever sets in? Hyacinth = a sure cure for the winter blues.

Hydrangea

Speaking of blues, these Hydrangeas are showing off a hint of my favorite color, though they are turning white rather quickly. They're not meant to be indoor plants and they can be quite fussy. Last year, on impulse, I bought a Hydrangea on sale. It was too late to plant it so I kept it indoors for the winter. And, she bloomed! So, I thought I'd try my luck again this year...

I dearly love blue Hydrangea but it is just not possible to grow blues in my high alkaline soil. (They require acid soil for the blues to flourish.) So, we'll enjoy her indoors, while we can. And, pretend that we don't mind when she turns bright pink the moment we transplant her.

Loads of bud action in the sunny window ~ including this cute little Cyclamen. I actually prefer their buds over the flowers, so pretty to watch those petals unfurl.