the bark tree

Holiday cactus

I tend to think of it as a Christmas cactus, but this year it bloomed on Thanksgiving.  Anyway, it's a cheering sight once the weather turns cold.

Plant platform

It's finally warm enough to move lots of potted plants outside!

Using the dismantled cinder blocks, (we used them again for another easter roast pit) I made a little extension platform so more plants will fit near the steps. 



The cinder block set up out by the street had grown weedy and I had lost interest in maintaining it, so I wasn't sad to tear it apart.

It is much easier to water plants outside with the hose and I pay them more attention when they're near the rest of the garden.  Marking the change of season with clean summer windowsills is a pleasure.
 

Succulent spruce

Spent some time repotting, feeding and top-dressing some of my succulent collection. They look so happy now.

Flower alley experiment

While sorting through a bunch of old seeds, I found a number of packets for which I had no specific ideas. I sowed a bunch in the ugly alley behind our house to clear out my stash and see if any thing nice comes of it. I hate to get my hopes up since most of the seed was old, but it would be great to see some improvement in the view from our bedroom window.

Succulent fortification

Not forgetting about my succulents! Today I mixed them up a nice batch of compost tea with a touch of fish emulsion fertilizer and gave them all a fortifying drink. In the warm months when the windows are always open, I water them by placing them on the outer sill so the water can run out.

Not that you care, but to make the tea I put a big blob of compost in this disgusting jug and let it steep for 24 hrs. Then I strain the contents into a watering can and dilute it by at least half.

Started a big compost project – dumping out the contents of one of the wire bins, sifting and spreading finished product and looking for worms. At least 30 worms (!!!) were unearthed and relocated to the tumbling bin. Notice I said started. Still need to return the remaining contents to the bin which should now have a lot more room for more garden debris.

Cactus blooms are so exciting

Hey look!!! One of the plants that my pal Uli gave me is blooming! It's a Mammillaria plumosa which is native to Mexico and also called feather cactus.

I hope this means I'm providing a good home for his plants.

Easter cactus

Took a bunch of indoor plants out to the porch this morning for a shower and drink of collected rain water. This one is blooming for the first time under my care. I bought it a couple of years ago at the laundromat on the corner where the owner's mother likes to grow a few random plants. I'm pretty sure it is Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri which is called easter cactus – similar to christmas cactus.

New plants

My gardener pal, Uli offered me some of his plants since he is moving and losing his bright windows. I just got them home safely and now must figure out where to put them. They are mostly succulents and cactus along with a lachenalia species native to South Africa.

Thanks Uli!

Succulent collection

My indoor plants probably get the most attention right now. Winter fatigue has faded. I'm dying to get outside, but it's too early so I dote on them in the meantime. My small succulent collection lives on a south-facing windowsill in our bedroom so I look at them every day when I wake up.

Once spring arrives, I tend to focus my energy and enthusiasm on things outdoors so I have to remember to water my poor reliable dears inside. They withstand my torture quite admirably. Of course, if they don't they're soon dead and out of the collection. I have quite a few more plants in other parts of the house, but these are my favorites.