Flower Surprise

This plant was given to me by my cousin, Josie, this past summer. In the first picture it started to bloom during the Christmas holiday! I wasn't expecting this. I told Josie about it, and she said that she had one for the past two years with no blooming. The second picture shows the bloom three weeks later.

I was looking at Pinterest today (it's very addicting) under the Gardening section and found a picture and description that looked exactly like this plant! 

My plant has a name!  Kaffir Lily

Kaffir lily is also commonly called clivia. As a houseplant it usually blooms in winter with clusters of up to 20 reddish orange or yellow tubular flowers. Clivia blooms only when it has been exposed to cool, dry conditions, so give it lower temperatures in winter and keep it on the dry side. With its deep green straplike leaves aligned in a single plane, the plant is attractive even when not in bloom.

It's extra easy to grow and the flowers brighten up January days when there's not a lot else in bloom. (This plant is a keeper since I need flowers in the winter to look at.)

Name: Clivia miniata

Growing Conditions: Medium light; 60-75 degrees F., 50-55 degrees F. in winter; keep soil barely moist Size: To 2 feet tall and wide

Note: This plant is poisonous and can make children or pets ill if they eat or chew on the plant.



New Gardening Toolkit

Thanks to all my family members (or should I say "coke addicts") for saving their Coke Rewards points. I received this gardening kit for 1,000 rewards points recently. I can't wait to use them. ;)



New Purpose for the Christmas Tree

For the last two years, we have gotten a real Christmas tree. Now that the holidays are over, the birds get to use it for a place to stay or wait their turn at the bird feeders.  In the spring we will place the tree in the fire pit to dry out for a family bonfire. ;)



Ready for Snow

My garden is ready for snow. Bring it on! I've covered the asparagus bead, parsley, chives, oregano and strawberries with straw. We're getting a light dusting this morning. Not sure if we'll get the lake-effect snow just yet. I will be driving the SUV to work instead of my little car for the next two months. ;)

Propagating Grapevines and Forsythia

Happy New Year! The weather in NE Ohio has been unseasonably warm (40's). I had a chance to propagate grapevines and forsythia on Friday. The forsythia are in the foreground of the picture. I also added red weigela yesterday. I think I have around 60 root cuttings so far. I'm learning how to propagate root cuttings from a book I purchased three years ago. I don't know what took me so long to start do this. It was great to get outside in the dirt.  ;)



Evergreen Wreath

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Mine started out on Christmas Eve with my immediate family and Mom, siblings, nieces and nephew. Then followed a week of vacation from my day job. I didn't even have to use any vacation time!

One of the decorating DIY projects I created this year is the evergreen wreath hanging from my front door. I not only used pine branches from the Christmas tree, I also used pine cones and boxwood found on our property. I will substitute the gold bow for a different color to use the wreath longer this winter.   ;)