Green Thumb Sunday

It's raining, very windy, and I gave away my good memory card so I'm left with only 4 photos at a time. That's all OK though because I found the following blooming on my screen porch:

Chloe Update

It's such a beautiful day today I am almost hesitant to mention it. With all the bad weather other people have had I feel a bit guilty. I'm sitting on the screen porch in my bare feet, a tee shirt, and sweat pants sipping a Coke Zero listening to classical music on NPR "playing" on my laptop. I don't know what the temperature is but it is absolutely perfect.

Here's a photo of little Chloe. She's well enough now to where she wants to be where I am and even well enough to make that desire known. She BARKS and BARKS until I move her. Luckily we have dog beds in everyroom of the house and even outside. Here she is on the screen porch soaking in some rays. What I've read about Vistibular Syndrome says to expose her to bright light. She's actually in dappled light so maybe she'll turn into an orchid! LOL

*update* I checked the temperature and it is 74. Perfect for being lazy on the porch. Also, in case anyone is thinking I am looney for having plants that unable to live outside in the winter, most of the orchids would do just fine in the screen porch during the very few cold days we have here in central Florida. In fact, many are native orchids. The problem is I don't remember which ones are the tender ones and most labels are long lost so I just bring them all in.

Green Thumb Sunday

My orchids are back ouside! Here's a couple photos of the screen porch where most of my orchids live. I believe they are very happy to be in a humid environment instead of a dry house.

Here's a shot of the walkway where 5 orchids hang. Four of the 5 have either blooms or bloom spikes! You get to see your plants up close and personal when you move them all into your house and then move them backoutside.

Speaking of blooms, this relatively new plant has never bloomed before and I was pleasantly surprized to see this! Someone in an earlier post inquired about the name of this orchid. I still haven't found it, sorry. When I figure it out I will post it - promise. Anyway, the bloom is a mystery to me so I can hardly wait to see what it looks like.

My favorite Cattleye has 4 buds! I had no idea until I was putting them backoutside and gave them all a close look and cleaning. Just wait till you see these. They are bearded/ruffled! I promise to post a photo this year. Last year I missed it.

Phalanopsis have huge bloom spikes. Unfortunately, I accidentally lopped the top off one. Hopefully there are still bloom eyes left on the spike :(

This has an amaizing scent when the bloom opens. I am so excited! It blooms only once a year aand usually the beginning of February. Last year it had two blooms but looks like this year will be back to normal with only one. I almost lost this plant to bad gardening this year. I had to water it back to health so I am thankful it's blooming at all. It needs repotted yet it hates being repotted. What's a gardener to do?

This is a bloom spike on a miniature plant. It looks so large in the photo but it is teeny.

A hanging Cattleya in the Key Lime tree. It has two double bloom spikes. This plant looks very happy about it's last year in the lime tree - it's grown, plemntiful blooms, and healthy looking leaves.

I didn't bring my stag horn fern inside but it looks fine. It's protected by it's location under the Key Lime tree. My neighbor had his all covered in a blanket so i was concerned. At our house I only saw frost on the top of the cars and spots in the lawn.

The photos above and below are of my pool garden - boy does it need some work! My plan was to cut it back today but I had a swollen gland last night and this moring a bit of a scratchy throat. I believe it would be unwise to work outside today. Right now if you tried to walk around the pool you would likely fall in being pushed by overgrowth. Jerry suggested I call a landscaper but I had horrible memories of Conan the Landscaper from 2 year ago and said "no way".

Green Thumb Sunday

In case anyone was worried about my Eddie after the humiliating Rooster photo incident, don't be - he is alive and well as proved by these photos taken today. No rat terriers were harmed during said photo session.

I decided to do only screen porch garden photos today. Here is the view from sliding door in the kitchen and taken while I was working at my sewing machine. The dogs typically stay around me but to Eddie being in the screen porch alone is OK when he can see me through the glass door. In this photo he is enjoying his favorite pastime of lizard hunting. He's in my Cats and Dens.

The little corner area where Ed has turned over and broke many a pot. I call it my shard corner, LOL. Jerry calls it a mosquito breeding ground because the water stands after watering.

This corner of my screen porch is for orchids that prefer a shadier, perhaps even cooler, climate. Notice how they look unhappy - it is hot!

Eduardo sees something but it is up high on the screen. He will wait forever for it to come closer and usually accompanied by a sound track that only a rattie can perform.

Even a hunter likes the comforts of home so he moves his surveillance to a more comfortable post. Our screen porch is filled with orchids, a table 4 chairs and stero for humans, and a dog bed & blankie for the furkids.