on a cold winters day is most likely in the "greenhouse" (aka my master bath). Especially in the mornings ~ with a cup of coffee in hand, it's a great place to start the day. It's warm, it's bright and it holds a lot of plants ~ see what I'm talking about?
There's always something happening there (well, if you're a gardener or into plants). You might spot an amaryllis pushing up buds (this is 'Aphrodite'):
She held out on me for a long time and now is trying to push up three buds at once. What gives with that? If I had my "druthers" I'd choose for them to bloom one stalk at a time so the show is prolonged. No complaining tho ~ a bloom is a bloom is a bloom and I'll take them any which way but dead.
You're also likely to find a bloom (or two or three) on Hibiscus 'Powder Puff.' She has produced buds and blooms all winter ~ an unexpected but delightful surprise.
Of course I can't leave out the latest acquisition ~ Violet Tubeflowers were placed there after their recent purchase. They are so pretty I can't help myself for showing them off a bit more:
Isn't that a dazzling, dangling clump of purple? Trying to make a tongue twister there and failing...
I know I photographed them for you when I first brought them home but I didn't feel I did the flowers justice. These photos show better just why I was so excited. If you look again at the first photo, you can see the (tall) plant on the very left side of the picture.
Whoa. What a way to start the morning. Now you know where I am if you should need to find me...
Wow, I love those Violet Tubeflowers Kathleen. Is it meant to be an indoor or outdoor plant? It reminds me of a brugmansia.
Posted by: RobinL | January 31, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Kathleen that is the prettiest hibiscus I have ever seen. Just love its blooms.
What is up with these amaryllis? I have one now that is deformed and is bent over. It is only about four inches high and starting to bloom. Something very wrong with it. LOL! It will be fun to watch your three stemmed one bloom.
Posted by: Lona | January 31, 2010 at 01:23 PM
Oh, wow, I want one of those Violet Tubeflowers. Are they tricky to grow indoors?
Posted by: Meredith | January 31, 2010 at 01:29 PM
Hi Kathleen~~ Your photos are mouthwatering. I can only imagine how nice it must be to greet these beauties in the morning. The Hibiscus looks like a parrot tulip of the Victorian Era. The violet tube flowers are absolutely divine. I might have to get me one of those.
Posted by: Grace | January 31, 2010 at 04:22 PM
I bet the plants love the humidity as much as the sunlight. The Hibiscus and Violet Tubeflowers are beautiful. Really wonderful photos.
Posted by: Sweet Bay | January 31, 2010 at 04:44 PM
I would love to have a bathroom with all that natural light! Ours has no windows so nothing will grow in there. The tubeflowers are gorgeous.
Posted by: Jackie (Ellie Mae's Cottage) | January 31, 2010 at 05:02 PM
No wonder that's where you spend a lot of time. That Hibiscus is so pretty and those Violet Tubeflowers are one I'll have to look for too.
Posted by: Catherine | January 31, 2010 at 05:51 PM
They are both outstanding flowers~You take such lovely photos! Maybe it's time to add a solartube or two to my hall bathroom...The bathtub would be a perfect greenhouse! gail
Posted by: Gail | February 01, 2010 at 08:06 AM
I can see why you are so smitten with the violet tubeflowers. Enchanting little bells and unusual for a house plant. Haven't see hibiscus do so well inside before either. I'm not usually a lover of hibiscus but I do like the doubles and the ruffled ones.
Marnie
Posted by: Marnie | February 01, 2010 at 08:44 AM