It'll do (for now)

referring to my makeshift winter "greenhouse" which is really my bathroom.  Since I don't have a real greenhouse (still on my wish list) I have to make do with the best light in my house.  Wouldn't you know it's in the master bathroom?  We'll take what we can get, right?  The small hallway is lit up by one large, glass block, south-facing window and one smaller east facing window.  Both windows are letting in considerably more light since my new neighbors revved up their chain saw (the photo below was taken on a cloudy day and you can see how bright it is).  While that's positive for my winter assemblage of bulbs and tropicals, it's still a sore subject with me.  Enough said ~ why did I even bring it up??  For optimum storage, I place both of my 3-rung vintage step ladders side-by-side then load 'em up with amaryllis, clivias, orchids & cat grass (you have to keep the cat happy so he won't chew on everything else, right?):

There's even one tiny sprig of a 'Triloba' passion vine that I'm nursing along.  I hope it can make it indoors since it failed miserably outside.  Passion vines and I did not see eye to eye this year because 'Maypop'  crashed on me too.  Back to the amaryllis, some are new while others are being "nursed" along (because they hardly produced any leaves over the summer to feed the bulbs).  Two in the latter category are 'Sumatra' and 'Night Star.'  Do you remember them from last fall/winter??  

(Sumatra)

(Night Star)

They both have exotic spidery flowers so maybe they need a different treatment than the bulbs I'm more familiar with??  Jump right in if you know the answer ~ I'm a willing pupil.  Otherwise research is in order to learn more about their care requirements.  They were so stunning in bloom that I'd hate to lose them.  All the sleeping my daughter is doing during her recovery has allowed me to get the new amaryllis bulbs planted up & the old ones re-potted:

The four bulbs pictured above are new and will give me something to look forward to over the long winter months.  Included in one of the pots is my first ever double amaryllis!  How fun is that?  Something else exciting is the discovery of a bud on my only 'Paph' orchid.  I bought it for 50% off this spring (because it had just finished blooming) so if I can get the bud to blooming stage, it will be my first time seeing the flower.  Good thing I have everything settled in because our weatherman forecasted 10" to 20" of snow over the next two days.  Remind me again what season are we in?? 

Comments

[Frances]

Dear Kathleen, I am so glad your daughter seems to be on the mend. How very scary! Your drastically cold temps are scary too, but of course not in the same serious way as your child's flu. But it is the paph bud that is so exciting to me. I can't wait to see it, and am sure you will get it to bloom. The Paphs are so easy and rewarding. I have left all of the non-paphs outside, except the catts came in. The paphs are small and always bloom. Your pots of amaryllis look so cute, just like that even. :-)
Frances

[Layanee]

Love your makeshift plant stand and that exotic amaryllis is a must have. You have me beat with all that snow and I will give you a bit of sympathy. Glad to hear your daughter is on the mend.

[Gail]

kathleen, Unbelievable weather! I totally recall the beautiful amaryllis...I think you were responsible for my buying my first ever one last Christmas~~Apple Blossom! I know nothing about any of them...and eagerly look forward to learning along with you! So glad your daughter is getting better...gail

[Alice Golden]

10 - 20"!!! wow... please don't send it our way, okay? Love the plants in the bathroom - looks like something Martha would love too :)

[Janet]

Good morning Kathleen, I love the stepladder in the bathroom with all your plants on it. Great solution.
Hoping your daughter continues to be on the mend. Your impending snow fall will keep everyone in for a little while.
Your amaryllis are gorgeous! I don't usually have them inside, but those two you shared just may make me change my mind!

[Marnie]

You have my sympathies regarding the snow. I have to overwinter my amaryllis at the office. My cats will not leave indoor plants alone. Those are lovely blooms. Mine are very common varieties, Apple Blossom and the red (name escapes me). Good luck with your prima donnas;)
Marnie

[Catherine]

I like how the ladder looks with your plants on it. I might turn part of our bedroom into a greenhouse, great idea! I planted my first amaryllis this week and am going to look for a couple more to try.
Sorry to hear about all the snow.

[Shady Gardener]

Hi Kathleen, I'm thinking that you are going to have a fun Winter, what with the bulbs, etc. that you've shown us. What is the prognosis for your daughter's recovery time? Is she gaining strength, etc? Prayers and hugs. SG

[Racquel]

I think the makeshift plantstands from vintage stepladders are cute! At least you have somewhere in your house that is convenient, the best place in my house is my son's room. He's not going for it, lol. ;)

[Sweet Bay]

10 to 20" of snow before Halloween?! Ooo, that is cruel. Here's hoping the weatherman is being overzealous in his predictions.

I love the stepladders. They make great plant stands. Continued best wishes to your daughter!

[tina]

You make the bathroom greenhouse looks simply splendid with your beautiful photography. Of course the lovely plants help too. Won't be long before the amarylis are all blooming again. Hard to believe how quickly time flies!

[Wildlife Gardener]

I love to read of someone else who is good at improvising :)

What a great idea using your ladder..great pics of your bulbs...you are going to reap the benefits from all your efforts :)

[Kate]

Thanks for sharing such interesting plants. I didn't know amaryllis grew as anything other than the few basic varieties that are everywhere this time of year.