Kaseys Korner

Amaryllis 'Novella'

Bought only because of her color (pink ~ wouldn't you know!) but especially noteworthy because of the number of buds on each stalk.  Count them ~ there's EIGHT!!!!

Wowee.  How amazing is that?  The fullest head of blossoms I've ever had.

Photo above shows six blooms open (or opening), two buds left to follow suit.

and to think, before she opened, I was sort of kicking myself for breaking down and buying (yet another) Amaryllis bulb!

Not so now.  A display like this is never regrettable.

She reminds me of 'Apple Blossom' except less white, more pink. 

Never a bad thing, right?!!! 

Christmas decorating

I've been occupying myself since Thanksgiving doing just that very thing.  Ifeel slow this year tho.  Normally I put up four to five trees (all artificial) but this year, I only have two decorated.  Maybe it will stay that way?  A smaller, scaled down version of our normal effusive style. 

The mantel received only a few alterations ~ some greenery, the paperwhites (in those ridiculously cheap urns) on the hearth and the twig wreath above the mirror:

The black and white theme tree, that has held center stage on our coffee table the last few years, has been retired.  Replaced by a tea light lantern:

The effect of the staggered twinkling candles at night really makes me happy ~ that means the change was a good one!  Oh, that's Amaryllis 'Zombie' next to the tea light lantern (in case you were wondering!)

As I move on to the next photo, I realize I misspoke ~ the black & white decorations have been retired, not the little 4' white tree.  The white tree is still in use, but with different ornaments:

A lot of crystal & silver with touches of green & blue.  This tree sits on my buffet and also on top of a mirror ~ which adds to the sparkle.  Knowing how I like to switch things up, we'll see how long this theme stays in rotation...

The 6' urn tree was also completely redone.  For the past several years it's been my "garden" tree accented with pink ornaments but now it's red, green & white themed:

It looks really pretty at night with both white and green mini lights adding to the theme.

That pretty much sums up all I've gotten accomplished so far.  There's still so much to do.  Baking, cards, the cookie party, etc., let alone whether another tree or two will be added.

How are you all doing on your holiday preparations???  Done?  Started?

 

Red Tail hunting grounds

have apparently expanded to my backyard!!  Look what I saw from my kitchen window this afternoon:

It's the first time I've ever seen a Red Tail this close to my house.  They frequent the fields across the highway but usually don't come west to the developed side.

I don't know if he caught a meal or not ~ I was headed out the door when I spotted him but of course, had to stop and snap these pictures first! 

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I will not be shopping on Black Friday so maybe I'll be back to post then.

Amaryllis 'Zombie'

What a scary sounding name.  I can't help but wonder how on earth something so pretty could have been bequeathed a title that evokes a dark and terrifying image?   Breeder discretion I suppose...

Amaryllis 'Zombie' was a new addition to my collection this fall.  She's also the first to bloom.

I bought two bulbs, sent one to my Mom, both are blooming simultaneously and apparently, both look entirely different from each other.  I say "apparently" because she's only described hers to me ~ I have yet to see a photo.  I will confess mine appears different than the catalog photo from which I selected it.

After all the trouble I had with double Amaryllis last winter (wilting buds and a generally more finicky personality) I surprised myself when I ordered another.  One trait, that makes it more difficult to enjoy the doubles, is their habit of drooping downward.  Maybe all those additional petals make the flowers too heavy to stay upright????  I'm not sure??   The drooping habit is illustrated very well in the photo below, taken before 'Zombie' was removed from the greenhouse/bathroom:

 She now resides on the great room mantel where it's much easier to look up and appreciate her beauty:

Our experience with 'Zombie' is a perfect demonstration of the fun thing about bulbs ~ you never know what you're getting until they bloom! 

frost garden

that's what I woke up to this morning.  A magical frosted fairyland.  It beckoned even me (who abhors the cold ~ as you well know) to come outside and capture the sugar coated scenes.  Since I can never hoard them for myself, I share with you the images from that most unusual foray.

The antique bird feeder shimmering in the early morning light:

Glistening rose hips touched by the first rays of sun:

One of two obelisks that begged to be photographed:

followed by the second:

With a very chilled dragonfly sundial on their heels:

An irresistible combo ~ crystallized fern & hellebore leaves:

and finally the Fleur-de-lis gate:

There was more, of course, but for hardier souls than I. No second chances with frost either.  The window of opportunity is fleeting and once I warmed again, the moment had already passed.

The clouds lifted, the skies cleared and the frost began to melt.   

The magic recedes and the garden returns to its familiar cloak of browns & greens. 

 

 

the wind lays bare

secrets from summers past.

Exposing the Bullock's oriole nest in the big Cottonwood tree:

Where an adult male and one baby lost their lives on the street below. 

You might remember my tale of woe??

Where leaves once covered the limbs of a little Hawthorne, a Robin's nest is now revealed:

tucked tightly to the trunk and hidden, until now, from the gardeners eyes.

The new stark suroundings make the berries of the Plum trees ever more attractive:

as well as anything and everything else that might remain green:

Above:  Sedum 'Angelina'

and Passion vine caerulea:'

Color in winter is of immeasurable interest.

Ever more precious now than any other season. 

Before the blustery north winds are finished, the garden will give up more secrets.

It's inevitable.

and only a matter of time until they're divulged...

 

the day is off

to a great start. 

I treated myself to a cup of my new favorite holiday coffee combination:

a thick slice of homemade pumpkin bread:

Accompanied by the lulling hum of the dryer and the more strident (but just as comforting) sound of Blue Jays as they enjoy their morning peanuts.  

Oh, and to top it all off, the sun is shining and the wind is calm.  :-)

I hope the rest of the day can keep up....

never underestimate

the power of a cold resilient annual!  My neighbor made a case in point for this statement when she brought me a sprig of Stocks from her flower bed last Friday.  They had weathered the 19 degree overnight temperatures and recent snowfall with flying colors. 

I have to confess, I have had mixed success with this supposedly half-hardy annual (here-to-for to be referred to as a hardy annual ~ no half about it!).  I've started numerous double varieties from seed with only marginal results.  I've bought them for containers in spring only to have them wilt and fizzle under the scorching rays of a hot summer day.

However, anything that will prolong summer while providing color in the fall garden, despite the elements, deserves another look/chance ~ don't you think? 

My neighbor has them planted where they receive afternoon shade which is quite possibly the key to their summer survival?  I've always adored their spicy fragrance but now, knowing how tough they are, I plan to make another concerted effort with them next spring!

Completely off topic, I thought I would share my latest reading material ~ not that I theoretically have the luxury of reading right now (with the holidays so quickly approaching) ~ but some finds are too good to pass up!

I'll let you know how it is.  Another book on my reading list is "Winter Bloom" by Tara Heavey.  Funny how the garden remains constant even when it comes to other pastimes!!  Anyone else have a winter book list (since there seems to be no time for reading during the summer gardening season)?

greenhouse buds

Now that it feels decidedly winter-like outdoors, I am (forced) to turn my attention indoors.  Happily I cannot complain about "bloom withdrawal" since there are many buds/blooms, in the makeshift greenhouse, to occupy me during what otherwise could be a depressing time.  I thought maybe you'd like a preview of what's in store for the blog in the days to come??  You would??  Great!  Come with me...

We'll first look at the buds on my unknown African violet (bought impulsively last spring when I was desperate for a bloom of any kind):

Thankfully, I have not killed it!  Remember the flowers looked like this:

The petals remind me of spun sugar frosting for some reason??   Anything that looks that good is welcome to rebloom as often as it likes!

Next to the African violet is Streptocarpus 'Black Panther:'

I've had this plant for several years now (and posted about it a couple of times too).  Wonder of wonders, it repeatedly blooms for me.  A fabulous thing since the flowers are extremely fetching:

Wouldn't you agree?   I think about repotting it off and on but haven't had the courage.  I'm too afraid to mess up my luck!

Moving right along. 

I finally tired of cleaning up dried Hoya blossoms (in my bathtub below the birdcage) and switched out the Hoya with a Lophospermum scandens 'Red Dragon' plant I brought in from outside.

Not the best photo, for sure, but you get the idea.   

Lophospermum is also known as Asarina (and formerly as Maurandya ~ at least that's my understanding?)  The common name is "twining snapdragon."  I usually buy this vine for an outdoor container just as I did this past summer.  Unfortunately, it just sat in the container, showing little to no sign of life until I brought it indoors.  Now it is growing, almost before my eyes, and has developed a number of buds.

The buds often face downward, making it difficult to fully appreciate them, but hanging as they are in the birdcage, they are much easier to enjoy.  This is one plant I hope continues to do well thoughout the winter.  You'll know if it does, by the number of times it's pictured in upcoming posts!

Now, if you've read my blog at any point during the past two winters, you know what's coming next!  Yep, an Amaryllis!   This one is 'Zombie' ~ not far from blooming:

I'm always afraid of scaring people away by posting so many pictures of them but the sheer numbers are truthfully what help me survive the long winters.

That and my growing interest in orchids.

Like the paph above with a developing bud.  I think I have eleven various orchids now??  A couple phalaenopsis, three cattleya's but more paphiopedilum's than anything else.  If the trend continues I will seriously need a greenhouse and/or a twelve step program...

 

amazing what a little

sun will do.  At least it doesn't look frozen here today like it did yesterday:

The sun was out in force this morning, thankfully unobstructed since the sky was cloudless and bright blue.  Our overnight low temperature was somewhere around 19 degrees.  You know what that means ~ lots of frost!

Above:  frosted leonotis bud. 

Below: frosted Clematis integrefolia leaves

In the backyard, a lone Maple leaf hangs in the morning sun:

Seems like it should be symbolic of something, doesn't it?

Out front, you won't believe what is still surviving (without help from me too ~ I've gotten realistic and quit the nightly transfers to the garage).  The red petunia & yellow calibrachoa container!

It's looking a little ragged but only the Mexican Flame vine is ready to call it quits.  What are the chances it can make it till next Tuesday when we're in for a warm up?

Once the sun reached into the garage this afternoon, I started planting my little black urns with paperwhites.  These will be topped off with spaghnum moss (around the bulbs) and placed on either side of the fireplace mantel.

Now that the garden is resting outdoors, the time has come to revive it indoors right?!  You know I have plenty of these waiting in the wings:

Amaryllis 'Zombie' buds. 

It won't be long now and the indoor show will begin....