with some indoor blooms ~ enough of the frost already!
Temperatures soared immediately when buds were discovered on the Clivia.
Forgiveness was granted for its perplexing habit of blooming way down in the foliage (instead of up on a proper stalk) because who's kidding who ~ the color is AMAZING:
Bloom on ~ the perfect balm for a winter weary soul.
Attempts to cultivate a lantana topiary caused the thermostat to inch upward even more when it became loaded with buds/blooms.
Okay, maybe not so much in the above photo but look below:
If that isn't an instant tropical escape I don't know what is!
The value of a winter bloom can never be overrated ~ my northern gardener friends know this all too well.
One more thing bound to blow the mercury:
Paph Orchid 'Robert McCabe' ~ on track to be open for Christmas!
Could be the warmest holiday ever.....
(we'll just skip over the part where staying indoors is necessary to achieve that!)
I KNEW I'd see something very special here, Kathleen!! Merry Christmas to you and your family. :-)
Posted by: shady gardener | December 18, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Definitely would make me feel like I was on a tropical escape! No cards for us this year (just couldn't find the enthusiasm or time for them!), but I wanted to stop by and wish you and Janae a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Alice Golden | December 19, 2011 at 06:03 AM
Lovely flowers - I keep thinking of trying Clivia as a house plant
Posted by: Helen | December 19, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Kathleen, It is nice in this season of poinsettias (not my favourite) to have something warm and tropical to look at. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to seeing that orchid in the new year. All the best for 2012!
Posted by: Jennifer | December 21, 2011 at 05:31 AM