Daily Dose Blogger Bios
Mmmmm.... Flowers.....
(Echeveria 'Metallic', Kangaroo Paws, and Princess Flowers = HOT!)
Okay. I'll admit it - I am weakening. I have been such a hardcore "Foliage First!" type of gardener that I rarely think of blossoms when designing ... I like to think of them as a nice bonus; icing on the cake. But lately, flowers have really been turning my head. I feel a little sheepish, like a man oggling a buxom blonde while standing next to his brunette wife. But I can't help it! Who can? Flowers were created to seduce, to entice, to attract pollinators, and some of them do their jobs so well that we all fall under their spell! Omigod - am I becoming a Flower Pervet? Or a ... a... (gasp) Cottage Gardener?
When I was at San Marcos Growers I took a little stroll through their display gardens - the blooming plants looked so beautiful! See, in Southern California, the fall is our 'second spring'. If plantings have been given a midsummer grooming, there will be a new flush of growth, followed by blossoms. It feels extravagant, to have flowers and fragrance when most of the country is bedding down their gardens for the winter, but hey - there has to be some kind of perk we get for living with the constant fear of earthquakes!
The plant I was the most intoxicated by was a variety of the Princess Flower - Tibouchina heteromalla, or Silver Leafed Princess Flower. The fuzzy, evergreen leaves and the clusters of deep purple flowers make this a must have ... it performs best in the sun, but enjoys the shade, too - and it can live on and on in a pot on a patio or balcony. Remember, you don't need a yard to have a garden! Cluster a few dramatic pots together, and a garden can happen just about anywhere!
(the Silver Leafed Princess Flower is peeking coyly from behind a banana)
This Princess is a real looker - I'm going to add her to my garden soon, but I don't want you to think I've changed; that I've fallen for flowers. It's just a flirtation... for now...
Okay, I have a question. What flowering plant can I have in a pot in my darkish little apartment that won't die, depressingly enough, in three weeks?
Which may really, ahem, suggest another question...what the heck is wrong with me that I kill all my flower plants? I used to think I over-watered, but this last batch was definitely a casualty of under-watering... yikes. I'm a cold-blooded bloom killer.
Oh, dear Bookworm, I am so sorry to say this, but being the Germinatrix means sometimes having to help people see certain harsh realities. One of the harshest of those is that Inside + Darkish = No Flowers. You can buy an orchid that will be pretty for a couple of weeks, or African Violets (I think you might need purple sun lamps for those), but other than that, there really aren't any plants that bloom reliably indoors, unless you have a bright atrium or sun room.
But some of the coolest plants are perfect as houseplants - big leaves, architectural form, fresh green color ... Think Parlour Palms, Giant Birds of Paradise, or Monsteras - put one of these in a corner inside a colorful pot and you have instant drama. You'll never miss the flowers. Save those for your balcony garden!
Well, at least I know it's not just me, then. That actually makes me feel much better! I'm not killing them! Well, I *am*, but at least now I know how.
What about a peace lily - so easy to grow indoors, and the white calla-like bracts are very much like flowers. It's considered a good indoor air cleaner, too.
Dear Ms. Germi,
I was looking for the right post to ask this question and I think this is the best. It's a succulent-cottage garden challenge! Just a little disclaimer, please don't be insulted, I am just not a fan of succulents. BUT! I have a giant jade. I have a terraced garden in San Francisco in front of my 1916 cottage. I love flowers, I adore flowers--I'm very cottagey in that way. But I've got this jade. It's huge and it dominates the top terrace. I've planted a bunch of purple and white flowers (I'm a color-schemer), e.g. anemones (Mr. Fokker and the Bride), purple clematis, white, lavender, and purple zinnias, and, of course, lavender--just ignoring the jade and considering tearing it out and replacing it with butterfly bushes (the next best thing to lilacs which I know, I know will not bloom here). I know that would be pretty shameful given how impressive the thing is. That said, or rather rambled, what flowers would you incorporate in the terraces to compliment the jade while keeping a mostly cool color scheme? I'm a beginner gardener (read: no skillz) and a law student (read: little time), so go easy on me.
Best Regards,
Kathryn