Wednesday, November 26, 2008

i know a couple people that check my blog every day and I have got to aploigize, I have been dealing with a multiple crashes ]\ I thinkI should get up and going.........Thanks for checking on me everyone, I lost my bookmarks too, so please leave a comment that links back to ur site.



Friday, October 31, 2008

Trees, trees, trees!

Trees, trees, trees!


Everything is littered with red and orange leaves........it is really pretty.


This is my other favorite tree, I see it outside all the time. Even when the tree wasn't losing all its leaves. There is some kind of climbing plant holding on to the stump. I am thinking Virginia creeper, or clematis.......I'll have to look it up because I don't think these turn red. Anyways, I just like this tree, and the vine growing up it.


Alberta didn"t have such an array of color when Autumn arrived. Here in NS, the fall colors are bold and varied. Some of these trees are bigger than anything I have seen in life.


I think the vivid colors are amazing........reds, golds and oranges.....green.
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This one of my favorite pictures(pic above) The oranges, greens and the blue sky.



Even on the ground, things are turning colors.......It is just a beautiful sight

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Random Happening's......it's been too long!

It's been way too long since I have made a post on my blog......I am just really finding it hard to write about plants that aren't doing too much, but recuperating from their move. They seem to be adjusting all right now, and some plants are getting a few flowers.



This is my Alsobia Dianthiflora .......the one I nearly killed last year. It is only throwing out a few buds, but a few is better than none. This pot of Alsobia is kept by a north window, whereas my other one is kept closer to a south window......the one with the lower light conditions is the one getting the flowers.


It isn't really visible in the picture, but there are tiny pink flecks in the throat of the flower. It is one of the prettiest flowers I have in my collection.



This is a pic of the seedlings I am growing of the fruit called "pitahaya" or dragon fruit. Officaially called Hylocereus Undatus. They are not the fastest growing plants, and it might take around three years to see a flower, but it's worth it, because these are really amazing plants.



I had to throw this pic in a post. Before I moved I had never seen anything like this in my life. There was a tree, and all over the tree was these golf ball sized spiky things. Turns out to be a Chestnut tree......I am not sure whether they are edible ye, but if they are, I am going to try and grab a few, and cook them up. Locally, these chestnuts make great children's war ammo.....lol.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

African Violet Flowers Slide Show

This slide show thing has got me fascinated, I remember doing this in college with power point, and it could get pretty tricky trying to learn all the bells and whistles of the program. Nowadays, it is just too easy.

This slide show is all African Violet Flowers from my newly destroyed collection. I may never see these ones bloom again.....unless I got a leaf before they all rotted and babies spring for me. Enjoy!!


Monday, August 18, 2008

CopyCat slideshow

Ya, Ya....I am a copycat. I have nothing blooming or really happening, but while blog reading today, I came across this post, and absolutely loved the sideshow, so I had to do my own. Mine is different in the sense that I did a puzzle sort of slide show, so it makes for a bit of a guessing game.

Look for an AV slide show in the days to come too, I just can't resist.



Sunday, August 3, 2008

I didn't know they existed........miniature vases

I had always thought it was a good idea......but I had no idea someone actually thought of it. For some time I have used small votive candle holders for smaller type flowers with short stems, or even for a small flower or two. But even then, a votive candle holder didn't always work.

Today, while browsing through quite a nice store with of the neater knick knacks of the world, I found these; one and a half inch miniature vases. The pic doesn't give these half the justice they deserve, but let me tell you, I went to buy one, and then thought, geez, I really should get two.

They really are the coolest little knick knacks I have seen for indoor plant fanatics in a long time. I have always wanted small mini vases, for say the odd African Violet flower you want to show off, or the odd short stemmed flower you want to pick outside. Not only are they a perfect size, but since they are vase like at the top, they keep the small flowers centered, and in a bouquet-esque bunch.

I am so happy to have found them, and I couldn't wait to show them off to people that would actually appreciate them.......the family I was with at the time, thought I was nuts, like they always do when I talk plants.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Aeschynanthus Longicaulis Seed Pods

Well I completely forgot about this post, so I figure I better get it up. It was such a cool plant event at the time, and then with moving I completely forgot about it. I didn't notice this until I went to water the plant one day and saw a long string of fluff coming off the plant. When I went to wipe it away, I found it to be attached.


I have no idea what could have pollinated this, but I do remember trying to do it myself once or twice, so maybe I was successful. Other than that, it was strictly an indoor plant, and the only insects around would be the odd moth or housefly.


I collected the seeds in a baggie, and I had intentions of sending it to the gesneriad seed bank, but I didn't even find the baggie until yesterday when I was unpacking plants. I am not sure if they are still viable, but I am going to try and plant a few over the next few days, and if they are still viable, I might still send them off to the seed bank.


I have to admit that it was quite a unique thing to see, it's not something one sees everyday. The next time I get flowers on any of my lipstick plants, I am definetely going to try and cross them again, with hopes that maybe it was me and not a stray bug. All I did was take one flower off, remove the outer flower petals, and inserted the one into the other, and moved it around. We all know how it's done......lol. Complete botanical porn......for the gardener of course.

Wildflowers around Amherst


So this is where I am now, across the country from where I was originally. I spent close to $400 shipping hoya's and plants across the country.....I know crazy, but I love them.....lol. I think I can finally start getting back to my plants again after a bit of a hiatus.


It's a beautiful place here, I went from a zone 2 to like a zone 5.....what an incredible variety of plants I can grow now outside.....lol. The wildflowers that grow around here are amazing! I think the pic above is of morning glory......let me know if I am wrong someone.......I need some id's on these ones.


I am not sure what the above yellow flowers are, but they are everywhere, and they are quite rampant. I think they are just beautiful. Anyone have an id??


These pink and white flowers are everywhere too, and ants seem to love them. Again I don't have an id, but I sure do think they are pretty. I am amazed at the flowers that grow wild here.



These couple pics of the yellow flowers are again nameless for now to me. They are quite big, and they make a nice little bouquet of flowers for kids to pick and bring home......lol. They are growing wild everywhere too. The sides of the road are scattered with yellow and purple flowers. It is just a beautiful part of the country.


Even the odd things you can find on a walk in the woods here are amazing. Here is an old tree house many many years old we found out back of the house. It is overgrown and broken, but still a beautiful sight to see on a summer day's walk.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Off the Northumberland Straight Nova Scotia











Pics from our trip to the beach......salt water!!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Hoya Compacta Flower from Start to Finish

My compacta just had an umbel of flowers open up, and I actually caught a few pics of the flowers opening. They look so neat when they are in the process of opening, which only lasts a few hours. Even though I have seen this hoya flower a few times, I still love seeing it's flowers and I still love the smell of this one the best (chocolate).