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Award winner author of gardening humor books

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May Dreams Gardens

Set Sail With Me On The Good Ship May Dreams

January 22, 2009 By Carol Michel 23 Comments

Come aboard the good ship May Dreams as we sail off to a desert island which will soon be populated with garden bloggers and their plants from all around, thanks to Shirl and her Desert Island Plant Challenge.

We each get to take just three flowering plants to the island.

Did you know that botanists estimate there are between 250,000 and 400,000 species of flowering plants? That’s a lot of plants to choose from to take to the island, so I think I’ll limit my choices by choosing only plants I actually have. Otherwise, I might be forever choosing.

First off, I’m going to have to take the Amarylis (Hippeastrum) ‘Blossom Peacock’ pictured above because it’s in full bloom right now.

I’d just feel too bad leaving it behind, since it bloomed so nicely for me in January.

I hope there is room for the night-blooming cereus (Ephiphyllum oxypatalum).I can’t leave it behind. I’ve had it for over twenty years, having inherited it from my father.

Now that I’ve crowded the ship with such a big plant, I’m going to go much smaller for my third and final choice, a woodland violet.
These are so sweet, tiny, and remind me of spring.

What? You say these are a weed in your garden? Well, so far in my garden they are a welcome little bloom and as long as they don’t get too out of control, I hope I always have a few blooming here and there.

If you’d like to join us on the island, fill your boat with your three plants and sail off to Shirl’s blog to leave a link and comment, then go see what are in some of the other boats as they dock with their three plants.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Blogging, indoor gardening, passalong plants

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen says

    January 22, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Excellent choices, Carol, the woodland violet especially. Who could do without them come Spring? And good thinking with the Amaryllis taking it with you means instant flowers.

    My desert island post is up too.

    Reply
  2. Shirley says

    January 22, 2009 at 10:53 am

    Hi there Carol, great to see your list, thanks for joining in 😀

    Yes, I agree with Yolanda – good thinking in taking a flower in bloom. Your Island already swings 😉

    The night blooming cereus, I can see why (and hoped) you’d pick that one. I should have thought on it myself after seeing yours previously. Now the woodland violet, I was with you on that one. I had it in a list with violas and my lewisia at one point. I do love woodland flowers – especially the Spring ones. I also considered bluebells but the clock ran out – probably fortunate in this case 😉

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    January 22, 2009 at 10:55 am

    Hi Carol, what interesting choices, the nicest word I can come up with for the violets, HA. But they are sweet and sure are easy to grow, no work on your part to tend them as you enjoy the warm sand and sun on the island. What a great idea Shirl had. How does it feel to be on the other end of Mr. Linky? 🙂

    Frances

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    January 22, 2009 at 11:34 am

    Hi, Carol. I definitely agree on the amaryllis; that’s one I would have to take. Also, the violets would be nice. I have them here, and while I know many consider them weeds, I’m with you in thinking they are so sweet and pretty.

    Jan
    Always Growing

    Reply
  5. Lisa at Greenbow says

    January 22, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    Good choices Carol. They would all be blooming so much more on that desert island too.

    Reply
  6. Unknown says

    January 22, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    So glad to see the night-blooming cereus is there, Carol, because otherwise I’d have to stop off at your place on my way to the desert island and get your plant for you! And violets? Never enough of them. They’re not weeds to me, they’re spring joy. Besides, you can eat them if you get tired of the desert island fare.

    Reply
  7. TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe says

    January 22, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Excellent chioces Carol, I was delighted to see the Ephiphyllum oxypatalum, I have been looking for this plant for ages, is it yours? If it is I wonder if you know where I can find a plant/cutting? It is so very beautiful!

    Have a great day/ Tyra

    Reply
  8. Gail says

    January 22, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    Good choices Carol…the night blooming cereus is expected, the amaryllis is gorgeous…hmmm, that violet is a total surprise, but it is a pretty little flower. gail

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    January 22, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Hi Carol. Lovely Amarylis and so handy that it is already in flower 🙂
    I see we both chose the Epiphyllum!
    The violet is beautiful too, a pretty flower and such a rich colour.
    See you on the island.

    Reply
  10. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    January 22, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    I do note a winter theme here in your choices. I can’t find fault with any of your choices, especially the little Violet. They are so charming. I love them.

    Reply
  11. Robin's Nesting Place says

    January 22, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    I love the sweet little violets too. I don’t have any here but I had them at my homes in Alabama and Tennessee.

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    January 22, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    These are all excellent, Carol. Maybe you’ll volunteer to host an evening-in-the-garden party when your cereus is ready to flower so we can all admire it!

    Reply
  13. Phillip Oliver says

    January 22, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    I would like to find that variety of amaryllis. It is lovely!

    Reply
  14. Catherine@AGardenerinProgress says

    January 22, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    Very nice choices. I love the violets too, they are always welcome in my garden!

    Reply
  15. My Mother's Garden says

    January 22, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    I like your choices! They all look so pretty together! Wasn’t this a great challenge? I had to really stop and think about it.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    January 22, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Love them all Carol and they go well together!

    Reply
  17. Skeeter says

    January 22, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    I can see why you could not leave them behind. Beautiful picks!

    Reply
  18. Q says

    January 22, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    Dear Carol,
    The woodland violets are always welcomed in my gardens and lawns.
    The bees and the tiny Eastern Tail Blue butterflies love them too. Glad they will be on the island…
    Lovely photographs.
    Sherry

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    January 23, 2009 at 12:51 am

    Hi Carol, I like violets too, and they aren’t very invasive here. I think you have such unique choices. I wonder what I would choose? I mean, how could I limit myself to one rose?~~Dee

    Reply
  20. EAL says

    January 23, 2009 at 6:28 am

    Interesting choices Carol–and surprising! Two nonperennials, though they are lovely. I, too, love those violets and look forward to their appearance this spring. I will definitely post to celebrate them, which I never have.

    Reply
  21. Anonymous says

    January 24, 2009 at 2:30 am

    When it’s minus 8 degrees as it is here tonight, we find you inspirational knowing you also live in Zone 5 yet don’t lose sight of warmer days to come. Thank you for your beautiful Web site and your lovely readers. We posted about you here: http://www.thegimpygirls.com/

    Marty

    Reply
  22. Rose says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    I was late getting to the island, Carol, and am just now getting around to visiting all the inhabitants. The violet is an interesting choice–I like them, but they have a habit of popping up in places I don’t want. An island with lots of empty space would be a good place for them:)

    Reply
  23. Cynthia says

    March 11, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    I love the picture on the top of this post it is such a beautiful flower.

    Reply

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