A little chatter overheard amongst the various indoor plants here at May Dreams Gardens… “Oh, look, I’m blooming! I’m so pretty and I love my name. 'Blossom Peacock’. Don’t I look just divine, ready for a big ol’ par-tee! Really, I’m just the prettiest… Oh no! I don’t have any leaves. Oh dear. Oh my. How will I ever regenerate my bulb if I don’t have any leaves. I hope I get some soon… Oh goodness. This is embarrassing. Help! Can anyone help me!? I need leaves.” “Excuse me. Carol. That’s your … [Read more...] about What the Plants Are Really Saying.
indoor gardening
Once Again, Hyacinth Bulbs Are “On Vase”
INDIANAPOLIS – Hyacinth bulbs are “on vase” once again, and showing both roots and shoots after less than 48 hours. And thus another gardening year is off and running here at May Dreams Gardens. I pulled the bulbs out of the refrigerator on January 1st, where they had been chilling since mid-October in a plain brown paper bag, and placed them on the vases filled with water. And now on January 3rd – roots and shoots. Forcing hyacinths to bloom using hyacinth vases is one of the easiest … [Read more...] about Once Again, Hyacinth Bulbs Are “On Vase”
The Amaryllis Vase: Take Two!
When I first spotted the amaryllis vase at the now defunct Frank’s Nursery and Crafts, over ten years ago, I thought, “what a great idea”.I immediately wanted it. I already had several hyacinth vases and every winter used them to force hyacinth bulbs into bloom, so why not branch out into amaryllis bulb forcing with a vase?Why not indeed?So I bought the vase and an amaryllis bulb and set it up just like I set up hyacinths. I filled the vase with water - just enough so that when I set the bulb on … [Read more...] about The Amaryllis Vase: Take Two!
The Plant Purchase Personality Test
‘Tis the season to check out the wide variety of indoor plants and blooms that we use to decorate our homes for the holidays.Whether cut flowers, blooming plants, or bulbs like amaryllis that can be forced into bloom in just a few weeks, there is something for gardeners of all skill levels.And what you prefer can tell a lot about you and your personality!The Plant Purchase Personality TestEndorsed by Dr. V. Q. HortfreudPlease choose which type of plant you prefer to buy to decorate your home.a) … [Read more...] about The Plant Purchase Personality Test
I Blame Marketing…
Yes, even I braved the traffic, crowds, and fast talking salesmen (thankfully, there wern't that many fast talking salesmen) to go to a few stores this weekend. I needed something from the hardware store and more food. Rest assured that I chose stores that were as far from the madding crowd as I could get. And I shopped for food when the Colts football game was on TV, further guaranteeing that there wouldn’t be many other people shopping at the same time.At the hardware store, I took the long … [Read more...] about I Blame Marketing…
The Accidental Terrarium
I picked up the mason jar with the compost in the bottom* and was about to toss it to the worms when I saw a little flash of green. A seedling! A tiny little seedling, in its little seedling stage with two little seed leaves held up on the thinnest of stems, already leaning toward the light from the nearby window.I paused to study it, to see if I could determine what it was to become. Of course, it will be a plant. But what kind? A weed? Or perhaps a more desirable plant? Perhaps a petunia? One … [Read more...] about The Accidental Terrarium