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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

This Year's Migration is Finished!

Well, mostly.  My usual date for having everything brought inside for the winter is the beginning of November but this year my niece visited and was certain that there wouldn't be space for everything so I thought an early start would give me a chance to find space or new homes for plants that wouldn't fit.

Some things were moved around, a couple more shelving units were added and a few plants came into the human house (also a  green house but not a greenhouse.)

The Spanish Moss continues to grow and now when people walk through the greenhouse, they usually come out with a few pieces stuck to their clothing.

I'm happy to announce that my niece was wrong.  Everything fits and it one looks closely, (s)he can see empty spaces on some shelves.

Still to come in are four cordylines and a potted Phormium 'Jubilee' which will only come inside if we get really cold weather.  Of course, they could always go in the stained glass room that used to be my winter storage area and is now empty.

My Georgia-dwelling garden blogger friend, Jean, asked if the Spanish moss had blooms on it and wouldn't you know it, this year it did have tiny flowers.



The plan this year was to have desert on this side and jungle on the other but a little of each crept into the other space.  but the things on the shelves in the background will need very little water this winter.


Desert.



Jungle.

This poor Colocasia gigantea. hasn't made it outside in two years but grows unnoticed in a back corner.

The poor agave in the middle looks like it'll recover from the mealy bug infestation it had this spring.  Poor thing used to be so gorgeous.  It could be tossed but it was my very first agave purchased in a four-inch pot.

Come on over for a cup of coffee some morning.  Do call first so that I can get the bags of potting soil and tools out of the way.

We'd all be delighted to see you, especially Ganna Walska below.  My favorite quote of the real Madame Ganna Walska of Lotusland fame is, "More is better."   Certainly not in keeping with the Ikea-loving, minimalist, less-is-more, Danish Modern hugging crowd.  Vive la différence.  I secretly admire the minimalist look but don't know how to do it myself. 


The hibiscus is still blooming and the big brugmansia, finally free of spider mites (fingers crossed) is covered with buds.  The place was abuzz with whitefly this summer and I tried lots of ways to get rid of them.  The most effective thing that has reduced them to almost none has been a yellow fly tape. Go figure, the best solution would be the easiest and least toxic.

So now it's sort of a downhill slide until I maybe grab a few paperwhites to force in January and maybe another amaryllis or two to brighten this space. Fingers crossed for few pests and a mild winter.
How are your winter preparations coming along?  (Unless you're in the southern hemisphere in which case, happy spring you lucky dogs!)

34 comments:

  1. I only have the Brugs to wrestle into the garage, and three succulent pots that hang out on top of the gabion pillars to move. Everything else has made it back into the greenhouse with lots of room to spare, which is great because I want to do some seed starting this winter. Good for you for getting it done early. I say to your niece, the other Alison (as Calvin used to say to Hobbes), "You're just a poophead! THBPBPTHPT!" I even see plenty of room for you to start some seeds.

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    1. To be fair to Alison, she didn't see the extra tables that were folded up and tucked away and the shelving that hadn't been put in yet. I am toying with the idea of trying cacti or succulents from seed as I've never done that before.

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  2. Your greenhouse does look like a delightful wonderland!

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    1. Thanks guys! How's everything going in your garden these days?

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  3. Here you are celebrating a successful rehabilitation of your first Agave (congrats!) and I'm writing about tossing mine. I feel like a lazy gardener...

    Blooms on your Spanish moss...very cool!

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    1. Not lazy just smarter. It may be a few years before that poor plant looks good again and who knows what'll happen in the greenhouse this winter. (Rubbing alcohol showers for everyone!)

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    2. I meant to ask earlier but forgot...do you have any fans in there?

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  4. You do know how I love to ramble in a greenhouse, if only in photos. I enlarge them and scrutinize with joy every plant, every pot, every innovation.

    Blooms on Spanish moss means it is happy. Happy.

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    1. I always think of you when I'm in the greenhouse! Reading your greenhouse posts really influenced a lot of what I grow out there.

      The Spanish moss keeps growing and I often think of pulling some out but I like it.

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  5. So envious that you have a place to put everything! I'm paralyzed by indecision as overnight mid-30 degrees are approaching this week. Like tomorrow. I don't have the space or the sunshine to harbor everyone. So who will it be? The succulents, the hibiscus, 6 large ferns, the jasmine, my beautiful lusciously full Dragonwings red begonia? I need a greenhouse! Yours is fabulous.

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    1. I'm very fortunate to have a greenhouse as it was a dream for many years when decisions like the ones you're facing had to be made every year. Yes, a greenhouse for you! Make it happen!

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  6. Your greenhouse looks better then ever! Organized beautifully with room to spare. The Spanish moss has grown quite a bit from what I remembered. The separation into desert and tropics is something learned from experience; now it seems so obvious :-) I am one of those minimalist, less-is-more, Danish Modern... with undeniable hoarding tendencies. Go figure.

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    1. Yes, learned from experience of mushy cacti and dried out big leaved things. Truth be told, I really admire minimalist, clean line, Danish Modern design but don't know how to do it.

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  7. I'm in awe of a lot of things in your garden, but the fact that you move so many plants in and out of the greenhouse twice a year is something else altogether. That's DEDICATION in all caps. I love all the photos. I could seriously look at each one for five minutes to try and take it all in.

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    1. Thanks for the kind words Gerhard. It's actually kind of a joyous experience to mark the changing of seasons with the migration, especially now that I have a greenhouse and things don't have to be stashed in various locations all over the house.

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  8. Relieved to see that Madame Walska is well provided for in the modesty department.

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  9. I think I said this last year but you really should charge admission for tours of your greenhouse. It is fabulous and the entrance fees could fund the building of a second greenhouse, or maybe pay for a service to move stuff in and out twice a year.

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    1. You're too kind, Kris. Much of the time, the greenhouse is covered in potting soil and fallen leaves and might be a bit of a disappointment to someone paying admission. I need the exercise of moving pots and it's a fun task for me. As for another greenhouse...there's no more space in my little garden.

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  10. You have extra, unused space?! I have no idea where all of my plants will go this winter, except I know that some will become houseplants for the first time (in the living space instead of the basement or garage).

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    1. It surprises even me but I crowded a lot of plants onto some shelves. Now that I know they'll all fit, I'll rearrange to allow the plants a little more light and space. You may be a plant addict if the plants crowd you out of your home.

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  11. That looks fantastic ! I was just wondering when I should start bring things in. I'm still hoping for more warm days.

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  12. I can't imagine moving that many plants in and out each year! Half of my potted plants will get buried in the garden where I am redoing an area for the winter and a mere three are coming inside.

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    1. Just came to me. Just like I love creating an alternative environment for my students with special needs to succeed, it's a joy to create an alternative environment for other growing things to flourish. Hmm.

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  13. OMG! I haven't even started to bring my plants indoors! I don't have many, although. My three Red Abyssinian Bananas are doing so well, my garden will look empty without them. But this is not what I wanted to say.
    Peter, if you need money to buy new plants, you can charge people for visiting your Green Temple! It looks exotic, luxurious and just Wow!

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  14. I know it's finally fall here when the potted nerines start poking through green leaves, as they did this week. I don't believe for a minute in your "downhill slide" -- just look what you have created, Peter. Incredibly practical and also a great place to ward off winter doldrums. Good thinking on the flytape. I was just reading about their use in mulberry trees in Tehran, where warming weather has turned whiteflies into a plague.

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  15. The greenhouse looks fabulous! Especially the Spanish moss draped everywhere. And I'm reminded once again that I have yet to see it in person. I put some of my houseplants in the greenhouse over the summer. I've been slowly transitioning them back inside to make room for the plants that winter in the greenhouse, most of which only need to go in if there's a frost.

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  16. Certainly your container migration sounds like one of the wonders of the natural world. It would probably be a good subject for a PBS documentary. Of course, it would be more dramatic if they migrated to some mountain in Mexico, but that would be challenging for you.

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  17. I always enjoy a tour of your geenhouse, it is a magical place, so quirky. How I envy you having such a lovely winter play room. I would so love one of my own. I have started bringing my succulents in, every window sill in the house now sports something spiky or prickly. The guest room is particularly hazardous. As for everything else,I really don't know what to do with them all. I grow oleanders, plumbagos, hibiscus, even a plumeria. Quite mad.

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  18. Oh, how I'd LOVE to come for a cup of coffee! You really should charge admission :)

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.