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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.

Monday, July 17, 2017

In A Vase On Monday

The idea for today's vases was stolen borrowed from Sylvia at DIG Floral and Nursery on Vashon Island.  There were a couple of tall cylindrical glass containers kicking around the greenhouse in which I'd forced paperwhites during the winter.  The contents are some water lettuce and in the small vase is a water hyacinth all snagged from the pond. We don't often get to admire the grace and beauty of roots and these will last for months.  They remind me a little bit of those specimens of animals and body parts floating in formaldehyde-filled jars that used to line the shelves of of science classrooms.  Since Tom calls the greenhouse my laboratory (5 syllables; flipped R's) these really needed to go out there.


Speaking of forcing bulbs, I planted these several weeks ago and still haven't seen a thing. Am I doing something wrong?  The instructions on the interwebs were very simple and the nice lady at the store directed me to the bulb aisle where I found these. Having never grown 25 Watts before, I figured I'd experiment.  Certainly these will brighten up a dull corner if they ever decide to glow grow.

 Here they are, specimens and experiment together in the laboratory.

In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling In the Garden.  Click here to join in the fun!
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19 comments:

  1. Eliza WatersJuly 17, 2017 at 7:43 AM

    Great fun, Peter. A ingenious way to display water plants!

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  2. chavlinessJuly 17, 2017 at 7:57 AM

    If the "bulbs" grow, will they qualify as grow-lights?
    The water plants display is really nice; I would't mind adopting it myself.

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    1. outlawgardenerJuly 17, 2017 at 9:21 AM

      Yes, that's what they'll be! Thanks for the giggle. Alison and I visited Swanson's on Saturday and we drove very slowly by your garden which is looking spectacular!

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    2. chavlinessJuly 19, 2017 at 3:05 PM

      Thanks for the complement, Peter. I mentioned your drive-by to the home owner and he said I saw a car slowing way down as it drove by the garden... He would have been happy to see you again.

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  3. AnonymousJuly 17, 2017 at 8:06 AM

    Oh Peter, you are wonderful - I always have a giggle at your posts and I was not disappointed today :) Thank you for thinking out of the box, as you invariably do - you are a credit to the IAVOM meme! :)

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  4. danger gardenJuly 17, 2017 at 8:41 AM

    I assume your guests next weekend will be invited to wander through the greenhouse? They're gonna love this!

    I brought some beautiful water lettuce indoors one fall, determined to overwinter it, or at least enjoy it for awhile. I think it took about a week before they simply collapsed. So sad...

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    1. outlawgardenerJuly 17, 2017 at 9:19 AM

      Yes, I'll leave the door open for anyone brave enough to venture in there. It's not too dangerous right now with so many things being outside for the summer.

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  5. RebeccaJuly 17, 2017 at 9:00 AM

    I love the water lettuce. It's like a green, jellyfish plant. I wonder if there is some other plant that would work since water lettuce is illegal here, too invasive.

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  6. Floral City GardenerJuly 17, 2017 at 9:08 AM

    Love this.

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  7. AlisonJuly 17, 2017 at 10:23 AM

    Thanks for the Monday morning chuckle, I needed it. Are those bulbs planted in one of the terra cotta pots that you screeched to a halt for? The water lettuce looks great with the roots hanging down in those clear vases.

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    1. outlawgardenerJuly 17, 2017 at 10:26 AM

      No, the bulbs are planted in a pot that I found free somewhere else. However, there's an echeveria planted in one of those pots and it's inside one of the cages, already painted, ugly plastic replaced with glass and hanging in the greenhouse. Extra points if you can find it when you visit!

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    2. AlisonJuly 17, 2017 at 4:42 PM

      Wow! That was quick work! I'll look for it!

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  8. Kris PetersonJuly 17, 2017 at 11:18 AM

    You are ever so creative!

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  9. AlisonCJuly 17, 2017 at 1:03 PM

    The roots are very beautiful in the vases and deserve to be admired. Do let us know if the bulbs grow, we could all save some money.

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  10. LINDA from Each Little WorldJuly 17, 2017 at 3:00 PM

    Great vases all. It would be fun to draw the root vases.

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  11. Lisa at GreenbowJuly 17, 2017 at 5:10 PM

    This is fun. What an interesting combo. Those rare BULBS must take more time to produce anything. Maybe they have to mature to glow...er grow.

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  12. ChlorisJuly 18, 2017 at 3:12 AM

    Oh what fun, I wonder what other plants you could grow like this. Interesting to see how long they will last.
    As for the rare bulbs,good luck with those. Strange things you get up to in your greenhouse.

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  13. KarenJuly 18, 2017 at 9:36 AM

    I wonder what the new bulbs will look like when they grow? I hope they sprout soon!

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  14. UnknownJuly 18, 2017 at 7:53 PM

    Oh, Frankenpeter...you do know how to entertain!

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

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