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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.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Migration Begins: Too Many Plants!

Years ago, I fell in love with brugmansias and wintered over a few plants either in an upstairs room or let them go dormant and loose all of their leaves in the basement.  Then came a few cool succulents that needed a winter spot they easily fit in an unused room upstairs.  About six years ago, a certain Dangerous gardener and agave/cacti evangelist in Portland gave me a couple of agave pups and influenced me to appreciate the charms of a whole new group of plants and the stained glass room on the back of the house was pressed into service to winter over a growing collection.  Finally, we converted our garage into a greenhouse to house the increasing collection.  The funny thing about having a greenhouse is that it seemed like there was so much space for more tender plants.  That space fills up faster than one might think. 

This year's migration of plants from outside to in has begun and the greenhouse is already feeling a bit cramped. 


One begins to think that there are too many plants in this hoard and that it would be nice to give away some of the duplicates.  I can never throw away a pup or broken stem, they all get rooted .  At this time of year,  most people don't want plants that need to be wintered over inside.  The result - too many plants!  (I know it's blasphemy to even think such a thing.)


For some reason, bromeliads grow well for me and this once small specimen now pretty much fills the potting area even though it's still in it's original small pot.

The succulents and bromeliads are all inside but there are still four large brugmansias, several cordylines, a red banana, a variegated ginger, and a host of abutilons to cram in here somewhere.  Wish me luck.
 Every year, as Agave 'Mr. Ripple' (on the left) grows larger and heavier, I threaten to leave it outside to see if reports of zone 7 hardiness are true.  One of these years, we'll find out.

To make space in the greenhouse, some of the summer residents have moved inside the house for the winter.


The greenhouse was supposed to make dragging plants up several flights of stairs unnecessary.  Oh well, I need the exercise. Looks like there's space for a few more small plants on this table. Do you suppose that a couple metal shelving units would hold more plants than the table. Hmm...
The round stained glass room only has five or so agaves that are very hardy but can't stand our wet winters.  They'll move under the roof of the back porch in February or march when that room will be heated to start the tuberous begonias. 

Meanwhile, the winter residents of the Danger Gardenette have started moving in to that area.  Fear not, it will be filled in soon.


Are you beginning to get your garden ready for winter yet? 

16 comments:

  1. I have one Pelargonium that has to come inside. Thinking about getting some paperwhites and Amaryllis. So you know that I think you and Lori are in a class by yourselves. One that's fun to watch from afar but I am not going to join!

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  2. I am somewhat jealous of cool climate gardeners they not only can grow plants I can only dream about but also have a 3 months break from mowing lawn, pruning hedges and weeding the flower beds... here that's a year round task!

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  3. My garden is winter ready every day of the year. I'll soon bring in single pot of tubular begonia, a gift for a blogger friend, and my over-wintering tasks will be over. I wish you luck. Maybe you can bring yourself to part with some of your babies by finding new homes for them.

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  4. I finished my winter migration a couple of weeks ago. There were rumors of temps going down to 38 overnight, and so I did it all in one day. My poor, aching back! I've actually been putting the heater on in there as well.

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  5. OH, my! This morning I did a little walk around the ol' quarry here and checked out what I need to haul in. I was 'worrying' (of course I was) about where to go with about two dozen lowly pelargoniums; 'oh my, wherever shall I put them for the winter?' and 'I have to dig those huge cannas and calla lilies, yuck.' Then I look at the plant collection you have lovingly placed out of frost's way and I feel so foolish! I think I can find a place for a few common geraniums if I try a little. I have a friend who overwinters brugmansia in a cow watering tank, I never did figure out how he hauls it in for the winter, he doesn't own a tractor that I know of. But if there's a will, there's a way. I'm playing fast and loose with getting things ready for winter, we haven't had a frost yet, but this IS Wisconsin. You'd think a worry-wort like me would have the plants in the house by August, wouldn't you?

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  6. When I saw your blog title in my feed, my first response was "there's no such thing" but then I've never had to handle a great migration like that. Best wishes with your remaining moves. Have you offered to rent space in neighboring garages yet?

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  7. Why am I not surprised that your greenhouse is full!
    Now that the rains have started, we'll move the tender plants into the greenhouse, since they don't like to be very wet. Tom has been taking cuttings of fancy leaf geraniums and plectranthus and they are potted up and in the greenhouse. The brugmansia will probably be last to go in, since it is huge now. I think it will be getting a dramatic pruning.
    Outside, I have been slashing and grubbing out and cleaning the beds to be blanketed with ground leaves for the winter. Tom has been cleaning out the raised beds, digging dahlias, and getting his bonsai storage ready.
    So yes, October is all about putting the garden to bed.

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  8. Oh gosh...greenhouse full and plants going back into the house. Somebody has got it BAD!!!

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  9. It's like a plant boutique crammed with treasures.

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  10. Hi Peter! All your plants look like happy vacationers returning from a luxurious summer trip! I wish them a good winter. They probably will talk to each other about some crazy folks who stared at them with oohs and ahhs during the Open Garden.
    I brought in the majority of tender plants. But, it felt almost unnatural to move them in, since my garden still looks summery. Survival rate will be less than 100% due to the low light in the garage and dry air in the house. Abyssinian bananas and agaves are still outside. This weekend should be good for garden chores. Have a good one!

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  11. Isn't that always the case? No matter how much space we have, we always seem to end up with a bit too many plants to fit back in come winter. I'm hoping to sell a few of my extras and unwanted plants to make room, but you're right that it isn't the best time of year. And I'm trying to save room for young starts I'm propagating for the garden next spring (plus more for sales and swaps). All those tresses of Spanish moss look amazing in your greenhouse!

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  12. This is the weekend I am bringing in my measley amount of 12 plants that have to come inside. I have a small house though so it fills up fast. I have 7 windows available. They fill up fast. I look at your greenhouse longingly.

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  13. I cut back on plants and it still took me hours to clean them up to bring inside. I can't imagine how much time it takes you!
    If you are serious about reducing numbers, perhaps a charity sale might work? I once held a donation-only event for the local animal shelter and was pleased with the results, folks love giving to a good cause.

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  14. It's been warm again. I'm not even thinking about bringing things in... even though our average frost date is about yesterday. Obviously I'll regret this, but thanks for reminding me of a reason NOT to get a greenhouse lol

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  15. Wow! And I thought I had a lot of pots!

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