For the Love of....Plants

I have mentioned before a few several times

that I used to work in a flower shop.

That was long ago and far away.

( Meatloaf reference... dated myself there huh ? )

Anyway...

I have a love for plants .

If I find a plant I do not have ,

I usually pick it up.

Not that I need it.

My house is kinda small for all my plants.

Some I have had for several years,

like this arbicola/spider combo.

It's huge.

I have it in a pot inside a 12 gallon Red Wing crock.

It was given to me more years ago than I can remember.

It has been moved so many times, I'm surprised it's still alive.

I actually TRIED to kill it once.

It had grown so lop sided and gangly that I set it out on the deck for the summer.

It was blown off the deck several times, but continued to thrive.

So when I brought it in ,in the fall and I gave it a severe "hair cut ", evened it out and it grew even more.

That is when I learned,

 Lesson 1

It is OK to give a plant a hair cut. It even helps it grow. We feel better after a good trim right ? So do plants.

Spider Plants are one of the most forgiving plants you can have.

They thrive absolutely anywhere.

( these pictures were taken at Christmas time , did you notice that )

This particular Spider Plant has lived in my bedroom ( shown here ),

the bathroom , the entry and even the living room.

Currently it is still in the bedroom.

It's happy anywhere.

The Split Leaf Philodendron is an easy plant too.

I love the large split leaves.

However it grows a little crazy.

It's way wider than it is tall. and tends to bend every which way.

This one takes up the entire corner in the living room.

It might be better if I rotated it more often so it wouldn't have to stretch for the sun.

Who knows, this one might get a "hair cut" this summer.

We will see.

Another easy peasy house plant  is a Dracena.

They come in a lot of different varieties and color variations.

Here's mine.

I move all of my plants around quite often.

Here it is the bathroom.

( from Christmas again )

It lives in the entry now...

Now this one can be a little " iffy".

Ivy.

This one happens to be a Oak Ivy ( which is my favorite )

Ivy can be a little temperamental.

They can grow happily for years and then all of a sudden die.

They are also very susceptible to spider mites.

I have better luck with the Oak leaf variety than I do English varieties.

But it could just be me.

Lesson 2 -

 some plants are worth the extra effort even if they don't last forever.

 Here is a new one I just acquired.

It's called a Sansevieria.

Which is on the same family as Mother-in-Laws Tongue.

Super easy.

Can tolerate low light and likes to stay on the dry side.

Lesson 3 -

 There IS a plant for everyone and every condition if you really want one .

I don't have luck with all plants.

For instance ,

ferns don't really like me.

I had a Bird's Nest Fern for several years but then it just died.

I would like to find another one.

Anyway...

Here is the problem fern living barely hanging on at my house right now.

 Part of the reason it looks so bad is ,

it's just a plain UGLY ugly plant.

It's a Rabbit's Foot Fern.

All the fuzzy looking brown things are actually the roots and are supposed to look like that.

( hence , the Rabbit's Foot )

Anyway...

I sent it to Em at work on her birthday (her golden birthday to be exact )

I wanted them to send an "unusual" plant.

Lesson 4 -

 (this one is for me in particular )

 Unusual is NOT always best.

Be aware of a plants needs and if you  ( or the recipient ) can meet them.

She thought she had killed it , so it came to me for intensive care.

It has not gotten a whole lot better.

I even tried some of this on it:

Worm Poop .

It was a Christmas gift from my niece.

Her church sells it as a fund raiser.

I was very excited about this gift.

( her sister ... not so much )

But alas...

it hasn't helped this particular plant much.

I think this summer it will go live in the back of the garden.

If it survives , OK.

If it doesn't, OK.

I just know to stay away from ferns...

Again , that's just me.

Do you have particular plants that grow better for you ?

Or do you have some you avoid like the plague?

I'd really love to know :)

Linking this Post to :

More the Merrier Monday@DIY Home Sweet Home http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
So Very Creative Party Time @ So Creative http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Meet Me Monday @ You're Talking Too Much http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/
Amaze Me Monday @ DittleDattle http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/
What's in the GunnySack@The Gunny Sack http://www.thegunnysack.com/
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill http://alderberryhill.blogspot.com/
Make it Yourself Monday @ An Original Belle http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/
Show Me What You Got Linky Party @ Our Delightful Home http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/
Party Time Tuesday @ Northern Cottage http://www.northerncottage.net/
Trash to Treasure Tuesday @ Sassy Sites http://sassysites.blogspot.com/
Cowgirl Up Creative Linky Party @ The FarmhousPorch http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies and Jellybeans http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/
Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims http://www.mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage http://www.abeachcottage.com/
Rock & Share @ The Shady Porch(a pinterest party)http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thrursday@ Beteen Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Thursdays are Your Days @ 52 Mantles http://www.52mantels.com/
Show and Tell Friday@ My Romantic Home http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday@ At the Picket Fence http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
Pinning and Singing on the Weekend@ 5 Minutes Just for Me http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com
Potpourri Friday @ 2805 http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Fabulous Friday @ Faith,Trust and Pixie Dust http://michellelunt.blogspot.com/
Weekend Bloggy Reading : Link Up @ Serenity Now http://www.serenitynowblog.com/
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/
Shine on Friday @ Happy-Go-Lucky http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
A Pinteresting Link Party @ Here's to Handy Andy http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/
Tutu's and Teaparties : A Pinteresting Party @ http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/

Spring has Sprung....well...kinda

When Addie and I were outside yesterday feeding the birdies,

I was pleasantly surprised to see signs of life from some of my plants.

Dragon's Blood Sedum

Good Old Fashioned Iris

Surprise Lilies

They always surprise me  ( haha ! )

I always think they are daffodils , the foliage is very similar , then I remember,

I don't have daffodils !

The purple leaves in front are Huechera , they are starting to " color up " too.

YAH!

Today it was supposed to be in the 60's.

YAH , again !

I had stupidly volunteered to help the Hubs at the flip house.

That's a whole other story !

Anyway....

that also meant I could do my run ( walk / jog , remember ) on the trail

Yet again , YAH !

I really can't wait to see this trail in the summer.

Although , I am hoping the flip house is sold by then

and I won't have any reason to go to Fayette.

The trail really is great.

Here is a view from it that I just had to share.

I'm not sure how visible the river will be once the trees get leaves.

This is my favorite spot on the trail ( and not just because it is the "turn around " point either !)

This is the only bridge that crosses the river by the way.

Unless you go all the way back to town.

I learned this the hard way....

But here was a view of the trail I was not happy to see

Yep, parts are still snow covered.

I really wasn't expecting that.

It was also a down hill slope.

Good news , I stayed on my feet!

Spring is in the air,

it's just not on the ground on my running trail !

Is it spring in your neck of the woods?

Inspiration and The Copy Cat Challenge

Isn't "blogland" great ?

Between "blogland" and Pinterest there is no shortage of inspiration.

Today one of my favorite bloggers Cathy from My 1929 Charmer posted a link on her FB page for DIY terrariums.

That lead me to Jacky's blog Small Garden Love.

INSPIRATION !

Jacky's blog lead me back to something on BHG that I had pinned awhile back.

COPY CAT CHALLENGE !

I had wanted to participate in Debbie Doo's Copy Cat Challenge but had no idea what to post about about, now not only did I know what to post about , but I was PUMPED !

I had these three little plants that I have been nursing along since fall.

They were starts from one of my favorite annuals that I like to use as filler in mixed planters.

I don't even know what they are.

If you know me, you know that is unusual.

I know plants AND plant names.

Can't remember numbers or what I left the room to get , but I remember plants.

Go figure...

Anyhoo...

I gathered the rest of my supplies.

I picked these awesome dishes up at the thrift store, had no idea what I do with them , but you know how that goes....

Some rocks , fake moss , glass pebbles, and  a couple little ceramic mushrooms , again from the thrift store and again I had no idea what I was going to do with them , I just thought they were too cute !

If you read Jacky's post ( and you should ), you will see she used some vases she had around the house. They were really great, but I have my cloche collection, so I figured why keep them packed away when they will be PERFECT for the terrarium project.

I think it took me longer to gather all my supplies that it did to actually create.

Have I mentioned before I'm not very organized?

Well, I'm not.

If I would keep all my craft stuff in one place it might not take me as long to find things.

I know this, but do I do anything about it ?

Um... that would be no .....

Anyhoo...

Let's begin.

Put some pebbles, small rocks , or in my case glass stones ( cause my rocks were too big ) on your plate, dish, etc.

Take a small amount of moistened soil and place it on top of the stones.

Then add your plant and cover the roots with more moist soil.

Now this is where Jacky covered her soil with moss.

My moss is under 6 inches of snow.

So I used polished stones and fake moss.

I added one of my cute little mushrooms.

Misted the whole thing and topped it with a cloche.

You can see condensation started forming right away.

Here it is in it's new home.

My mini botanical garden :)

This one I actually left in the little Shawnee pottery pot it was in.

I collect vintage flower pots, mostly McCoy but also Shawnee and Roseville.

I love these little pots but they don't hold enough water and my plants dried out too fast.

That's why my little plants were struggling so much.

Under the glass , with the moisture held in , I am anticipating rapid growth :)

We'll see.

Here are the other two.

They are on the dresser in the bathroom.

Weird , I know, but I have a great south facing window I think they will love.

Plus the dresser was looking kinda bare since taking the Christmas decorations down.

I think I may be obsessed.

I know , it happens a lot and often :)

I can see one with Irish Moss mixed in with St. Patrick's day decor.

Or some grass or a fern with bunnies at Easter.

OMG I could go on and on ...

If you're not really sure which plants work best ( succulents and cactus DO NOT ), check out this article at BHG.com .

Thank you Cathy, Jacky, and BHG for inspiration for this gardener in the dead of winter.

It really made my day :)

Linking this post to :

More the Merrier Monday@DIY Home Sweet Home http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
So Very Creative Party Time @ So Creative http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Meet Me Monday @ You're Talking Too Much http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/
Amaze Me Monday @ DittleDattle http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/
What's in the GunnySack@The Gunny Sack http://www.thegunnysack.com/
Meet Me Monday @ You're Talking Too Much http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/
Newbie Party @ DebbieDoos http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies and Jellybeans http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/
Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims http://www.mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage http://www.abeachcottage.com/
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer http://my1929charmerblog.com/

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