Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Blooms

 

Good morning Folks ~ I was out in the main garden area yesterday morning when I spied my first opened bloom on a red passion flower vine. I’ve been watching the bud

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grow and finally there it was open in all its glory. How thrilling. This vine is one of two cuttings that rooted, out of six.

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Day before yesterday I noticed an opened orchid bloom from my friend Nanci. I have several other orchids with buds in various stages. They are always thrilling to see.

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Speaking of orchids, the Mounts Botanical Gardens are having an orchid and herb sale this weekend.  My friend Ramona and I will be going Sunday and are looking forward to it. I really want to add to my herbs, so look forward to seeing what’s there.  Hopefully plants will be reasonable. I’m not saying an orchid won’t come home with me too. Winking smile I’ll let you know.

Below is a plant I bought at a yard sale last year along with two other purple flowering plants. I don’t know what this is, so maybe some of you gardeners will be able to help me out.

You can see some buds on the tips of branching stems, and an open bloom at the bottom.

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Here is the open bloom, sorry about it being blurry.

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Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and tomorrow, and I do hope we get some rain as things are pretty dry and thirsty that don’t get hand watered by me, or that the sprinklers don’t reach.

I just finished a fiction book the other night, ‘The Forgotten Garden’ by Kate Morton. Right near the end was a great line which I felt was just right for me and maybe some of you will like it too.  It is this,

“You make a life out of what you have,

not what you are missing.”

Great food for thought.

That’s it for now.

FlowerLady ~ From Plum Cottage

22 comments:

gld said...

I didn't know passion vine came in red. It is a beauty!

Great quote.....sort of like 'your life is what you make it'.

I just read a novel that broke my heart, 'Maude'. I kept thinking she could have a wonderful life but she just refused to allow it to happen.

Gayle said...

What an intricate flower growing on a vine! You have such beautiful flowers in your area. I could have used that quote a long time ago. It's seems I've been angry to several years now over what I don't have (a nice house... or at least a finished house.. this one is a disaster) when I should have just got on with loving life and been happy to have somewhere to rest my head at night. I feel as those I've wasted a few years of this precious life. You always know the right things to say! :) Have a beautiful rest of the week.

Friko said...

Can’t help with identification; sorry. Looks like some succulent to me.

Like gid, I never knew there were red passion flowers. Mine are all pale blue and green.

I can’t wait to see some sign of life in the garden other than winter-flowering shrubs. Soon, soon . . . .

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

Rainey, I read that book and loved it; great quote, too.

I can't get orchids to re-bloom no matter what I do. Same for African violets :(

You must be doing something very right!

Nancy J said...

Beautiful flowers, love that red one, and your quote, just the one for us today as Hugh has another hospital appt., hoping for some progress. Our mornings are a little cooler, the rain helped green up some dry patches, and a breeze was cooling, after days of 30's plus, in Celsius degrees. Hugs and love, Jean.

klaraau01 said...

There is always a space for another orchid that needs home, hope she finds you.
Thank you for a beautiful picture of your phal

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love seeing all your flowers. I do hope you find an Orchid or two to add to your collection.They are such lovely flowers.

Unknown said...

Hi Lorraine,
All the flowers look so beautiful!
I love orchids but the only ones I've had any success with is the phaleanopsis. Love the quote, I'm gonna see if I can find that book, since I'm always looking for a good read! Blessings to you dear lady
Teresa,
sugar, spice and whatever's nice

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How exciting it is to see the first blooms of spring. I have an orchid plant that i have had for almost a year. It is looking good and i hope it blooms. Orchids are sometimes pretty pricey. I hope you find lots of reasonable priced plants when you go to the garden center. Love the quote from the book!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Oh my goodness Lorraine, that line is so apt it chilled me. The orchids are exquisite, and I just know you'll come home with some wonderful purchases from Sunday's sale. It will be a marvellous outing - the weather is so much nicer for it there at the moment.
Hugs
Rose

Gary said...

Good morning Lorraine,
I love the red passion vine, stunning. The phrase is a good thing to remember in life.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

I continue to be amazed at your talent and your garden.
Thinking of you in a special way.

M.K. said...

How exciting -- you have blooms already! We don't even have daffodils, but I think it will be soon. We're expecting rain this afternoon and 19º tonight. Brr! Enjoy your new plants!

crafty cat corner said...

The red passion flower is quite something, I've never seen a red one before, stunning.
Briony
x

Rue said...

Great quote! I might have to get that book.

Gorgeous flowers too :)

Anonymous said...

Kate Morton is one of my favorite authors. :-)

Your unknown plant is a beauty, but I don't recognize it.

We had storms roll in last night and have been getting some much appreciated rain all day. What a blessing.

Have a wonderful weekend, Rainey.

Love and Hugs,

eli

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi, You certainly have a 'green thumb' when it comes to getting things to grow and turn into beautiful plants/flowers...

Love the red passion flower and of course, the orchids... Can't wait to see what you come home with after going to the sale.

Hugs,
Betsy

Maryann said...

Love the orchid, Mine look like they may bloom again soon, it's been at least two years since it bloomed last, so I am really excited about the prospect of it blooming again. The red passion flower also lovely

BernieH said...

That Passionfruit bloom is wonderful. I've never seen a red one before. It's wonderful to see you're getting more buds showing up. Love that quote too.

sweetbay said...

The orchid and the red passion are gorgeous! Have fun at the plant sale!

Terra said...

I think I forsee an orchid coming home with you after the Sunday plant sale. Nice quote from the book.

L. D. said...

If I lived in Florida I would go crazy watching everything grow and the seasons changing so little as not to kill a plant.