January Bloom Day 2012-Or-chid It Be Magic*?

It is another new beginning to the parade of blooms showcased on garden blogs around the world on or about the fifteenth of each month, thanks to sweet Carol of May Dreams Gardens. While there are only a very few plants blooming out of doors, some confused by the warmer than usual weather pattern we have experienced, there is action in the greenhouse/sunroom of the Fairegarden. Paphiopedilum ‘Oriental Mystique’ starts off the party. The full name is Paphiopedilum Oriental Mystique ‘Shan’ x Paph. Alma Gaevert ‘Hageys’.

The orchid collection has been streamlined down to only the lady slipper, Paphiopedilum type and a couple of Cattleyas, from a previously wide assortment of large and small specimens. Getting these to rebloom, the whole point of growing them for me, is the easiest under the conditions inside this special room and outdoors in the warmer months. It has been over ten years now, I believe we are now holding our mouths just right. Paphiopedilum ‘Quasky #3 x Quasky #4′ was one of the first orchids purchased, in 1997. It took many years to figure out the magic words, and potting mixture to get rebloom. This and a couple of other Paphs have been with us for three different houses. How To Repot A Paphiopedilum reveals some of the secret magic.

Paphiopedilum holdenii x P. almenii.

Paphiopedilum (Starr Warr x Maudiae) ‘Pisgah’ x Paph. Dark Spell ‘Wolf Lake’

Pumpkin, Cattleya Slc. (Pumpkin Festival ‘Fong Yuen’ x Naomi Kerps ‘Fireball’), one of two Catts, the other blooms in April, has been blooming since Thanksgiving. Depending upon the number of sunny days, which raises the temperature inside the greenhouse/sunroom, these flowers should hang on another month, at least.

The greenhouse/sunroom is not really a greenhouse, it is a dedicated room with a tile floor and a drain, the old sink from the kitchen remodel, windows on three sides and two skylights. There is a heat/air register in the ceiling that helps keep it to a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, perfect for orchid growing. Read more about it here.

Many houseplants thrive in the cool, humid conditions in this room. Sometimes seeds are started, always cuttings are taken and always, always always the little primroses from the grocery are kept safely warm until planting time outside in March.

While the orchids are very gratifying, it is seeing the mass planting of primroses that warms a gardener’s heart in the dreary time of winter.

Outside, there are some sad looking blooms, ragged and torn from weather and critters, but at the side of the shed, grasping the climbing rose Veilchenblau for dear life, Clematis ‘Candide’ has bravely held onto this bud since mid-December. There has been harsh wind and bitter cold, but it endures, as does the garden. Onward.

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People who know me will faint dead away that I have put Barry Manilow on this blog! Well, I say to them, “HA”!

Frances