Friends: I posted this at a gardening website, which offered some advice on 'wintering over'. I offer it to you for whatever amusement it may provide.
Ho Ho
I'm not a gardener by any means. Not the least tint of green to my thumb. If I stick my thumb in the dirt, everything in a 2' radius dies. None the less, we do like some plants around. We're limited to what we can grow on our deck or patio (townhouses - no available dirt for gardening.) We will usually buy 4 -6 pots of this and that at the Farmer's Market, usually stuff to attract hummingbirds - petunias and cigarette plants.
Out shopping by myself, spotted this wild-looking thing in a garden shop. Turned out to be a Bonfire Begonia. I had never seen, nor heard of them before. It was on sale and I had to have it. It was in a hanging basket, which works best for us.
I brought it home and went in to tell my wife that I had a new friend for her, waiting int the car. Her name was Bonfire Bag-o-nee-a. She was cheap and flashy, homeless, didn't eat much or make noise. Given a good home, she would spread cheer and delight. Wifey, not knowing what to expect, came out to have a look - and was as delighted as I was.
I don't really 'care for' plants - I triage them. I move them around from sun to shade, water every other day or so, depending on temp and humidity, and give them a shot of Schultz or Miracle-Gro about twice a week. Most of our plants to OK on this regimen: Bonnie thrived!
She soon sent out long vines, hanging from the basket, several feet long. The blossoms went from a few dozen to well over a hundred. At first, I was dismayed at how rapidly the blossoms fell off, but they were renewed just as rapidly. It turned out to be the best hummingbird plant we had ever had. With the blossoms constantly renewed, there was always a fresh supply of nectar for the birds.
I soon realized how readily the fallen blossoms stained whatever came in contact with them - after I had inadvertently tracked a few onto the carpet. No problem for my handy steam cleaner, through. My original annoyance soon turned to the endearment one feels for the idiosyncrasies of any Loved One.
I am guilty of over-anthropomorphizing this plant! 'She' has always seemed female, and has turned into a wild gypsy dancer, swirling this way and that in the wind, skirts flying, shedding a bit of herself on all comers.
It is now late October, here in Minnesota. The winds and rain are upon us and she dances on. I want to bring her in, but not sure how to prepare 'her' for winter. Should I let 'it' freeze, so that the sap goes back to the tuber, cut off the tendrils, keep it on the sun porch? It would probably bloom in spurts throughout the winter, just as my Christmas Cactus does. I can't quite bring myself to consign it to the dark basement.
By the way, my other crop this year was a half dozen pots of hot peppers red chili habaneros, bananas - all prolific. I have enough frozen peppers for years of hot chili. But I'll grow more next year.
Not bad for a guy who can kill a bush at ten yards, just by pointing my thumb at it.
Much like this one.
Ho Ho
I'm not a gardener by any means. Not the least tint of green to my thumb. If I stick my thumb in the dirt, everything in a 2' radius dies. None the less, we do like some plants around. We're limited to what we can grow on our deck or patio (townhouses - no available dirt for gardening.) We will usually buy 4 -6 pots of this and that at the Farmer's Market, usually stuff to attract hummingbirds - petunias and cigarette plants.
Out shopping by myself, spotted this wild-looking thing in a garden shop. Turned out to be a Bonfire Begonia. I had never seen, nor heard of them before. It was on sale and I had to have it. It was in a hanging basket, which works best for us.
I brought it home and went in to tell my wife that I had a new friend for her, waiting int the car. Her name was Bonfire Bag-o-nee-a. She was cheap and flashy, homeless, didn't eat much or make noise. Given a good home, she would spread cheer and delight. Wifey, not knowing what to expect, came out to have a look - and was as delighted as I was.
I don't really 'care for' plants - I triage them. I move them around from sun to shade, water every other day or so, depending on temp and humidity, and give them a shot of Schultz or Miracle-Gro about twice a week. Most of our plants to OK on this regimen: Bonnie thrived!
She soon sent out long vines, hanging from the basket, several feet long. The blossoms went from a few dozen to well over a hundred. At first, I was dismayed at how rapidly the blossoms fell off, but they were renewed just as rapidly. It turned out to be the best hummingbird plant we had ever had. With the blossoms constantly renewed, there was always a fresh supply of nectar for the birds.
I soon realized how readily the fallen blossoms stained whatever came in contact with them - after I had inadvertently tracked a few onto the carpet. No problem for my handy steam cleaner, through. My original annoyance soon turned to the endearment one feels for the idiosyncrasies of any Loved One.
I am guilty of over-anthropomorphizing this plant! 'She' has always seemed female, and has turned into a wild gypsy dancer, swirling this way and that in the wind, skirts flying, shedding a bit of herself on all comers.
It is now late October, here in Minnesota. The winds and rain are upon us and she dances on. I want to bring her in, but not sure how to prepare 'her' for winter. Should I let 'it' freeze, so that the sap goes back to the tuber, cut off the tendrils, keep it on the sun porch? It would probably bloom in spurts throughout the winter, just as my Christmas Cactus does. I can't quite bring myself to consign it to the dark basement.
By the way, my other crop this year was a half dozen pots of hot peppers red chili habaneros, bananas - all prolific. I have enough frozen peppers for years of hot chili. But I'll grow more next year.
Not bad for a guy who can kill a bush at ten yards, just by pointing my thumb at it.
Much like this one.
