Golden
Monday was a bright, golden day. There had been a slight frost overnight and the air felt crisp and fresh. The forecast for cooler temperatures, particularly overnight, galvanised us into action. It was time for the house plants to bid a fond adieu to the garden and come indoors again, to relish the warmth and shelter, and dream of next year’s summer holiday. Suddenly, the conservatory was full once more, although it wasn’t noticeably empty before this exercise.
The months spent outdoors have strengthened the plants and encouraged them to grow. There is much pruning and splitting and repotting to be done, tasks for the days ahead.
Doubtless, some little creatures have made their way inside and will have to be relocated. Tiny arachnids and molluscs will be much happier in the airy outside, their natural habitat.
Ivy-leaved toadflax is an indomitable squatter and springs up everywhere, quite as much as herb Robert. Both of them are much loved and admired in their right positions – outside! – but their determination to dominate the world is not acceptable indoors.
Some plants are looking a little ragged, having provided succulent feasts for untold beasties, but they will recover and throw out new leaves.
I'm sure the avocado will survive and thrive. However, the one below, the Pachira, or Money tree, elicited the comment, 'This plant looks sick!.'
I must agree and am not overly optimistic, but time will tell.
Echeveria, with Pink moonstone succulent to right
Meanwhile, the plants that normally live outside continue to thrive.
Some of the annuals, like the nasturtiums, are still flowering, while at the same time, the first of the Mahonia japonica has thrust out magnificent, perfumed spears of yellow flowers, a feast for late-flying bees.
Happy days!
Putting houseplants outside in the summer months is a good thing to do. After all, no plant was ever meant to dwell indoors and none evolved that way. As you say, they come back indoors stronger and rejuvenated.
ReplyDelete. . . and it's nice to have more space indoors!
DeleteI only have one plant that summers outside; it was an easy job to bring it inside and de-bug it.
ReplyDeleteNow, that's sensible! We just get carried away with enthusiasm.
DeleteStill lots of wonderful flowers Janice, I find the Clivias to be quite hardy things.
ReplyDeleteIt's not rampant, like June to September, but there's still colour and life, which is always pleasing.
DeleteWe have lots of avocado trees in Hawaii. I didn't know they could grow in wintry climates too.
ReplyDeleteGrowing things from pips and seeds is quite a pastime here, mainly to see if they will grow. I don't think our avocado will ever fruit, though, or even flower.
DeleteWe have a few plants on our balcony. It's so nice to see them all grow and flower.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to look out on greenery.
DeleteFirst frost last night and my geraniums are still outside.... waiting for daylight to see how they are.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed.
DeleteHi Janice - what a fun post and lovely to see the plants. I love Mahonia - it has such a wonder scent ... yet doesn't much like being picked ... prickly. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteMahonia is a devil - those leaves are so prickly, but it's worth if for the flowers.
DeleteWe had our first frost last night, everything tender was already in the greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteWe congratulated ourselves on our speedy action - not that speedy, really, we were tempting fate.
DeleteHow interesting to visit your garden, with a surprising number of blooming plants when the temperature has dropped so much.
ReplyDeleteWe still have roses, but that's not so unusual. We often have them blooming in December.
DeleteWe don't have any plants that come indoors over winter. Mine are generally hardy enough to take their chances out in the garden...unless it snows or there's a prolonged icy spell then it's "goodnight Vienna" ..
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of 'Rising Damp' and Rigsby's cat!
DeleteSometimes I get envious of people who have gardens but then remember all the work. Lovely to see all the plants.
ReplyDeleteThe work's not so bad if you get on with it. When it takes over, it's a problem . . . 😳
DeletePlants inside my house don't stand a chance of survival.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteWhat beautiful plants and flowers. And to be able to have so many inside for the winter has to make life much prettier. I have a few annuals that I have brought in to spend the winter with me, but they have been inside since the end of September. Just a bit colder here than you evidently.
ReplyDeleteYour seasons seem to be shorter and sharper than ours. Ours tend to blend one into another. We're just now beginning to feel somewhat colder.
DeleteEnjoyed the photos -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteVery lovely photos
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Thank you - especially the raggy leaves . . . 🤣😂
DeleteSome great color even as we edge from Fall to Winter.
ReplyDeleteWe have to look more carefully for it now - it doesn't swamp us like the summer colour.
DeleteThe circle keeps going round for your plants.
ReplyDeleteIt does, so long as we pay attention . . . 😳
DeleteI used to call Bob, Bobby Appleseed, because he loved splitting and rooting plants and making more and more and every seed he found in fruit would be planted in the ground by the AC water dripping and from there to a cup to a bucket to the ground, he built our entire stunning back yard from doing that. if I plant it, it never comes up and anything I split has both plants dead quickly. its like when I cook, since I hate doing it, it is not very good to eat and the plants are the same way.. I like that you have a cat enclosure. and your flowers all looked beautiful... I even killed my green plant by forgetting to water it, after Bob stopped walking,
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised the plants came a long way after your caring for Bob and Beau.They are far more important.
DeleteI'm a terrible cook and resent the time I have to spend on it. Sometimes, I enjoy it, but not often. I'm sure that's why my husband and children are all good, imaginative cooks - survival!
Lovely! I’ve just been admiring some bright orange Gazania at my local nursery!
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty, and easily grown from seed.
DeleteLovely photos, thanks for sharing them. Very cheering. xx
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. 😊
DeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary.
DeleteSo much colour and beauty in your garden
ReplyDeleteSelectively curated!
DeleteI'm rather envious of your conservatory, the perfect place for houseplants to overwinter. The comments from your app made me laugh :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky to have that space - boiling in summer, freezing in winter if left to its own devices! 😂🤣
DeleteYour home is alive with the quiet drama of returning plants, each with its own story of resilience, mischief, and hopeful renewal as the seasons turn
ReplyDeleteSo long as it doesn't come alive with unwanted microorganisms . . . 😳
DeleteYour garden is lovely. I hope you don't find any critters that made their way into the house. Especially spiders. I usually do a little dance and sing soprano when I see them up close.
ReplyDeleteI usually invite the cats to investigate . . .
DeleteWe just brought ours in too. I have a fern I rescued from my neighbor's trash three years ago and it's getting really big...a bit too big for my small house. I wonder...are ferns splittable too? Though, I wouldn't know who to give a start of one too. Everyone here buys them in the spring and tosses them in the fall.
ReplyDeleteIt always seems such a shame to throw out plants. Splitting them is one answer, as you suggest, but I don't know how it would affect the height, if at all.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your plants and flowers.
ReplyDeleteGardens no matter if the plants are outside or inside always provide plenty of little jobs to do.
The weather has turned chilly, hope you are keeping warm.
All the best Jan
You're right - there's always something to do.
DeleteWe are warm, thank you, with the fire burning brightly. 😊
I like your plants. It's getting colder here and not a lot is growing.
ReplyDeleteYour seasons seem to be far more strictly demarcated than ours. It's cold here at present, but could well warm up again in a few days.
DeleteWith my allergies I don't have any plants inside at all, everything stays out all year round and I don't know anyone who brings things in for winter, it just isn't necessary in 99% of Australia.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly makes life a lot simpler. 😃
ReplyDelete