Golden

 

Golden

Gazania (Treasure flower)

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.

Ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy, Oxford ivy, Pennywort and many more

Herb robert, Storksbill, Crow's foot, Fox geranium and more

Some plants are looking a little ragged, having provided succulent feasts for untold beasties, but they will recover and throw out new leaves.

Poor avocado!  The comment from my app was, 'This plant looks okay, but can be better!'

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

The clivias are taking over! This one is past its best, but has a cluster of new buds. There are now six or seven that require splitting and repotting. I think some may be finding new homes among the family. They are all descendants of the one plant I gave my mother more than thirty years ago.

Meanwhile, the plants that normally live outside continue to thrive.

Lobelia

Nasturtium

Antirrhinum

 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.

Mahonia japonica (the netting is part of the cat enclosure)

Happy days!