Over the Garden Fence: Winter plant pleasures and some orchid envy
In all the years of gardening endeavors, many of us have found pleasure in growing indoor plants.
People like me choose the toughies of the houseplant world − Sanseveria, philodendrons, bird nest fern, spider plants, Fittonia, dracenas, dieffenbachia, succulents, aglaonema or Chinese evergreens, aspidistra or cast iron plant, huge monsteras, pothos and endless varieties of ivy. Spider plants provide ongoing generations of "babies."
As houseplants go, those which exhibit a flowering habit have been, and still seem to be, the most difficult for me. If only my patience could extend to the orchids of the world, my joy would be boundless. My admiration for those gardeners who can manage the needs of orchids is great.
A few times the temptation to bring a lovely African violet into my home gripped me and then crushed me. Honestly, I do not know what I was thinking at the time. There's a fragile beauty in both orchids and African violets. But orchids have to be tough. There are over 30,000 species known worldwide and they have a long history. Not with my nurturing. They face eventual death − both plants.
Magnificent African violet entries at Kingwood
In September, prompted by a friend who grows African violets with skill, I traveled to Kingwood Center Gardens where the African violet growers from a few states held an annual show. So many healthy, happy blooming plants were displayed. Vicki had over 40 entries. There were stunning colors and single and double blooms with ruffled edges on the blooms and foliages. Many had variegated foliage. There were dwarf, semi-dwarf and trailing cultivars. Impressed, I took lots of photos.
Some of the plants Vicki entered were Buckeye Saucy Irish, Buckeye Let's Roll, Genetic Heir (which was a dwarf variety), Lunar White Lily that resembled an airy wildflower in form, Newton Grape Suzette, Rob's Combustible Pigeo, and Carolina Bodacious. Rebel's Rose Bud had double ruffled blooms in pink with a dark pink edge on each petal. The leaves on it were speckled with creamy markings.
Such fascinating African violets caused me to cruise twice through displays viewing the magnificent entries. The impressive beauty of these tiny lovelies was gripping. Anyone who knows the size of the blooms will appreciate that the growers had included a few classes for making miniature and small arrangements.
In my departure there was a trace of envy, but I knew of the skillful efforts in Vicki's growing − correct placement for lighting, shelves, a whole room to help work magic and just the right amount of moisture through wicking. When she told me that she had grown several of them from a single leaf, my amazement heightened.
The show was worth the time. As for me and my house, we will stick with foliage plants.
Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: The joy and challenges of indoor plants, especially orchids
