Sunday, February 23, 2020

It is pink




It hasn't bloomed in years.


It was forgotten, in a corner.
To my surprise a flower spike appeared a couple of weeks ago.  
I was hoping that it would be pink.




Nothing, absolutely nothing, is growing outside. 
Thank goodness for my greenhouse.




My orange tree is blooming in my greenhouse.  




The Kumquat tree has been bearing fruit since last summer. 




How do you eat Kumquats?
Do you pop them into your mouth whole?  
Or do you eat only the sweet rind? 

I love seeing the faces when my little friends eat a Kumquat for the first time.  

Happy Surprises to you, 
Gina 



12 comments:

  1. What a beautiful pink orchid Gina, you must be thrilled that it has finally flowered again for you.
    I am not overly fond of Kumquats, and would rather have one of your oranges any day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Rosemary,
    You will probably change your mind about Kumquats when you try the dried variety you often find in Italian markets. Speaking of Italy I have also decided to stay home for a little while and see what happens.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Gina,
    Your pink orchid(?) flower is a most welcome spot of colour in late winter. Your winters last much longer than ours, and I'm happy that you have lovely growing things in your greenhouse to ease you over this time. I don't know that I've ever eaten a kumquat! Time to remedy that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Lorrie,
      It is especially cold this morning. It's a good thing that my flowers are not blooming right now. They would certainly freeze. Even though you are north of us your temperatures are much more moderate. I try to be patient for Spring...does not always work.
      I noticed that our grocery store had Kumquats, albeit at $10 a pound. You must try them. They are a very different taste experience.

      Delete
  4. I have eaten very few kumquats, and know so little! So, is the rind the sweet part? If some people eat the whole thing, maybe I should try that next time I encounter one. What an idea!

    How thrilling to meet your pink orchid again, just when you needed it. I admire your greenhouse very much; I have a greenhouse that is nearly useless just when I need it the most. All of your pictures are encouraging!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello GretchenJoanna,
      Yes they are eaten whole. Kumquats are so small that peeling them would be a bit messy. My greenhouse is such a joy. It helps to lift your spirits. I'm sorry that yours is not working the way it should.
      Thank you for your visit.

      Delete
  5. The glory of a greenhouse! I should have built one long ago - just look what I'm missing! Beautiful orange blossom (added often to English brides' bouquets if I recall correctly) and nasturtiums in winter, wow! The pink orchid is special and perhaps a loving sign!

    No Gina, can't recall eating a kumquat either! Am I missing a tart/sweet flavor?
    Mary x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sear Mary,
      Yes you are missing a very unusual taste experience. Whenever I am in my greenhouse I pluck one or two from my tree. It's a wake-up-call.
      Maybe a greenhouse could be your next endeavor. Mine is small but does just what I want it to do. Namely, keep my geraniums from year to year.
      My pink Cymbidium was not in my greenhouse. It was just in a corner. That is why I was so surprised. You may be correct. A loving sign.

      Delete
  6. Aaah, a kumquat question! (Gorgeous pink orchid!) My Mother's dearest friend in Burbank, California, had a kumquat bush growing in her yard and suggested I try it. Now...that was certainly a different experience! Ruth could't wait to hear and see my reaction! I could bypass that fruit any day of the week! Ruth, however, got used to that unique taste and she often made jam out of the ones she grew. I passed on trying the jam, though, so I'm not sure if all of the sugar in jam recipes would have made me a convert or not! I assume you are in a waiting mode because of the cov-19 in Italy?


    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Mary,
    I loved reading about your kumquat experience. Exactly how my little visitors react. I have been thinking about making preserves out of Kumquats. I think that it would be delicious. The sugar might take some of the sourness away. What has stopped me from trying is that the fruit has so many little seeds.
    Yes, I'm in a waiting mode. I had plans to go to Sicily this year. We will see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aaaahhhhhh, Sicily! A couple of years ago another blog writer was chosen with 4 other 20-somethings to spend a week in Sicily (each in a different region) and write about their experiences. I LOVED IT! Sicily really was enticing and appeared like another planet - Sicily completely intrigued me! I must see if I can get back to that blog (another one I stopped reading because life interrupted!!!) to see the name of some of the places she visited - or I could look at a map - probably easier! More later...

      Delete
    2. Dear Mary,
      I think that I will feel the same as you do about Sicily. We were there many years ago but did not see many places. This time I want to get out and into the countryside and meet the people and learn about their ways. I would love to read the blog when you find it.

      Delete