A new crop

Still trying to convince you how easy it is to keep orchids.

These orchids have been dormant for about 6 months. 
Place the dormant plant by an east facing window and protect from direct heat.
I noticed new spikes a few weeks ago.

Last year, about this time, an older group was just beginning to throw new spikes.

Here they are, a year later, still going strong.  

When we go on an extended vacation I place crumbled up newspaper inside the container and add about 2 to 3 inches of water.  
The paper soaks up the moisture and keeps the orchids happy. 

If you see a blight on your leaves just cut it off and reshape the leaf with scissors.  
You can remove an entire leaf and it will not hurt the orchid. 

Orchids are tough.

Wish I was. 

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.ca/

It's Harvest Time

They have waited in the cool and dark cellar.

They have waited 2 years to see the light of day.

Soaked in Gin (sometimes Vodka)  for many a month.

They were beautiful and red once. 

Watched over by our owl. 

When she doesn't show up the birds make the cherries disappear in short order.

Now all bottled up and waiting for a party.

Also tried pears this time (same recipe)
  It's even better than Kirschwasser

Will share with friends.

Thank you for visiting dear friends.  
Have a great week ahead. 

Gina 

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Discovering while learning.

A few years ago I was invited

from the book entitled Art in Bloom by Victoria Jane Ream

to participate in an event, sponsored by the 
Utah Museum of Fine Arts, entitled 
"Art in Bloom" 

Floral Designers were selected and asked to interpret a painting into a floral arrangement. 

I selected the above painting by Jose Aparicio Y Inglada 
(1793-1838)
entitled "Portrait of Jean Louis Reynier"

The challenge for me was to attach a rose to my sword which would match the color of the ribbon on the soldier's chest.  
The rose had to last for 2 weeks, and out of water. 

The solution was to attach a dried-in-sand rose.

It sounds easy.  But roses change color once dessicated. 

  

My comment why I chose this particular painting.  

 I own a sword similar to the one in the painting and I wanted it to be part of the story. 

Keeping cut Phalaenopsis fresh presented another problem.

In the above photograph you can see that the flowers are beginning to fade.

I actually cut these yellow Phalaenopsis from a plant when I noticed that several stems were beginning to wilt.  

If you cut the stem and place it in water,

 in a few hours they will have revived and will last in water for many more days. 

If you want them to last even longer as cut flowers, do what professionals do.  

"Condition" by placing them into cold storage for 24 hours.  

That means 54 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Your household refrigerator 40 to 45 degrees F)

Cut your stems every day and replace water. 


Have a great week ahead, dear Friends. 

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Happy Valentine's Day

Everyone knows that I love flowers.

But then . . . 

There is that special day 

when I love chocolates best of all.  

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends. 

Gina 

Should I or shouldn't I.

Remove stamens from Lilies.

At this stage, inside the bud, they can't do any harm.

Many a wedding dress has been ruined by brushing up against a Lily with pollinated stamens.

It has been noticed that Lilies last longer if stamens are removed. 

But they look so empty.

So, I'm making my own rules.

The stamens will be left intact if there isn't a chance for them to brush up against nearby fabric. 

What do YOU think?  

Have a great remainder of the week, dear friends,

Gina  

The Ginkgo leaf

What does a Ginkgo Tree, A May Bug and a Sago Palm have in common? 

They all appear in today's post written by my charming friend  Rosemary, 
from England,  

I don't have a Ginkgo tree (anymore).

But that doesn't stop me from painting them onto dinner plates. 

And my bugs are happily ensconced on top of painted leaves.  

Have a great week dear friends, 

Gina