Why not treat yourself to some cheerful seasonal blooms? Grow some of these nifty flowers inside this winter during those nasty dark cold months of January and February.
Not to gloat, but here in southern California we have lots of stuff blooming like crazy in our gardens right now -- from roses to bougainvillea to cyclamen to pansies and poinsettias. But I just spent a little time in the frozen midwest and after only a day or so I was sooo ready to see flowers, any kind of flowers! When I gardened in cold winter climate I always had amaryllis for winter flowers as big and bold as they come, and I treasured my African violets for their cheerful clusters of little flowers. And I tried to coax violas to bloom on my kitchen windowsill along with the Kalanchoe from the grocery store and the Christmas cactus whose start I got from my mother in law..... I drew the line at paperwhites though because I can't stand their stench... er ... fragrance. A friend had a Calamondin tree that would bloom in winter and a bench full of orchids. To stand beside that kind of display on a snowy day is surely pure heaven on earth! And my best tip for a big time flower fix in midwinter is to head to the nearest nursery with a greenhouse display floor and hunt out the cyclamens! fields of flowers, the smell of damp potting mix and a little sunlight through the glass ceiling, just close your eyes and dream! So anyway, here are some suggestions on indoor winter flowering plants you could try growing this month and next just to perk up your decor and lift your spirits as only flowers can do. Enjoy!
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Copyright Barbara Martin January 8, 2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
