COLD TOLERANT BROMELIAD

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My latest acquisition to the sand pile given to me by my daughter is this Aechmea Gamsepala or Matchstick Bromeliad. It resembles the old wooden matches hence the name.



This guy comes from South Brazil and is more cold tolerant than most Bromelaids. I read an article where they grow this Bromeliad up at the Jacksonville Zoo Gardens in North Florida outdoors. North East Florida gets its fair share of cold and freezes during the winter and apparently this is one Bromelaid that can survive there.

The flower as you can see is a bright pink with an vivid electric blue tip.



The Matchstick Bromeliad only grows to about a foot tall.



Besides tolerating the cold better it is also drought tolerant and can be used in a xeriscape garden. It is considered hardy in zones 9 -11.

As with most all Bromeliads they propagate by offshoots or pups from the parent plant. I have taken three pups from this plant today and made separate containers with each. So my original gift has now turned into four plants.



I have to admit that I really like this Bromeliad because of the unusual vivid colors. It and it's three pups will make a welcome addition to my outside garden.



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CELEBRATING WITH A MOONFLOWER VINE

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Now is the time that Southern Coastal folks have been waiting for. The occasion is of course OEOAHS.

This year I am going to plant the traditional Moonflower Vine on my backporch. Thats right I am using my reclaimed seeds from early summer.

http://sofloridagardening-sanddune.blogspot.com/2009/07/moonvine-seed-harvest.html

The first step is to score the hard seed coats to make them germinate "more better".

You are right that is what the file is for so you can score. It's an art in itself cause these little seeds are hard as a rock and don't like being scored.

Now that you scored you have to dunk. That's right dunk the scored Moonflower seeds in plain warm water overnight. While the seeds are soaking is a good time to apply some band aids to your fingers which you have probably scored also with the file.

The next day you can then plant the seeds. Some folks like to just stick them in the dirt where they will grow claiming the Moonflower doesn't like to be transplanted. I like to start mine in the yogurt cups then transplant them soon after they sprout. That is my traditional way for after all we are celebrating. And much like the Japanese Tea ceremony detail and form are paramount.

Now that the seeds have germinated they are planted out . I put this one in a ceremonial clay pot and mulched it with shredded newspaper . Remember attention to detail is vital.

There you have the steps recorded for a proper OEOAHS celebration commemorative Moonflower planting.

What, you have never heard of OEOAHS. You have never celebrated the Official End Of The Atlantic Hurricane Season. All I can tell you is a lot of folks from the South look forward to November 30 all summer long. Why, so they can breath a sigh of relief and plant a Moonflower.

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FREE SEED AND PLANT MARKERS

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One of my gardening goals is to keep things simple and not waste. I figure that spending retail for something in the store that I could make myself or recycle and use is just plain wasteful. To me the constant subliminal messages of advertising that to be happy you must have the best, newest, most expensive is horse hockey. Sadly many folks have been programed to their detriment in this regard.

Here is an idea that I have been using this season and has worked out well. It is not my idea and I take no credit for it .

But if something works well and is free I will use it shamelessly.

The idea is for seed and plant markers . I plant a lot of seeds in my recycled yogurt cups and need lots of markers to id the plant and the date it was started. The simple idea as you can see is to use cut up plastic slats from a discarded blind. Instead of going to the landfill it is going in my garden . --------------------------------











One cut up blind gave me more labels than I will use in several years.

They are plastic and won't mind getting wet.
You can write on them in pencil or marker pen with the information on the plant. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just stick them in the dirt and they work just fine.







You could put a hole in one end and wire them to a pot or plant. Done that too.

And did I say they are FREE.

The old blind was found in a trash pile.

I read this gardening idea somewhere, I have no idea where. But it is a good one. Try it yourself if your a mind to.

My garden rule-- never pay cash when its free in the trash.

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WEIRD GOINGS ON AROUND THE SANDPILE

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Not quite sure what is going on around here but it is unnerving. Over the Thanksgiving weekend these things happened.

To start my son's ex girlfriend stopped by and brought me a Key Lime Pie all the way from the Key West Pie Factory in where else Key West. Man that's some good eatin'. She came by again last night and brought a Homemade Pumpkin Pie. Slightly weird but OK.

Next my son's new girlfriend stopped by and gave me a Dendrobian Orchid that she no longer wanted. She said the flowers had fallen off and it was dying. Of course I tried to tell her that the spike was gone but the plant looked fine but she insisted that I take it. Unexpected but OK again.

Then my sister in law, who stayed with us over the Holiday, came back from shopping at the swap shop with my wife. She told me she had a suprise

and gave me these four Orchids .

This one is a yellow Phalaenopsis. Don't know her name yet

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Another Phalaenopsis Orchid hybrid . I think this is

Long Pride Fancy.

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And yet another hybrid Phal called Chien Xen Pearly--------------------------------------------------------

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And this big guy a Vanda called Pack Chong Blue.

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By this time I'm Feelin' kinda weirded out. I mean two pies and five new Orchids. Something is not normal here.

Then I fire up the computer to check my blog and find that Deborah from Deb's Garden has awarded my blog a Best Blog Award from Blotanical.

WHOA, I mean TWO Pies, FIVE Orchids and a Best Blog Award in three days. I'm really freakin now. Kind of like livin' in a earthquake zone and suddenly noticing all the birds and animals have been missing for a few days. I'm not that superstitious but have seen some Omens in my time.

I can't seem to put my finger on what it all means but I'm sure going inside to find some spare change in the couch crack to finance me a Lottery ticket.

In the meantime check out Deb's Garden blog and see if its not all true.

http://debsgarden.squarespace.com/journal/2009/11/28/an-award-no-lizard-can-give.html#comments

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AS PROMISED, THE WHAT'S IT TO YA, MAC--RESULTS

Let me first tip my hat to all who participated.

As humans we all filter our perceptions through a prism of our experiences and knowledge.

What seems obvious to us may hold an entirely different meaning to another.

And as stated by Harper Lee,

" You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view".

There were no correct answers to the poll. The winner is each of you who chose to participate for you possess the ability to laugh at yourself. My compliments.

Here is the link with the responses opened: Enjoy.

http://sofloridagardening-sanddune.blogspot.com/2009/11/whats-it-to-ya-mac-contest-in.html

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