Gulf Coast Greenie

An Early Tropical Valentine

 

After the last hard freeze, I found this leaf among the the many discarded by my crotons. The other leaves are all simple rather than split. It was a nice parting gift before their dormancy -- they are well established, I and covered them, so I think they'll come back.

Have a lovely Valentine's week!

A Different Kind of Christmas Cactus

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis with Opuntia "Santa Rita"

Despite my earlier posts, I'm pleased to not have snow this Christmas. Recent storms have caused such tribulation for the East Coast, I feel blessed to have reason to run my air conditioner this week. Ice-free roads have also been a welcome sight. On Sunday I drove 14 hours from Las Cruces, New Mexico, to move home.*

I met many nice people out there and learned a lot about xeric plants, among other things. One plant that I became particularly fond of is the desert Christmas cactus, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

In Houston we see more of the softer Schlumbergera Christmas cactuses, but this one is equally festive. It's upright and slender like a cholla but has blooms and fruit that resemble miniature prickly pear blooms and tunas. They ripen and turn red late in the year, in time for Christmas.

I didn't bring any of these home, but our Christmas "tree" came from the Chihuahuan desert.

Tumbleweeds are delightfully portable.

Merry Christmas!

*I haven't mentioned this before because it was rather awkward, but I have been living primarily in a small apartment in New Mexico since the end of July. My husband was on a spontaneous work rotation out there, and I traveled back and forth irregularly during that time. All the posts I made about my home garden were accurate, but you may have noticed that I didn't mention too many fall plantings or other projects. I can't wait to get my hands dirty with spring planting. Long-distance gardening is quite a challenge.

FW: A Canadian goose has sent you a greeting

From the Bosque del Apache:

Halloween Poll

If you don't eat your fruits and veggies . . .

(I wish I could take credit for creating these, but they're a neighbor's.)

Clay Carrington of the Nature Conservancy points out in his article "Halloween doesn't have to be an econightmare" that the compost bin is a fine destination for old pumpkins.

Time for Propagifts

Gardeners are accustomed to planning ahead for future seasons. Many of us have recently placed bulbs and wildflower seeds in the ground as deposits for spring blooms. Even so, one season can sneak up on us if we get carried away planning for spring: The holiday season.

I try throughout the year to gather presents to give during the holidays, but there are always some on the list that slip by me. And I always need extras for last-minute reciprocation, etc. Plants are ideal to keep on hand as back-up gifts (if not primary gifts) because you can never have too many for yourself, right?

Horticulture Magazine has a great article by Pam Baggett about propagating and gathering plants to give. She suggests potting bulbs and taking cuttings from succulents.

If you have outdoor plants that do well wintering indoors, consider sharing some of them too. Tom MacCubbin of the Orlando Sentinel has good suggestions for preparing them for the change.

I have found coleus to be a festive plant for holiday decorating and usually bring in cuttings from my favorites anyway, in case we have a freeze. They will root in water alone, but I've found they stay healthier in soil. If they happen to get spider mites, I wash the leaves thoroughly in the sink.

Mixing red and green succulents together would be pretty too.

I'd love to hear your gardening gift ideas. Please write them in below.