Showing posts with label mystery orchid bloom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery orchid bloom. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Last Day of 2023

Mystery Orchid blooms again.
New orchid display in the master bath.
 

 

It has been several years since this "roadside" orchid bloomed--in fact, it has been in decline for a long time. But a few weeks back I noticed a blooming spike emerging from a new shoot, and the flowers started to open just a few days after Christmas--what a treat for the end of a difficult year! 

As soon as the flowers opened, I moved it to the master bath for a change in the display. I hope this will be the beginning of a good period of growth and bloom for this strange little orchid I bought at a roadside stand during a trip to Florida many years ago.

 

New mosaic, Carolina wren with nest


I finished a new mosaic just before Christmas--a Carolina wren with her nest. I need to complete one more mosaic before grouting both, and am trying to decide which bird to tackle next--a pair of bluebirds maybe? I'm running out of certain colors, but there's still plenty of blue tiles left, so that's a possibility.


Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)

 But I also must paint some new botanical pieces for upcoming spring shows. Here's a photo of the watercolor I'm currently working on--a lovely tree peony I came across at Blandy Farm, photographed last spring. It's still a ways from being finished. I need to finish this one and do one more painting, of what, I've yet to decide.

 

Red impatiens with Meyer lemon.
Houseplants in foyer.

Here's a few more houseplants brightening the foyer--a red New Guinea Impatiens, assorted begonias, a pepper vine and a night-blooming Cereus that has yet to bloom. Maybe it'll bloom later this spring, after it's been outdoors for a while? One can always dream, and this is a good season to dream of next year's garden. Happy New Year!