What blooms after it rains?

Rain Lily or Rain Flower are the common names for Zephranthes.

15 years ago my daughter's neighbor gave me a pot of Rain Lilies and they continue to enchant me each year.  I noticed this year the amount of blooms were a bit sparce so it is time to repot them again in the spring and make a least three pots of them!  One or two to share as gifts for friends again!  Interested?  Let me know! 

They are definitely not a zone 4, they are a tropical plant.  Tiny bulbs planted 2-4" deep in a pot of potting soil and they thrive in full sun.  Keep them watered in the summer and they will bloom all summer right up to frost.  They bloom best just after a rain, they must like mother nature's watering system best?

When frost nears it is time to bring the pot indoors and set it in the basement where it is cool, dark (or not much light) and quit watering until you take them outdoors again in the spring.  After frost danger is gone in May remove the dried plant material, water well and let sunshine do its magic.  My current pot has not been repotted since 2005!  Definitely beautiful and thrives on neglect!  My favorite kind of plant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday...

I was a bit overwhelmed by the experience of receiving an award from Minnesota State Horticulture Society.  I understood I would be receiving an award at their Annual Recognition and Awards Ceremony in Minneapolis but the one I received was an unexpected surprise!  My favorite assistant gardener, my husband, Denny, was there also and I forgot to give him recognition in my acceptance speech for all the support and help he gives me!  Needless to say I was feeling a bit overwhelmed!  Must have been a "senior moment"!  :)

The event was shared by special gardening friends who were with me representing our garden club.  Our Rochester Garden & Flower Club also received a wonderful honor.  The MSHS Garden Club of the Year Award is a very treasured award representing the achievements we have accomplished! 

Indeed it was a very special day!

 
 
 
 



June, our President,  accepted our award!



Mother Nature's Garden...

in all its glory was at it's SE MN peak color along the Mississippi River this last weekend!  Our favorite drive is from Winona north to Lake City and once again we were not disappointed.  We crossed into WI to get close and personal with the backwater area and to treat ourselves to lunch at Beth's in Nelson!  Yummy lunch, with home made chicken soup with dumplings, and we left there with a fabulous apple dumpling treat for later!  We watched lots of tired duck hunters coming out of the water.  Denny was doing a bit of reminiscing as we passed the Weaver Bottoms area.  Of course a stop at Lark Toys was also added to our agenda!  That is always a fun stop!  I had already purchased apples at an orchard at home so we bypassed the apple orchards along the way.

 

Tis the season.....

for admiring our SE MN fall color! 

We had perfect weather this last weekend to get out there on the country roads and soak up the sunshine and colors!  On our way to our favorite route along the Mississippi in SE MN we drove thru some spectacular Minnesota farmland and didn't miss noticing the fields of corn and their contributions to the day's scenery! 

Yarrow blooms all summer and fall!

While I was cutting down plant material last week I realized I was about to cut down a plant that was still blooming!  I think my pastel yarrow has been blooming since June, at least!  That makes it four months of blooms!  This year I consistently deadheaded it correctly, leaving stalks that could produce more blooms and it just kept on producing more week after week!  WOW!  No wonder I've had that plant for at least 14 years!  It's great in arrangements and the blooms are so long lasting.

Fall

Finally, this week I tackled cutting back the summer growth on perennials and pulling annuals out.  My slave gardener, my husband, has been helping me the last several years but is having a problem with a knee.  So I took a deep breath on Tuesday and tackled the project by myself!  (At age 75 and three knee replacements puts limits on my flexibility a bit)  Several hours each afternoon, taking lots of rest breaks, and soon Friday had arrived and I was done!  4 car trunks full of plant material went to the community compost site. Wow, I accomplished a major project by myself and it feels great!  (Well, I rode with him  to the compost site!)  Of course, this wonderful weather was a huge help!

I have a new batch of daffodils to plant yet.  At least now I can find some bare spots for their new home! 

Purple Dome Aster

The last bright spot of color of summer in my garden beds at home is old reliable Purple Dome Aster.  He never fails me, he's like old faithful!  Right on time early October in all his purple glory!  He also seems to resist frost so I keep a few alyssum at his feet to keep him company.  I get lots of questions from the neighborhood army of walkers about what that plant is.  I keep splitting it every three years and donate pieces to my garden club annual plant sale.