Projo Garden Blog

My two scented geraniums (Pinewood and Sandalwood), purchased as very small plants in 3-inch containers at the RI Flower and Garden show this past February, have grown by leaps and bounds since I put them in the ground in late spring.

10.16.11

I have had such a pleasure inhaling the fresh, clean scents of the leaves and introducing them to many neighbors and friends.

By early July, I noticed new buds from one of them.

7.7.11

Only one plant produced flowers, very few but quite dainty, throughout the summer.

9.6.11

I don't really mind not having the flowers. What it lacks in blooms, it more than makes up in the unusually lovely foliage and the unique scents.

10.2.11

Scented geranium belongs in the Geraniaceae family and Pelargonium genus.

7.10.11

I plan to root some stems to grow indoors for outdoor planting next year.

Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender', a relatively new flowering plant, initially originated in Cape Town, South Africa has joined a group of my indoor, ornamental houseplants for over a month.

I have been enjoying the tubular, lavender flowers on long spikes ...

and lovely green foliage with purple underneath.

10.12.11

Plectranthus belongs in the mint family (Lamiaceae)

9.17.11

Plant care: Bright indirect light; average room humidity and temperature; water thoroughly and allow the top soil to dry out between waterings; add a balanced, liquid fertilizer every two weeks and trim off flower-spikes after flowers fade.

Blooming period: autumn into spring -- in South Africa.

Earlier this week I purchased 2 healthy yarrow plants with deep reddish pink and lighter pink flowers from a garden shop at a nearby home/appliance store ($6.98 for one and $10 for two).

The commonly seen yellow-flower yarrow has always been part of my perennial garden.

9.22.09

I have seen yarrow in colors other than yellow at the local nurseries, as well as in catalogs; but none was as appealing as this Tutti Frutti 'pomegranate'.

10.5.11

I planted one in full sun and the other in partial sun; but have since moved the latter to full sun, too. There are still many new buds, yet to bloom.

10.6.11

According to the website of the Massachusetts Horticulture Society, blooming period is June to August. Here we are in early October with a chill in the air, yet the tutti Frutti 'pomegranate' yarrow is still in full bloom.

They make lovely cut flowers.

10.6.11 - cut flowers

Yarrow belongs in the family asteraceae.

Yes, I've planted some more bulbs of the yellow autumn crocus. I don't believe the ones from last year will flower again as they're supposedly hardy only in the USDA zone 7 -9.

Last week I spotted some green leaves just above the ground that resembled those of daffodils. I vaguely remember that I had planted at least half a dozen bulbs at that dry, well-drained, sunny spot in the early summer.The yellow flowers with 6 stamens appeared a few days later. There should be a few more flowers coming up.

9.29.11

I'm not sure if I should call them crocus or daffodil. They certainly do not look like colchicum (naked lady) or the fall crocus.

Strenbergia lutea belongs in the Amaryllidacea family.

10.2.11

I'm now able to enjoy spring daffodil..

4.23.11

Then, summer daffodil

7.11.11

and now, autumn daffodil -- such a wonderful addition for this time of the year.

9.30.11

Yes, I will definitely plant more bulbs next year.

I always think of my garden and flowers whenever I am away from home and wherever I travel.

These beautiful colchicums reminded me of the white ones I had in my garden.

9.24.11

9.23.10

There was so much to see at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

I was in awe of the majestic glasshouses with many tropical trees and plants, including the oldest glasshouse in Edinburgh, with the oldest palm tree in the great Britain at its center.

The temperature and humidity were properly maintained -- my camera lens fogged up.

...in the steamy glasshouse

The most amazing specimen I encountered was the giant water lily, Victoria amazonica, with enormous floating leaves.

9.24.11

It was indeed a royal treat for a gardener like me.

The Wishbone flower got its name from the characteristic two wishbone shaped stamens that are joined at the tips until the flower is ready for pollination, at which time the stamens pull apart.

9.14.11

8.20.09

Torenia's flower has a trumpet-shaped corolla with a yellow throat spot. The flowers come in different shades of bluish purple and pink.

7.18.07

The plant grows in a mound. It prefers high humidity, rich and well-drained soil.

9.13.11

Torenia has been part of my summer garden as far back as I could remember.
I have not planted any new ones for a while as they have been coming back via self-seeding.

9.22.10

Torenia was named by Linnaeus in honor of his contemporary Swedish clergyman and naturalist Olaf Toren (1718-1753) after his visit to India and China. It is native to Asia and Africa. It is in the Scrophulariaceae family ( the same family as Snapdragon ).

I had planted many new bulbs of allium this past spring, but only got to enjoy very few of them. I assumed that some bulbs required 2 years to begin to flower.

Then two weeks ago I spotted a long slender stem with white tiny tip that turned into a small umbel of star-shaped flowers.

They look very much the same as those of other types of Alliums, including giant alliums.

6.8.10

I've been watching more of them coming up, one by one. Frankly, I could not even remember its name and where I planted them. The flowers look very dainty and have a mild, lovely fragrance. They also make lovely specimens as cur flowers.

9.12.11

According to my search, this white star allium or allium neapolitanum has so many names : Naples Garlic, Daffodil Garlic, False Garlic, Flowering onion, Naples Onion,Guernsey Star-of-Bethlehem, Neopolitan garlic, Star, White Garlic and Wood Garlic (Wikipedia).

It belongs in the family Amarylladaceae. Allium (Genus) is a Latin word for garlic. There are roughly 750 species in this genus.