Sunday, January 24, 2010

Celebrating Clivia

The vibrant Clivia, which I showed in my January Bloom Day post,
is brightening our winter days, much to my great delight!
I find orange a little difficult to fit into my garden, but here in the house it goes beautifully with the surrounding, mostly green houseplants. 
I've been photographing (perhaps just a tad obsessively, but look at that color! Remember...we northerners are color deprived here in the frozen tundra) its daily progress as it unfolds those glorious orange blooms.
You'll find the first 2 days' photos in the previous post, and the following were taken over the next several days, as the flowers gradually opened.


Day 3 - January 17th


Day 4


Day 5


Day 7Posted by Picasa
I actually forgot to take a photo on day 6, believe it or not!


Day 7 again
(so I took extras on day7)


Day 8


Day 8 again - January 22rdPosted by Picasa

There are 13 blooms on the stalk and all are open now except one. It's truly magnificent. I'm really loving this plant! And yes, I'm still taking photos of it!

Molly is there below the table in one of her favorite birdwatching spots (often all 3 house cats are there)......


Chickadees are very busy at the feeders each day. The little sweeties are just one of more than 13 varieties of birds that visit our feeders daily. I'm counting birds 2 days each week for Project Feederwatch again this year. It's a fun winter activity, is easy to do and you learn so much about birds while aiding scientists to collect data. If you'd like to find out more about it click the link on my sidebar.

 
The birds keep us well entertained while the garden sleeps...and we all wait for spring.

I passed my 4th blogiversary on January 14th without remembering it (again). My, how the years go by!

Here's a link for Clivia care if you'd like to find out more about this gorgeous plant: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/growing-clivia-plants.html

31 comments:

Gardeness said...[Reply]

That is a beautiful flower to have inside. Now if I could just keep houseplants alive ...

Tabor said...[Reply]

Congratulations dear blogger! You flower photos are really lovely. My amaryllis which I have just brought back to life a little over a week ago are now starting to sprout leaves.

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

Happy 4th Blogaversary Kerri. I can see why you love your Clivia. It is a stunning plant especially in the winter when there is nothing to compete with that bloom. The sunshine sure looks good in your photos too. It has been so foggy and gloomy around here lately. I could do well with a dose of sunshine.

CanadianGardenJoy said...[Reply]

Kerri girl you make me want to have this plant ! it is beautiful .. now if only it would like me ?
Hey Happy Blogaversary : ) I think I have been going at it for 3 years .. now that is BAD .. I have no idea really .. should go check that some day ? LOL
You should be very proud .. you have so much information and so many beautiful pictures you are a wonderful blog mistress !! : )

sweetbay said...[Reply]

First off, Happy Anniversary! The Clivia is beautiful. I love orange but have a hard time placing it in the garden too. Those Chickadees are so cute.

Roses and Lilacs said...[Reply]

Congratulations on your 4th anniversary. The clivia is beautiful. It looks especially nice with all that wonderful green foliage behind it.
Marnie

F Cameron said...[Reply]

Happy Blog Anniversary! I enjoy your posts and photos so much.

Love the Clivia photos. It is such a pretty plant to brighten winter days.

Cameron

Needled Mom said...[Reply]

I have never thought of Clivia as an indoor plant, but yours is just gorgeous. My BIL is very active in the Clivia community and does a lot of hybridizing of them. He has well over a thousand of them.

Yes, I would say that the garden is in deep sleep right now, but it must be fun to watch the birds coming to the feeders. I will have to check out that website. Thanks for the link.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...[Reply]

What pretty flowers, I love how it looks in front of the other very healthy houseplant you have.
The Chickadees seem to like every type of feeder you have there!
Happy Blogiversary! I love reading and seeing pictures on your blog!

Sandra said...[Reply]

Wow I really enjoy your posting the Clivia's daily progress as it unfolds.!
Happy 4th Anniversary.

Sandra said...[Reply]
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barbee' said...[Reply]

I LOVE it! Never too many photos of something so pretty. Thank you for taking us along the path of progressive growth and flowering. I loved every step of the way.

Judypatooote said...[Reply]

Would you please take a picture of your thumb and post it, because it surely must be green....the flowers are beautiful, and so is the color....I think of you often when ever I see the weather report for NY.....I am a weather watcher...LOL hope your well, and keep warm for spring will be here before we know it.... judy

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Hey, Kerri, I just looked up information on this plant. I had never heard of it. It is so pretty and bright for winter.

We are getting heavy rain, wind and even a bit of thunder. The snow is going fast, I hope not into the cellar.

I am in my getting ready for the garden mode. How about you?

kylieps said...[Reply]

Hi Mum,
That Clivia is gorgeous. I wish I was there to see it in person. Do you think it will still be blooming when Ko and I are up in Feb? I'm guessing not. Ah well. Looking forward to seeing you.
xx

Nell Jean said...[Reply]

Simply stunning, the Clivia.

Marlene Depler said...[Reply]

Beautiful! You have quite the green thumb!

Unknown said...[Reply]

Oh, clivia! It's that time again, isn't it? Mine isn't showing any signs of blooming yet, but it's a young plant and everything is slower here, even indoor plants sometimes. (I live in hope) Those are wonderful photos...

Darla said...[Reply]

What a spectacular bloom!

bed frames said...[Reply]

I really don't know how to take care house plants! It is kind of frustrating. This flower would be nice inside.

Midlife Mom said...[Reply]

I LOVE day seven! That is my favorite of all the pictures, just beautiful! Wish I had your green thumb, I don't have any flowering plants inside so it's a bit dull. We lost quite a bit of our snow over the weekend but more headed our way tomorrow. It always brings in more birds to my feeders. My chickadees just about eat me out of house and home! I have a big feeder and they just about empty it every day unless it's really warm and sunny, don't know where they go for their meals on those days!

Take care, spring will be here before we know it!!

Jellyhead said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri - those are spectacular photos! (and flowers). Hope all's well in your world this week :-)

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

Happy 4th blogaversary!!!

Your Clivia is a gorgeous plant. The flowers are so exotic looking!! The plant reminds me of an Amarylis.

I have some little English Violets blooming in the gardens now but the stems are very short due to the lack of sun and the cold temps. I picked a few though and the fragrance is absolutely intoxicating!!

Merle said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri ~~ Happy blogaversary - the years get away from us I had my 4th in late December 2009. so just a little earlier than you. I have nowhere near the beautiful photos
and garden that you have.
Your clivias are wonderful.
Take care my friend, Love, Merle.

Layanee said...[Reply]

I used to have a Clivia and now want another after seeing yours in its' glory. We are back in the cold of winter with wind blowing and single digits. So much for 'spring thaw'. Keep warm and congrats on your blogiversary.

Kathleen said...[Reply]

I'm going to click on that link Kerri because I want my clivia to do what yours is doing!! It's GORGOEUS!! I would be photographing it obsessively too. Carry on ~ I for one, will never tire of seeing pictures of it.
Happy blogiversary too! That's quite a long time blogging.

Alice said...[Reply]

Like 'a light at the end of the tunnel' your Clivia brings a warming, comforting glow amongst the greenery and chill of winter.

No wonder you wanted to take photos everyday; that's a beautiful flowerhead of magnificent colour.

I hadn't thought of growing them inside, which is just as well as I am the world's worst indoor plant grower. I tried them in the garden once, and they died, but after seeing your photos I think it's time for another go.

The photos of your garden, with its thick snowy blanket, gives no hint of the colourful delights which will take its place in a few months. I'm sure you appreciate your colour and plants much more than we do, when we can have them pretty much all year round.

At least you get a spell from gardening, Kerri.....lol.

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

Happy Blogiversary, Kerri - thank you for four years of lovely photos and wonderful stories.

Y'all know I'm old so it won't give anything away to tell you that the first time I heard the name Clivia, Thalassa Cruso was demonstrating how to divide and pot the plant on TV.
Yours is so gorgeous it makes me wish I had one now!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...[Reply]

gorgeous color, Kerri!!!! I have an orange winter jacket (would you believe it!)!!!! ..it helps chase any winter blues i may have!!!! oh yes I love colors...give me a VIBGYOR...any day! :)

joey said...[Reply]

I repotted my 30 yr old clivia for the 1st time this summer ... wonder if I'll ever see another bloom :(

Reflection Through The Seasons said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri...

Congratulations on your 4th Blogaversary. I started blogging December 2005, so about the same time..

I know so well the joy the Clivia brings..... particularly at this time of year, for me the flower heads emulate the glow of the sun and are very welcome.... mine are not in flower right now, I will show pictures when they are.

Our garden is beginning to wake up... the red shoots of the peony plants are up a couple of inches, the hellebores are in flower and so are clumps of snowdrops and minute by minute each day is getting longer.

Have a good week. Love - Marion