Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - January '10

Here we are in the middle of January already and it's Bloom Day again!

Does the 15th of the month come quickly, or is it just me?

I'm not complaining though. Spring is that much closer (although it still seems a very long way off).

I'm very excited to have this glorious Clivia beginning to open just in time for January's Bloom Day.

It was a passalong gift from my friend, Marie, as was that lovely trailing Coleus behind it. She has given me so many beautiful plants.

Clivias are related to the Amaryllis and are cared for in much the same way. I kept mine outside on the front porch in a shaded spot during the summer, and fed it regularly. It's been living upstairs in a cool bedroom these past few months....until today when those lovely orange blooms began to open!

The Columnea is still producing its dolphin shaped blooms.

It's nicknamed the Goldfish Plant, but I think the flowers more closely resemble the shape of a leaping dolphin, don't you?

My little Palm is flowering again.

I love the shape of these flower clusters with their strings of tiny dots. Isn't nature amazing?

Among my Christmas presents from my dear husband were Paperwhites and an Amaryllis. The Paperwhites remind me of ducks at the moment, but they should soon straighten up.

The green pot holds the new Amaryllis and the other 4 are from previous years. The promise of beauty to come!
My lovely Star Begonia (in the red pot) has not been doing well for the past few months. Does anyone have advice for ailing begonias?

I'm very pleased with this Alternanthera (Purple Knight) that I'm overwintering. It's looking much healthier than the one I tried overwintering last winter. 

I think it really likes my hubby's plant shelves.

I love this pink Wax Begonia with the burgundy leaves.

This Bacopa is an experiment in overwintering, and so far it's doing well and even producing blooms.

In the cellar a few geraniums are blooming, but this one is by far the most enthusiastic.

Upstairs in a south window Geranium Belladonna is doing nicely.

The red cactus surprised me a couple of days ago when I went to water it. There are buds forming! It bloomed in the spring and now it's going to give us a second show!
Does anyone recognize the vine that is growing with the cactus? This cactus was given to me by a friend and I noticed the vine later. Her exact words were, "Do you want this monstrosity?" It needs repotting and is woody in parts, but is otherwise doing very well. The little vine really took off this past summer and even produced tiny pale pink tubular flowers.

Hannah was pleased to follow me around as I took photos of the flowers. The poor kitties are so bored being cooped up in the house during these cold, snowy winter days. But spring is coming!

While we wait, why don't you spend a little time (or a lot) perusing all the beautiful blooms on other Bloom Day posts all over the world?
Be sure to visit Carol of May Dreams Gardens to find the links.

Happy Bloom Day everyone!