I like to have bulbs flowering in the conservatory at this time of year. The conservatory is only kept frost free, with a little heater that keeps the temperature at +5C during the night, during the day it just has to cope by itself!
Conservatory flowers.
Hyacinths.
This lovely basket of hyacinths was given to me by a couple of my neighbours for giving them a lift to a meeting every month.
Hyacinth.
The perfume is absolutely amazing each morning when I open the door to see how everything is behaving!
Paperwhite Narcissus.
These have been fantastic, they started flowering at the beginning of December and I thought they would be over by Christmas, but they are still opening up new flowers.
Pelargonium.
One of my pelargoniums is just refusing to stop flowering.
Indoor cyclamen.
I’m not very good with indoor cyclamen, but this pretty frilly one is surviving well!
Iris reticulata.
They should all be dark purple, named after someone whose name begins with P, but look…..
Iris reticulata.
……..we have a cuckoo in the nest, I wonder who it is?
All the flowers in the conservatory and the woodland make me think it is almost spring, I might be in for a shock , but I can hope can’t I ?
Do you try to beat a cold winter by having bulbs indoors?
Are you trying to remember ‘Pauline’? I am growing those for the first time this year, so am excited to see what they look like compared to my normal ones that I think are Harmony. I wonder how your ‘cuckoo’ got in there. It is good that it has flowered at the same time. I love your Paperwhite nacrcissus – think I will try them next year.
Sadly I don’t really have anywhere to grow indoor bulbs – our windowsills are quite narrow and I think the house would be too warm anyway. I enjoyed looking at yours though.
I couldn’t forget “Pauline” could I Annette, but I’ve mentioned her so often lately! I’ll have to try and look up my little “cuckoo”, whoever it is, it’s rather nice.
Neither of our children have wide windowsills, which makes giving them potted bulbs rather difficult.
Is the iris Katherine?
Thanks for the suggestion Diana, I will have to try and find a photo of her.
Your conservatory is the perfect antidote to a cold day and even though it’s not a bulb and not the most exotic flower I think I like the pelargonium most of all!
I hope to have a few amaryllis indoors once they begin to sprout. My fingers are crossed they do well.
Thank you Frank, it does make me think of Spring. I have 2 Amaryllis coming on, it won’t be long before their buds open, then they can join the others in the cool conservatory where the flowers last longer. I am also trying to get 2 from last year to do something, but no signs of life there yet, I must be patient!
Bringing bulbs inside is a lovely thing to do. I have problems with windowsills here because although they are wide most are over a radiator and so far too hot, plus there are internal shutters which means anything on the sill needs moving night and morning. I’m envious that your bulbs have all opened together whereas mine are all opening in ones and twos.
I agree Christina, that plants on windowsills need moving every night when curtains are closed, this is why mine are in the conservatory where they are quite warm during the day, even when the sun isn’t shining. The conservatory never gets too hot in the winter, in the summer when it heats up, I have to change to different plants that can take the heat.
I seem to have been lucky this year, in that most of the bulbs have all flowered at the same time as the others in their respective pots, quite often they don’t though!
It may just be serendipity, but I do like the combination of the blue iris amongst the purple! My windowsills are also unsuitable due to the heat of the radiators below. My conservatory is unheated, so no use for anything this time of year. All this means my bulbs are limited to a few hyacinths in the kitchen!
The blue iris does go well with the others doesn’t it Denise, maybe it will stay with it’s friends when they get planted in the garden. Our conservatory only has a little heater in it which gets switched on if the forecast is for frost at night, its amazing what will grow as long as it is above freezing!
I always think it’s such fun when cuckoos pop up! I just love all these adorable blossoms, I can almost smell those hyacinths! I think we are going to have a late winter, let’s hope it’s not a long one!xxx
I agree Dina, I’m getting quite used to the only blue flower now and think it might stay when they get planted out. We have only had 2 frosty nights so far, we really need more to kill off any nasties lurking where they can’t be found!
Ah I love Hyacinths, they flower for such a long time, yes I can just imagine the scent as you open the greenhouse door. Gorgeous. Yes its seems like after the mild spell winter is properly kicking in now. How sweet and serendipitous that little rogue within your pot, a loveable one though!!
The perfume is absolutely wonderful Annie, and now I have another container just starting to flower, so I will be enjoying it for some time to come. We are back to a mild spell, we really do need proper winter temperatures for a while, bugs and other nasties need killing off.
I’m rather pleased with my little cuckoo, must try and find more for next year!
Your bulbs are a joy to brighten up a dark January day. Your cuckoo looks like Clairette to me.
Thank you so much Chloris for your ID on the little iris, I must try and find more. Going into the conservatory is a pleasure with all the colour and perfume, it makes January more acceptable!
You make me want to do more bulb forcing in the winter. We did some Hippeastrum this winter but that’s all. I love the scent of Hyacinths. Some people don’t like it – what’s wrong with them?
I have a couple of hippeastrum nearly flowering, so they will soon be joining in with the display in the conservatory soon. Hyacinth perfume is divine, but in small doses I think, it seems to be too strong for some people, but certainly not for me!
Hi Pauline, Thanks you for sharing! I love, love, love the Hyacinth! Growing bulbs indoors really does brighten gloomy winter days but, no bulbs for me…….With limited space, I am wintering Coleus and Begonia from the flowerbeds . They are doing well and I expect to root more from them and have lots of them all over my yard next summer…..
I like the sound of all your cuttings Sally, next summer you will have so many beautiful plants. I must try some coleus, but first I must grow them from seed.
The hyacinth perfume is wonderful and has made me determined to grow some more next winter.
Your blue iris amidst the purple ones is perfect! What a happy accident. It must be wonderful to have a conservatory. The closest we come is my husband’s office, which is blessed with lots of light. He grumbles about the jungle that takes over his space every winter.
It is perfect isn’t it Deb, or maybe its like the deliberate mistake woven into a Persian carpet! We love our conservatory, we had it added soon after we moved here and it is so useful for plants that like a bit of heat, no matter what time of year it is, although my husband complains of plants tickling him when he is trying to read!
So nice that you have all this color and fragrance to enjoy inside at this time of year!
The perfume is still amazing Peter, when I go in each morning. I have more hyacinths flowering now so their perfume is so strong coupled with the deep pink ones.