I took these photos today. The bromeliad is from a plant my 

brother and I bought for my mother for Mother's Day over

60 years ago. We walked to the greenhouse which was quite

a way from home, bought the plant and carried it home. When 

I got the plant from my mother it had to have been over 40 years

old and still in the same little green pot! The pot had figurine of a 

white deer on it. The plant had broken the pot. The plant must have

bloomed for my mother, but she never mentioned it. Repotted

it grew to fill its new pot, then it bloomed. In the years I've had it I've

divided and shared it with family members. It is happiest when

it is seriously potbound, when it is, it blooms like crazy. 

If you look closely at the flower you can see the deep blue edge 

along the petal. The colors are striking, shocking pink, deep blue, 

vivid green and yellow. Unfortunately, the blooms last a very short 

time. They also exude a clear sugary liquid which is really hard

to clean off whatever it lands on.

These spend the summer outside, only coming in well into Nov.

The same as with most orchids, they are best neglected.

Bromeliad

60+ year old bromeliad

Phalaenopsis 

This orchid is blooming for its third year, seven flowers now, three more to come and maybe more.

This beauty is on its second year, the blooms are on the old stalk from last year. I don't cut them off unless they are clearly dead. Also a Phal.

Hellebore common name Christmas or Lenten Rose

 These guys were planted last year. Hardy hardy
 hardy! They will bloom until November. Too
bad the blooms are pendulous and tend to hide 
under the leaves. Though I have seen ones with flowers
that stand above their leaves. If you have a shady
spot, get yourself a bunch, you can't go wrong. 
Mine are multi-colored, they also come in white 
and a few other solid colors.

Nellie Stevens Holly

I had to include the Nellie Stevens holly. It is heavy with berries which the robins and cedar waxwings will clean off once they decide the berries have been sufficiently aged. The way this winter is going, not much cold, they may not want to touch them. 

Daffodil leaves are coming up all over, but no sign of buds yet. Winter is half over here, spring arrives by mid-March. I've had sorrel and lush parsley all winter. Wish I had planted some hearty lettuces.