Hibiscus in Bloom

I snapped these pictures of the some Hibiscus at the greenhouse.

We have gotten more snow! Probably about 3 inches so far, and it is cold.

Bromiliads

I took these photos at the greenhouse while shopping for our poinsettia. I love bromiliads but I do not have the room to grow them. I do have an earth star, I always think of my aunt when I water it, she had one growing in her kitchen window for years. I bought mine at Wal Mart a few years ago, I was surprised to see it there, but there it sat just asking me to purchase it.

White Poinsettias

Last of the poinsettias, I promise :).

Pink Poinsettias for Connie

Some pink poinsettias for Connie. The first one is kind of a dark pink, more maroon possibly but I thought it was pretty.

Poinsettias on Parade at local Greenhouse

Every year for many years my husband and I go to a local greenhouse that grows thousands of poinsettias, I take lots of pictures, we walk around and admire all the varieties and each year we walk away with the usual bright red one which is always our favorite. This is just something small but it is has become one of the highlights of the holiday season for me. The first picture is of the plant we purchased the other is just one of the greenhouses, there are more.

Our first winter storm has arrived, it was snowing when we walked the dogs this AM, by the time we got back home it had turned to sleet, while walking in the woods all of sudden you could hear that it was sleet and not snow. The weather has changed my plans for the weekend. I am staying in for the day. I am going to get started on my holiday candy making. Caramels and fudge are are on the agenda today. A couple of weeks ago, my oldest friend, (we met when I was 5 and she was 6) came over and we spent the day making caramels, her daughter is home from CA now for an early Christmas and she loves the caramels, so my friend and I made several batches, it was a great day.

First Winter Storm Watch, Carolina Wren and other things.

Well, we are officially under our first winter storm watch starting Saturday AM, I am supposed to get my grandsons this weekend (they live about 90 miles away) now I wonder if that will happen. I also need to get up to see my Dad (about 60 miles away) I am wondering about that as well. Time will tell, sounds like an ugly storm with freezing sleet, rain, and snow.

The Carolina Wren is back at my feeder for the 3rd winter in a row, I never see them in the summer. I don't know if they spend the summer here but do not come to my feeders or if they move on in the summer and whether they go back to Carolina for a visit, why they spend their winters in Iowa is beyond me..........

This little silver leafed begonia is one of my favorites, the leaves are so pretty, I imagine it gets flowers but this one has not flowered for me. I ordered a few new houseplants from Logees but I think I may have waited too late as they will not ship when the temps are too cold, so this may be an order I don't get until spring, darn it, it is my tradition to order a few new houseplants each fall but I think I waited too long this particular fall. I have been ordering from them for years as they carry lots of houseplants that are not available locally. I got caught up in the houseplant craze in the late 60s and early 70s and have never gotten out of it.

Shooting Star Hoya

Hoyas are wonderful plants, when they bloom, which in most cases is not often, Shooting Star is an exception, it has blooms on it most of the year. Most hoyas are very fragrant, Shooting Star is not but is a fun houseplant to have around.