In Bloom

Here is what's in bloom at our house right now.

 Our African Violet.

We received the African Violet as a gift from one of Christopher's friends a few summers ago. 

Our Begonia has been in full bloom since early summer.  

It keeps growing like crazy and I keep trimming it back.  This is such an amazing plant.  This has been passed down via cuttings in Christopher's family for generations. 

Here is my baby Peace Lily - I broke a small piece off one from the office to start my own. Isn't it cute?

Of course I have my oxalis regnelli

and oxalis triangularis.

This is the plant that originally blossomed my love for plants a few years ago.

I use to have an amazing collection of oxalises.  At one point I had 22 different varieties.  I had to force most of them into dormancy when we moved from Wyoming to Maryland in 2009.  Later that year the house we were renting in the woods did not give enough light to bring the plants back to their full potential.  I would like to get my collection up and blooming again one day.  Here are some of my favorites I have grown in the past...

Oxalis tetraphylla aka Iron Cross.  

I don't know what is more stunning, the gorgeous delicate flowers 

or the unique foliage.

Oxalis Lobata, oh how I loved this one.  The lobata is one of the most beautiful flowers on any oxalis I have grown. The delicate flowers were about the size of the tip of your finger.

The leaves were tiny and unique, unlike the oxalis triangularis I was use to growing.  

The oxalis versicolor was another unique flower.  It looked like stripped candy canes when the flowers closed at night.

The oxalis obtusa bloomed huge flowers. I had one in pink and one in lavender. 

Oxalis hedysaroides aka Rubra aka Fire Fern.  This one is a beauty.  This one is the most fascinating house plants I have had the pleasure of growing.  

It likes full sun and low humidity.  Although in contradiction, it likes high humidity to get the flowers to start blooming.  It took a lot of research to keep this one alive for as long as I did.  The maroon leaves are similar to the triangularis and regnelli, as they move with the sun throughout the day.  This particular oxalis has a 90 degree leaf movement.  It produces the most delicate yellow flowers which look amazing in contrast to the maroon leaves.  

Unlike other oxalises, this oxalis doesn't go dormant.  The life span of this particular plant is about 3 to 4 years.  It can be cut and cultivated before it outgrows it pot and dies.  Life was busy this summer (it's 4th year) and much to my disappointment I did not take a cutting to propagate before it was too late.  It bloomed in full force all spring and summer as if it knew it was its last summer for us to enjoy together.  

Yes, I love my houseplants!  I don't like to buy plants just to fill an empty corner in my house.  I love each of my plants (although I am only featuring some that bloom) and love to research each plant so I understand what it needs to thrive in our home.  Do you have a favorite houseplant?  I love the ones that bloom all year... it's like a little bit of spring in the middle of winter which makes me smile.
Linking up to Tracy's Bokeh Party!

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