BROMELIADS: GUZMANIA LINGULATA AND TILLANDSIA CYANEA

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

It all started when I was looking for something colourful and enticing...

I can appreciate the shade of the foliage but my personality could never hide my eagerness for more radiant and gleeful plants. On the other hand, as if I was born with a green thumb like my dear Nanay (mother) who could plant a seed and after a few days, it's already coming into life and developing leaves. Then, weeks after it's either pullulating with refreshing flowers or scrumptious fruits. What an inspiring picturesque recollection of mine!

I don't forgo very easily unless there is a need to, especially when the consequential outcome will be pointless. Why would I waste my precious time. Will you? Heretofore, I put up with the idea that only aloe veras, cacti, etc. would survive the test of suffocating atmosphere indoors. However, I was very wrong when I finally stepped-up and bought my first Bromeliad called Guzmania Lingulata. A plant that has the entire flower head, when viewed from above, in the shape of a star and it's been given a more easily identifiable name as Scarlet Star. Its leaves are hardy, long and umbrella out from the central stalk. When this plant blooms, only once in its life, the bloom lasts about 5 months.

My optimistic personality of tender, love and care overcame my idea that it wouldn't survive. Or, my negative thoughts that planting colourful plants inside the flat would end in their not thriving. That is why, I was very delighted and awed when seedlings emerged unexpectedly and my great happiness resonated in four corners of the flat. Now I know how my mother felt when her well-loved plants flourished and yielded blossoms.

 

For the past weeks of taking good care of my Bromeliads, they have given me enriching incentives, gleefulness and pride especially when I stare at them. They transpired the hundrum colour of the window sill board to a more interesting and charming framework. Naturally, it has that green house effect which I dearly love very much.

Genuinely, it is not just the Guzmania Lingulata that cheers me up everyday; as they all do. More so, when the mostly cultivated Bromeliad Tilladsia Cyanea surprised me with a purple flower. As far as I can remember, the blitheness in my eyes was beyond words which induced me to take pictures of the unexpected bloom emanated from its pink bract. Essentially, the bract of this Pink Quill Air Plant produces flowers for 1 to 3 months and after that, new seedlings/ offsets will sprout from the base of its stem. 

 

They, Guzmania Lingulata and Tilladsia Cyanea, were repotted twice because of their unstoppable and thriving growth. Both are sources of my radiant bliss in the morning and every time I behold them; they remind me that I am a green-fingered lady after all.

MY HANDSOME INDOOR CYPRESSES

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

Raising varieties of plants is one of my diversions which brings more colours into my life. It diverts my attention and also helps me to stay away from my laptop, which is very helpful. Once you are on the web and have opened useful interfaces, it will eat you and is very addictive! Would you agree?

In the summer, I planted some colourful flowers in the troughs but their liveliness and adorableness only lasted up to the late autumn. They just couldn't cope with the cold weather during winter season. I didn’t want to be left with empty containers, so I raised five kinds of cypresses in pots which grow vigorously and healthy.

The first cypress I brought was once displayed on the kitchen table but is now place at the back of the house. I didn’t want it to be transferred outside as it has been providing me with a touch of nature's green ambiance. However, because of its vigorous growth, which is now 2 feet tall, I had no choice but to move it to a much more spacious and airy place. The ideal situation is the patio at the back of in which it now joined the other plants already there.

My other two species of cypresses are place in colourful pots and displayed in the kitchen. Both are a good height for indoor plants but soon they will grow like the two outside. I am hoping that they will remain pygmies so that they will stay forever on my window sills. Reality speaking, nature being what it is they will grow up and find themselves in the outside world.

My cypresses which resemble Christmas trees will always remind me of my childhood years. I always wished I would have the chance of rearing even one of them but now, I have five handsome indoor cypresses in my possession. 

 *Photo courtesy of snugharborfarm.com

SP's HEAVENLY GARDEN

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

His hands can grow varieties of flowers and plants. His determination as a nature lover has been proven and can be seen through his masterpieces. His garden is one, a creation to which he combined determination and passion. I can say that Sokphal (SP) Din is a man with efficiency and optimism.

Every visit made to SP's mansion was worth the 1 hour driving. Aside from the fact that he is an incredibly charming and attentive person. His good character pleased me and his ability/ gift to grow colourful flowers and strong plants amazed me. The ambiance I felt in his heavenly garden was like experiencing wilderness again. What I mean is, a personalised garden where I saw wild bees and small birds basking around. Every time I visited his garden I was always in deep thoughts, on how he preserved the colourful condition and also, on how he maintained the healthy growth in his garden.

I  have observed that SP didn’t just sow the seeds and leave it to grow afterwards. His wonderful creation caught my eyes and also, he had given me inspiration to make my own. The care and affection he gave to the needs of his flowers and plants are truly exceptional!

*PHOTOS Courtesy of SP