Thanks Elaine.

I've always wanted some of these. Lowe's used to carry them and they were affordable, now these "pitcher plants" are so expensive. I saw large ones hanging at the Harry Potter in Universal Studios.

On another topic, I just nominated orchids as great shade plants, here is the link. I don't have many beautiful orchid blooms to share though so I'm posting a link of my thread here in case the orchid experts with beautiful blooms would want to chime in.
The thread "Orchids" in Tell us your Favorite Shade Plants

Ken @Drdawg, I hope your surgery went well and now recovering nicely.

Good one, Gigi, posting orchids as a favorite shade plant - what were we thinking?? Of course they are our favorites.

I added a bunch more orchids that I grow in the shade here.

I love your post. I'm always amazed of the variety that you guys grow.

I wanted to bring orchids to the forefront because I think it's is under represented. Most people tend to forget that orchids are shade plants even if they are mostly grown in pots and in hanging baskets.

Thanks, @gigiplumria.(Gigi). I have had rough time of it. I just can't seem to find a comfortable position. This afternoon seems to be a bit better though.

Good to see you back here,that is a good sign of recovery. My DH goes in tomorrow morning, due to a bad back he is not comfortable to begin with so I am anticipating a grumpy guy. I know you are too sweet to ever be grumpy.
alice

Yes, I was thinking about you Ken! Hope you heal swiftly!!

Looking into the garage where most of my Epiphyllum hybrids are sleeping, and look who is still blooming like crazy!! This is the first Winter we are keeping the large Jade in the garage, but I think it will be next Winter back in the house.

Glad you were able to check in here Ken. Hopinf for your speedy recovery. Good thing you have no shipments to worry about this time of the year.

Ursula, that is a loot of blooms, does it have any fragrance?

Does anyone grow "grapes" in our area? Do grapes need cold weather to bloom and produce fruit?

Gigi, fragrance on the Jade? I never really noticed. If it does, it surely is not very strong.

Gigi, muscadine grapes are grown as far south as "central FL", they may be worth a try at your home. They are not bunch grapes like you would find at the grocery store. They are large, about 1", and delicious out of hand or in pies, jellies and wine.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs10...

I see, thanks Ursula, the white flowers reminder me of jasmine so I thought they are fragrant.

Alice, thank you so much! I will check this out. I love grapes but don't like all the pesticides. Organic are so expensive.

Gigi,

Look at California Carnivores. A wonderful place to be.

Daisy

Oh my Daisy...lots of goodies in that Nursery.

Just thought I'd tantalize us all with a shot of my snap peas blooming. They really like this cold weather! Basil that volunteered in one of my empty Earth Boxes has survived the cold really nicely too. Nasturtiums, pretty and tasty.

How nice and summery!

Weather's actually what could best be described as "spring like" this last week. We have not had a daytime high break 70 for 8 days now! (maybe tomorrow) Chilly, breezy and we had the wettest January on record so the hardy weeds are very happy.

And my stalwart garden helper has gone and got herself a real job . . . hoping she can find a couple of hours here and there to still work for me.

Elaine...If I lived a tiny bit closer , I would help you in an instant!
I do want to go to the Ringling Museum and on another day the Selby gardens..
maybe we can schedule a half day of helping you and a half day of tourist photos ops?

Today is officially the coldest day of this Winter around here, it is rapidly going down, down down down to -5 degree F by tomorrow morning. It wouldn't be so bad if that wind would die down already.

Yep, the Ringling takes at least a full day, but here's the secret - they let you in to the gallery for free on Mondays. Mondays (understandably) are pretty crowded in tourist season so it's a great thing to do (indoors, air conditioned . . ) in the summer months.

So (from what my recent house guests did) it seems a good strategy would be to visit on a Monday and tour the gallery, then schedule another visit to do the tours of the mansion and circus museum that you have to pay for.

Before the weather gets too hot, (end of March) you should come down for a Selby tour though. We could go take a look at Tropiflora, too. I can only do an hour or two of gardening at a time or my back goes into a spasm, so short sessions then a rest and a walk.

Lots of bees on the broccoli flowers that I (accidentally) let go. This is what happens to broccoli when the weather goes from hot, to cold, and back to warm again. They bolt immediately if you don't catch the heads in time.

So happy that you are feeding the bees, that's a good thing even if the broccoli is not so hot now.

We are due for our coldest morning of the year tomorrow. it is supposed to go down to 30, brrrrrr. I shouldn't complaint oo much though it is much better than NJ temps.

On my afternoon walkabout I noticed we still have summer plants like impatiens blooming, they are sparse but still trying. The azaleas are starting and I fell spring is around the corner here.