Bletilla striata

Flowers Then and Now

| Flower Roberts

What a difference twelve days makes in the garden this time of the year. My busy husband sent me some flower photos this morning. I took similar pictures while I was home in early April. Let’s compare them.

Bletilla striata had only one bloom per stalk.
Chinese Ground Orchid Bletilla

I dug up about half of this Ground Orchid while I was home and filled in the hole with good soil. It has really taken off blooming since then.

The iris row was all pink earlier.
Shipshape had only one open bloom but many buds then.
Persian Berry, Shipshape and Night Affair

The pink Persian Berry is a bully. The blue Ship Shape and deep purple Night Affair hold their own better than more timid growers like Little Much.

Gibralter had one open bloom two weekends ago.
The Flame Azalea ‘Gibralter’ always amazes me. It glows in bright sunshine. This photo was taken in morning. Its deep color looks saturated here.
This was the only bloom so I zoomed in on it.
Now, this Spiderwort is in full swing.

I have read that deer do not eat Spiderwort, but something eats the one in the front yard. This one is in the now bunniless, bunny yard. Safe from whatever eats the other one.

Every day is different once plants start growing and blooming. I inspect plants several times each day during spring.

I am happy Mr. Flower and Rose are enjoying our blooms at home. I appreciate seeing my flowers from afar.

FLOWER

Ground Orchid Needs Safekeeping

| Flower Roberts

I have worried over this Ground Orchid plant for several years. It seems happy in this spot, but I fear it will be crowded by its neighbors. I have dug up some surrounding plants and moved them, but the little Bletilla cannot keep up with the fast growth of others.

I have finally decided to put part of it in a pot for safekeeping. That way I can move it around to see if it will grow faster with a bit more sun. Also its tiny, complex blooms deserve close inspection, which is not easy when it is a low-grower.

I have found that I relax more when I have at least two or three of my favorite plants, so I won’t fret about losing that variety altogether.

Now that this purple Bletilla striata is safe and divided, I can move on and obsess about another plant. A special Amaryllis perhaps?

FLOWER