Well, last week it bloomed.
There was a bud when I got back from my February trip, but I didn't know if it would survive -- the plant had put out buds before but couldn't sustain the energy to bring them to full flower. So I watched and watered very carefully, sneaking some photos when it thought I wasn't looking.
I almost decided to plant this outside after its blossom was spent. When I picked up the gerberas two weeks ago, the florist at the grocery store tried to sell me another miniature rose. "They do wonderfully in our climate," she said -- which is true. I've seen many a happy rose in our neighborhood in summer. But I wasn't so sure about mine, given its rough start. How I understand those.
It's not so much the individual stressors -- an aphid here, a chillier night there, a few too many cloudy days in a row. It's all of them at once, too many things to react to, that would keep it stunted, possibly preventing it from ever making a full recovery. So my rose and I are staying indoors until we're ready.
Good thing, too, because it snowed today.
15 comments:
How gorgeous! You'll know when it's time (for both of you!).
Very pretty! I wish I had a green thumb.
So pretty! I'm impressed by your attentive and protective care-taking.
Sherlock -- I'm hoping so :). Listening to my instincts as best I can.
SuziCate -- I definitely do not have a green thumb! Or at least, I didn't start off having one. I think I'm slowly trying to turn it green. Hence the container gardening and bulbs that don't need a lot of attention once you put them in the ground ...
GEW -- it's therapeutic for both of us, I think. Kitty fostering works a little bit the same way. (But don't tell our two guests I said so as they think they're just having a spa getaway from the shelter!)
Beautiful. And I love that you were able to nurture this bud into blossoming.
(No green thumb here either, but it's delightful when something grows in spite of it.)
Thanks, BLW. It was funny -- I think I was actually proud of that little plant for finally rallying. It's petite but scrappy.
What beautiful photos! That rose is breathtaking.
Thanks, Corinne. It's nice that both camera and flower like the light in that room :)
That is such a beautiful bloom, CT. I know exactly what you mean by this plant watch you have been on. I've never been lucky with miniature roses over here. One season and they are spent - and yet other gardens nearby seem to have the same plant coming up year after year (unless they uproot the dead ones and plant new ones when I'm not looking).
I am glad you didn't take a chance on putting it outside yet.
What a beautiful sign of spring!
FF -- you know, in some places (like the landscaped areas around our former apartment), they really do uproot plants as soon as they're spent and replace them with new ones! I'm guessing our property manager had to keep the place looking "fresh" for potential tenants, but I do wonder what happens to the old bulbs. I have a bad feeling about where they end up.
TKW -- indeed. Helpful for chasing the Winter Uglies away.
So very, very beautiful. The pictures have such a serene quality. Just gorgeous.
Serene, what a lovely word, Jane. It does have a sanctuary-like quality in there. It's the only space with a skylight.
I love the struggling rose as a metaphor for life in a world of too much-ness. May you, your rose, and all of us avoid the aphids - literal and existential!
Thanks, Kristen! Oh those existential aphids. Hope you're keeping them at bay too :)
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