Houseplants and cut flowers bring life to any room, especially during the cold, dreary days of winter.
Whenever I entertain, I like to decorate with an assortment of potted plants and cut blooms that provide color and interesting and expressive foliage. It’s an inexpensive way to add beauty and texture to any space. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, brought some beautiful plants to display in my Winter House for a small gathering I am hosting this weekend.
Enjoy these photos.
I have some of the most beautiful orchids displayed on the tables and counters of my Winter House. Orchids come in a range of colors. Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, and Dendrobium orchids come in blue, red, pink, white, purple, yellow, orange, and green.
Ryan brings the group of selected potted specimens in through my enclosed porch. Ryan selects those specimens that are blooming or looking especially lush. He also selects where they will be placed depending on size, light needs, and how many of each variety he brings inside.
I use glass, silver, or copper plates purchased from tag sales or antiques fairs, under the pots to catch any water. I find them more decorative than the clay saucers that come with the pots. Here, Ryan also puts furniture protectors on the bottom, so the plates do not scratch any furniture.
Here is Ryan with a blooming Dendrobium orchid. All Dendrobiums are epiphytes, which means they grow on other plants. In nature, they grow on the branches of trees.
Dendrobium flowers are bright, showy, and fragrant. Native to Southeast Asia, the genus Dendrobium is among the largest of all orchid groups.
This Dedrobium is positioned on a strong stone pedestal where it can be seen when I walk through my sitting room.
This white Dendrobium is on my servery counter. The evergreen canes are topped by five inch long inflorescence, or cluster of flowers, each one producing four to eight blooms.
Dendrobium flowers are smaller orchid blooms. They have a butterfly-like shape and are about three inches across.
Cymbidium orchids are prized for their sprays of long-lasting flowers. This is a Cymbidium hybrid – Cymbidium ‘Solana Star,’ Cymbidium Wood Wilson ‘White Knight,’ x Cymbidium Solana Rose ‘Nancy.’
The flowers typically have three sepals and two petals each with a prominent three-lobed labellum making them appear “boat like.”
When keeping orchids in the home, south and east-facing windows work best. When provided with a proper balance of light, humidity, and temperature, these plants will have healthy bright green leaves.
I put this on a brass coffee table in my sitting room. It is Cymbidium ‘Jade.’
Beallara Marfitch ‘Howard’s Dream’ AM/AOS is a stunning Oncidium orchid hybrid. It features striking psychedelic colored blooms in pink, purple and white. And, it can bloom twice a year when cared for properly.
Here is my silver shaded Persian, Magnolia. She enjoys lounging in my enclosed porch and watching the placement of every plant. Magnolia is one of four cats that live with me in my Winter House.
This is a potted rhipsalis, native to the rainforests of South America, the Caribbean and Central America. Rhipsalis is a cacti genus with approximately 35 distinct species. I have many types of rhipsalis growing in my greenhouse. Rhipsalis specimens have long, trailing stems making them perfect choices as indoor plants on pedestals or tall tables.
Also known as chain cactus or mistletoe cactus, the thread-like succulent stems are narrow, green and can grow several feet long.
My porch is a lovely space for displaying houseplants. The floor to ceiling windows allow lots of light and the plants surround my desk, where I can enjoy them while writing or while attending remote meetings.
If you like growing plants, but don’t really have a lot of time to care for them, consider growing succulents. Succulents, which includes the cactus family, require very little maintenance. These plants are able to survive prolonged drought because they store moisture in their fleshy stems, roots, and leaves.
This Euphorbia lactea is a cactus-like succulent known for its interesting shape and spiny ridges.
Dracaena’s narrow foliage may be completely green or may include stripes or edges of green, cream, red, or yellow.
And my beautiful Lilium, my brown Persian longhaired cat. Always be sure any plants displayed inside are safe around pets. Fortunately, my pets are not attracted to any plants or flowers. I hope you can enjoy some beautiful plants in your home this winter.
As a passionate gardener, I love adding new and interesting specimens to my plant collections. Most recently - four beautiful and colorful cymbidium orchids.
Cymbidium, or boat orchid, is a genus of more than 50-evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Cymbidium orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or spring corsages. Yesterday, my head gardener Ryan McCallister repotted the orchids in appropriate orchid containers, so they could be displayed in my home.
Enjoy these photos.
Aren’t these orchids so beautiful? I am a big fan of cymbidium orchids with their gorgeous large flower sprays. I have many in my collection, but not in these colors – these are great additions from White Plains Orchids, a family-operated nursery not far from my farm.
Ryan places the plants in pots to check they are the right size. When potting orchids, choose a pot that can accommodate two years of growth, or about two inches larger than the one before. Specialized orchid containers have holes all around the surface to increase the air circulation in the roots – these are the best. These pots are made by master potter Ben Wolff.
Orchids don’t grow like other potted plants. Instead, they exist in a container of loose materials. I like to create my own mix, but there are pre-made orchid mixes available at garden supply stores. Ryan starts with a good quality coarse orchid bark which allows air to circulate naturally around the roots of the plant.
And then he adds perlite – a lightweight, porous volcanic glass used to improve aeration and drainage in soil and other plant mixes.
Cymbidium orchids prefer a little soil because they are semi-terrestrial orchids that naturally grow on trees and rocks in their natural habitat. They require a soil that is well-draining, airy, and slightly acidic, allowing excess water to pass through and prevent root rot.
Ryan then adds a couple scoops of charcoal which acts as a natural water filter preventing any buildup of toxins. It also absorbs excess moisture, helps to regulate pH levels, and contributes to a balanced and stable growing environment.
Ryan mixes the materials together with his hands to ensure even distribution. He adjusts proportions as needed. One can also wet the mix slightly to help settle it down.
As with all potted plants, it is important to have proper drainage holes in the pot. I always cover them with a shard, so none of the potting mix falls out.
Ryan covers the bottom third of the pot with the orchid potting mix.
And then he removes the plant from its plastic pot. This orchid was too snug in its pot, so to make sure the root ball remained intact, Ryan had to cut the pot. I like to save plastic pots for reuse, but sometimes that’s just not possible.
Notice, this root ball is a little pot bound. Cymbidiums actually prefer cooler conditions and can tolerate being slightly pot bound to allow them to absorb moisture and nutrients efficiently, which is crucial for their growth and blooming. It is one of the reasons it is blooming so nicely right now.
Ryan places the orchid carefully into its new pot, making sure it is at the same height it was in its original container.
The potting mix should be about one-inch below the top of the pot, so none of it overflows when watering.
Ryan gently presses the medium into the pot to ensure it is well packed, adding more potting mix if needed.
While the orchid is in active growth, keep it in slightly damp conditions but never let the medium become soggy.
Here, Ryan finishes up and tamps down some more to make sure plant and mix have good contact.
To help support the tall, heavy stems, Ryan secures them to natural colored apple branches using pieces of raffia. I prefer these to the painted bamboo that is sometimes found with nursery orchids.
Cymbidium orchids are prized for their sprays of long-lasting flowers. This one is Cymbidium ‘Jade.’
The range of colors for this genus include white, green, yellowish-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, red and black with a variety of markings of other color shades – every color but blue. This is a Cymbidium hybrid – Cymbidium ‘Solana Star,’ Cymbidium Wood Wilson ‘White Knight,’ x Cymbidium Solana Rose ‘Nancy.’
This white and pink plant is Cymbidium ‘White Madame.’ Cymbidium flowers typically have three sepals and two petals each with a prominent three-lobed labellum making them appear “boat like.” The flowers last about 10-weeks.
And this is Cymbidium ‘Red Arrow.’ Soon they will all come up to my Winter House for display – and just in time for my weekend dinner party.
The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is done for another year with top honors going to "Penny" the Doberman Pinscher, but all well-loved and cared for dogs are winners.
This week, thousands of spectators came to New York City to attend the most prestigious dog show in the United States - with thousands more watching online. Breeds were evaluated based on their specific standard - not other competitors, but to the ideal proportions, weight, size, head shape, gait and overall temperament of the breed. Only one dog is titled "Best in Show," but it's a great time to celebrate all canines, their attributes, and their importance to those who love them.
Enjoy these photos.
Attending dog shows is a wonderful way to learn about the different breeds and their care. This is an Australian Shepherd, a very intelligent, energetic, and loyal breed that is known for its boundless energy and love for companionship.
This is the Xoloitzcuintli – pronounced SHOW-LOW-ETZ-QUEENT-LEE. It is also known as the Mexican Hairless. It comes in three sizes – toy, miniature and standard. The breed is one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds, and is said to be the first dog of the Americas.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that needs a lot of grooming for its silky, long, straight coat.
You may recognize this breed – one of my favorites. The affectionate and playful French Bulldog is best known for its wrinkly face and bat-like ears.
Poodles come in three size varieties: standards should be more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder; miniatures are 15 inches or under; and toys stand no more than 10 inches. All three varieties have the same build and proportions. This Poodle is shown in the continental cut where the face, throat, feet, tail, legs, and hindquarters are shaved.
The Shar Pei is a breed from southern China. It is well known for its deep wrinkles around the head, neck, and shoulders.
I am quite fond of the Keeshond – I once had one of my own. This is a medium-sized sturdy breed that is smart and eager to learn.
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a large, powerful hunting dog known for its exceptional scent skills and friendly demeanor. It stands tall at 23 to 27 inches and weighs between 50 to 75 pounds. Their coat is short with a distinctive black coat and tan markings.
Owners stay with their dogs in the benching area, so visitors can meet the different breeds. The Pomeranian is a compact, short-backed, active toy dog of Nordic descent. The coat consists of a short dense undercoat with a profuse harsh-textured outer coat. The heavily plumed tail is among its distinguishing characteristics.
This is a Biewer Terrier – a small dog breed that originated in Germany in the 1980s. It is similar to the Yorkshire Terrier, but has a tricolored silky coat combination of white, blue, black and gold.
The Whippet is a British breed of sighthound that closely resembles the Greyhound, but smaller. The Whippet is loved for its speed and agility and is excellent in a variety of dog sports, including racing and lure coursing.
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a small hunting dog originating from Portugal. Bred for hunting rabbits, they have a rich history dating back to ancient times.
Here is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the red and white colored variety called Blenheim.
The Swedish Vallhund is an ancient herding breed native to Sweden and recognized for its intelligence, energy, and sociable nature.
The Pug is an ancient dog breed that originated in China around 2,000 years ago. The Pug became a favorite of royals around the world, and today are very popular companion animals especially for those with smaller homes.
This Lhaso Apso is a Non-Sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. The breed was largely used in the Buddhist monasteries, to alert the monks to any intruders who entered.
The Coton de Tulear is a small, fluffy dog breed originally from Madagascar and known for its affectionate and clownish personality. They typically weigh between eight to 13 pounds and stand about nine to 11 inches tall.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog breed from South Africa. It is an all-purpose hound whose distinctive mark is the ridge, or stripe of backward-growing hair, on its back. Ridgebacks are cherished family dogs whose owners must understand its independence and strong prey drive.
Teaching a dog to be still is very helpful when brushing out their coat or trimming hairs on their feet. The Schipperke, Belgium’s “little captain,” is the traditional barge dog of the Low Countries. This breed is curious, lively, fun-loving, intense, and can be quite mischievous.
The Irish Wolfhound is a large sighthound breed known for its impressive size and gentle temperament. Originally from Ireland and used for hunting wolves and large game, it is recognized as the tallest of dog breeds.
Dalmatians are medium-sized dogs known for their iconic spotted coats and energetic personalities, historically used as carriage dogs and firehouse mascots.
And this is a Borzoi – large Russian sighthounds that resemble some central Asian breeds such as the Afghan hound and Saluki. Borzois have silky and flat coats that are often wavy or slightly curly. And at the end of the day, all these dogs are best friends and family members to those that care for them.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
