Tuesday, October 07, 2014

The Party Continues Indoors

Summer this year has been a blast and it seemed to have flown by so quick! It almost felt like a party that started early but was so good that before you knew it it was morning the next day already.

Philodendron 'Xanadu'
Well the party doesn't have to stop, it can continue indoors.

Boxes and plastic bags are two of Twinkles' favourite things! Here she is 'helping' me tidy up!


As part of our winter preparation most (if not all) of our succulents in pots will have to go undercover during the winter. A large chunk of them will be in the greenhouses that will gently heated during the winter. A few will go in the sun room, to overwinter as well as serve a decorative purpose. Although we will be putting more this year compared to last year, only a limited amount of additional plants will be added the keep the area spacious.


But plenty enough to feel that we're surrounded by lots of beautiful plants whenever we go in there. And plenty enough interest to look at on winter days without having to venture outside.

Agave macroacantha which we got from Urban Jungle last month
x Mangave 'Bloodspot' - a tiny plant I got last year and has grown well since then
A couple of the three Agave 'Blue Glow' we have made it here, the other will be in the greenhouse. Can't get enough of this agave!
Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak' that was given to us by Gerhard of Succulents and More (thank you!!)
Agave weberi 'Arizona Star'
Agave 'Cornelius'
Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor'
Aloe vanbalenii which I just had to have when I saw it on Gail's blog Piece of Eden
Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' - a tiny plant I acquired only a few months ago, it has grown to this size and looks pristine!
Some of the more tender succulents had to take priority, the ones I already know won't sail through in a greenhouse that will be maintained at a minimum +5C (at times slightly lower). But they have to look good too so they look decorative indoors and be pretty where they are. Rarity have to be factored in too of course, the more unusual ones could do with the extra assurance of survival by being kept in a warmer and bright environment during the winter.

Familiar faces, first is Agave toumeyana
Agave potatorum 'Kissho Kan'
Agave colimana
Agave applanata 'Cream Spike'
Altogether now...well almost!
More familiar faces...
and more
Saying that, one or two of those I moved in have a good degree of hardiness already (like the Agave x nigra below) and perhaps not that unusual but to me they look so good that I just had to bring them in. Nice plants to keep us company during the winter.


On the left is Agave x nigra while on the right is the other Agave 'Blue Glow'
Now a little commercial break. The lovely people at Lechuza planters have sent us a couple of white high gloss planters for use in the sun room. They have a great selection of contemporary style pots that I had a hard time choosing which ones to go for, but eventually managed to pin it down to two 'quadro' pots. 


The things that I like the most about their pots are that they are well designed, packaged, and comes in different components that makes it easy to maintain both the pot and the plant that goes in it. Do read more about the advantages of their pots on their website but the main thing they have is their easily maintained self watering system.


Now originally I was thinking of using it in the sun room but since most of the plants that will go in it are 'on the dry side in winter' loving (agaves and aloes), the self watering system won't be utilised. I will however use them in our lounge instead where the white high gloss finish will be at home too. All I need to do now is decide which plant to put in it. Decisions, decisions...


Now back to the sun room...

Some of the new faces, left to right: Agave ferox 'Variegata', Agave leopoldii 'Hammertime', and Agave multifilifera 'Variegata'
x Mangave 'Bloodspot' on both sides with Agave 'Blue Glow' in the middle



A x Graptoveria I acquired at Paul's plant sales a few weeks ago. The fabulous dish is a great memento of the Portland Fling!
Left to right: Aloe deltoideodonta x jucunda, Aloe 'Doren Black', and Aloe 'Kelly Blue'
I suppose adding more plants in there is all part of its mini makeover for this coming winter. A few more little changes will be made later on too like the cushions and the print on the wall just to add a bit more variety and interest, new things to look at for this winter.

Sorting it out last week, all the more I can say how much I absolutely love white. They look great at any point of the year but reap loads of benefits from it during dull and dreary winter. And anything you put against it instantly becomes highlighted.


And colour too. Colour is so vital in influencing ones mood especially during the winter. Grey outside and dark colours inside, ugh!


And most important of all, surround yourself with the things you love. Life is too short, if it's possible to surround yourself with lots of things you like, love, and enjoy then why not? In our case plants. They may not be all over the house like it used to but by adding a few more in the sun room it will give us incentive to spend more time there (than we do already) during the winter.


A place where the party continues!

Mark :-)

31 comments :

  1. Me after seeing the second photo: "show more of the sunroom". Me after seeing the third photo: "show more of the sunroom". Me after seeing the fourth photo: "show more of the sunroom", etc.

    Then you did in the last photo! =D

    *Quietly envious now*

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    1. Thanks Alan! Its a space we enjoy now more so than before. On the small side still but certainly is handy especially in the winter :)

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  2. The whole thing was spoilt for me by the speck of dust in one of the photos :-) My vitriolic comment has been caused by uncontrolled envy.

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    1. Oops I missed a spot (or two)! Don't worry Don you've been forgiven, lol!

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  3. Hi Mark, I enjoyed the tour through your sun room! The first photo of Philodendron 'Xanadu' is just stunning and your agave collection is simply amazing. Agaves grow well outside in San Diego, but I have none. After reading your post, I really wonder why... Wishing you a nice rest of the week!
    Christina

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    1. Thanks Christina! That angle I spotted by chance as I was cleaning underneath it, looked up and voila! A few Agaves wouldn't go amiss in your garden :)

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  4. You guys have the most amazing sunroom. I agree with Alan, what a place! It's a showroom, and gorgeous spiky plants too. As always, you have wow'd me. Thanks for sharing. Love the Agave Blue Glow too, those are one of my favorites.

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    1. That's lovely Tamara, thank you! It's not a big space but we're making the most of it. Blue Glow, can't get enough of them especially after seeing so many beautiful ones in Portland :)

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  5. It looks wonderful!!!!! all that white makes those plants really beautiful! ohh, Twinkles...she is so cute inside the bag :D
    It is a great room for spending the winter.

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    1. Thanks Lisa! Loving the white and appreciate it even more especially during dull autumn and winter days :)

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  6. Looking good, especially Twinkles ;-) I have Skimble with me at the moment - I can tell it's got colder just from that!

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    1. Thanks Michelle! Twinkles and Knickers are extra cuddly at the moment which means it has turned colder outside. Would love to meet Skimble one day :)

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  7. I'm in awe of the pristine white setting. One would never guess what a messy business gardening usually is (at least my kind of gardening). We delivered some plants to Loree's the other day and R's comment was "she and her garden are so clean". I'm not showing him this.

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    1. Very pristine and exquisite garden she has indeed Ricki :) White can come across as unforgiving with dirt but with what we've done especially the floor have found it to be very easy to clean and maintain. It has its messy moments too but a quick tidy up usually sorts it out.

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  8. OK, it's official now. In my next life I want to come back as a plant that gets to live in your sunroom. What a beautiful and restful space.

    Have you posted about that Agave x nigra before? It's a new one for me.

    Glad to see the Joe Hoak I gave you not only made the trip but has thrived.

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    1. Hehe, that'll be fun Gerhard, and that Joe Hoak is a fab reminder of you already :) I may have mentioned about the Nigra before but couldn't remember exactly. I think it may be better known there as Sharkskin?

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    2. Aah, 'Sharkskin'. I have one of those. I didn't know it's called 'Nigra' in the UK. You live and learn.

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  9. Wow, my plants are jealous! Spending the winter in the basement under lights vs. in your bright white sunroom, hardly seems fair poor things! I love the pops of color and like Alan I'm glad you shared a few wider shots. Like Gerhard I wondered about the Agave x nigra, that name is new to me and it looks like a beautiful plant. As for Ricki's comment she should have seen me today...not clean!

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    1. Thanks Loree! What's in the sun room is only a small fraction, a huge chunk will be in the not so organised greenhouses. Wish we had a basement like yours though that we can utilise to store plants. Just saw your pic earlier, looks so organised, tidy, and nice place to spend time in during winter :)

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  10. Your sunroom is so grown-up glamorous! Love it and was happy to see some wider shots of it. I'm glad you have such a splendid place to continue the party!

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    1. Thanks Peter :) and you'll have your garage to greenhouse conversion to lol forward to as well which will be a fun place to be in during the winter I can imagine.

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  11. Ahhhh! Too much deliciousness and beauty. Great post/plants/pots/everything! Love it all.

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    1. Thanks Amy! It's nice to be surrounded by spikies isn't it? :)

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  12. I love your style! White with pops of bright colour - so completely different from our house (looking around with shame) I really love the agaves in their metalic colour pots especially. Mmm, must try harder when I bring my succulents and pelargoniums indoors for the winter.

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    1. Thanks Celia :) the white and colour pop scheme was a response to winter which I say is a very effective one. Grey outside but bright inside! Pelargoniums in bright pots sounds like a good idea too!

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  13. That's gorgeous. The combination of foliage and bright colour just sings against the white. And, having only this year discovered the joy of self-watering pots, I fully endorse the idea. Those look very swish.

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    1. They are nice pots aren't they Helen? Contemporary selections which is apt for the material :)

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  14. Amazing how much you've squeezed in -- comfy chairs, table and chairs, shelving, benches, and it still looks spacious because of all the white. I think my fave is Agave weberi 'Arizona Star, such droopily expressive leaves.

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    1. Really pleased to have the Arizona Star Denise, looks very unique with its broad leaves and lax form with good colour :)

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  15. I love your sun room, what could have been a cold and sterile place is packed with colour and texture, what a great place to be.

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  16. Your collection is outstanding! And where did you find those colorful acrylic cube planters! Wow!

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