Last updated on February 12th, 2012
ONE OF THE NICEST features of a window garden is that you can easily change its composition to fit your mood. For instance, in February one of my windows (above) offers a private, and very fragrant, preview of spring (click photos to enlarge):
On the broad sill, which is actually a bookcase placed beneath the window, a pair of pink florist’s azaleas flank a trio of ‘Blue Jacket’ hyacinths. I forced these hyacinths in bulb vases. Also on the sill is a large, lacy-leaved Rabbit’s Foot fern, a bowl of yet-to-bloom species tulips, in-bloom crocus ‘Golden Yellow,’ and more hyacinths.
In the front right corner of the sill is a pot of hyacinths (variety name is lost) I probably didn’t leave in cold-storage long enough. These sent up extra-tall flowering stalks which promptly collapsed upon bloom. Still, the blue-veined white blossoms are beautiful to behold and delightful to smell.
Here is a close up of the crocus, with emerging species tulips behind.
On the first shelf, two ‘Yellow Parade’ miniature roses (obtained from the florist), flank a cyclamen I’m growing from a tuber. The cyclamen rests in a glass bowl, for it requires watering from the bottom. And what a thirst it has — I fill this bowl every morning!
Miniature roses needn’t be temporary plants. Give them full sun, cool temperatures, and ample food and water. When the foliage withers, cut the plants back to within an inch of their lives, and let them rest, without water, for 4-6 weeks in some dim location. Then place them in full sun again, and resume the feeding and watering schedule. You can grow these little roses to perfection under fluorescent lights, too.
On the second shelf, a bowl of almost-in-bloom Muscari (grape hyacinth), forced in a blue and white China bowl of pebbles and water, resides between African violets, which are always in bloom.
I hope you will obtain some of these plants for your own February landscape indoors. Believe me, just a few of them will melt your heart, if not the snow outside. Furthermore, wouldn’t you rather have a fragrant, blooming houseplant than a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day?
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Related Posts:
How to Design a Window Garden
Seven Ways to Beautiful Houseplants
Apple Blossoms in February
Forcing Crocus for Winter Bloom Indoors
Forcing Hyacinths in Bulb Glasses
Terry says
How beautiful, I can almost smell it!
Susan M. says
Yes! Flowers – potted or cut – are my Valentine of choice!
Your window garden is beautiful, and an inspiration. The photos are very nice – I especially like the last one where the window, full of your lovely plants and set against the buttery warm house walls, frames the cool outdoor light.
I'm curious about the rabbit foot fern mentioned in the text. I love the way they look, but I tried one last year and it didn't survive. It was a very small one in a plastic pot, purchased at the super market. May I ask your advice on how to grow them?
Thanks very much.
Stephie says
Gorgeous, Kevin, just gorgeous! And I didn't know that about roses (I will snap some up after Valentine's day!) Big hug to you for Valentine's day.
Stephie McCarthy
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Terry – It IS heavenly-scented!
Susan M. – So glad you like the Rabbit's Foot fern (Davallia fejeensis). I give it full winter sunshine in an east window, daily water with a tiny amount of Miracid mixed in, and cool temperatures (60-65F max).
Stephie – Those mini roses are sweet, sweet, sweet! They have been hybridized in every conceivable color, too.
Tammy says
Just enchanting, Kevin.
Katreader says
I love it! I adore the scent of hyacinths. I won't be getting anything for Valentine's-but I agree these would be better than chocolates!
Eric says
Wow! Great design!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Tammy, Eric – Thank you for your kind words.
Katreader – that window garden IS my Valentine's present…to myself!
Erin says
AMAZING! COLORFUL! BEAUTIFUL! OH I'M JEALOUS… You do wonders with plants/florals!
Bonnie says
I would much rather have a fragrant hyacinth plant over a box of chocolates! I really need to try and force bulbs. I have not had luck in the past but this time of year I need some of those spring flowers.
Betty819 says
Thanks for sharing this with us. I wished I had windows like those so I could have glass shelves like that. Beautiful plants; sure brightens my day just to look at your beautiful plants.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Erin – Thanks for your kind words.
Bonnie – It's easy to forget, in the autumn, to save a few bulbs for indoor enjoyment. You could, if you wanted, pick up some already-forced hyacinths from the florist now…just a thought…
Betty819 – Nice to meet you!
Bonnie says
Kevin, an already forced hyacinth plant is one thing I always buy my daughter for her birthday, and of course I pick one up for myself too!
Ronald Christ says
Thank you for your Monsanto message. I hope that you will repeat it, and I hope, too, that sometime you will go into more detail about miniature roses, including their care in the house when the leaves don´t wither, as mine never do, and the possibilities for transplanting or transferring them out of doors in the warmer weather.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Ronald Christ – Yes, I will have to do a more detailed account of miniature roses. Since the foliage on your own miniatures does not wither at all, I suspect you are giving these roses the ideal temperature, humidity and sunlight. Congratulations!
Miniature roses are super-duper hardy, even in my cold climate. In spring they can be knocked from their pots and transplanted outdoors without a hitch. If they are not grafted — and most miniatures are not — they will not require any special winter protection. Otherwise, the bud-union on grafted plants should be buried beneath the soil line.