Tending to my Botanical Garden

Each year before the rainy season and after friends have given me their unwanted orchids,  I spend a back braking day, repotting and disassembling orchids from their pots and putting them on selected trees. The medium breaks down so quickly in our temperatures and rain and I prefer the bark to the  moss, so that is what I use to repot.   I also find fresh medium holds my botanistix stakes better if things are nice and tight inside the pot.  Its a long day (5 hours) but next season, the plants will reward me with beautiful blooms.

I take a good look at what bloomed on which tree and I look for telltale signs that this type of orchid was not happy on a certain tree.  For instance, last year during this process I had separated a large cattleya and attached them to different trees only to be disappointed that not one bloomed in the year.  They were in too much shade!  I lost a whole year on that mistake.   This year, they are on a tree that gets sun and its right outside of our bedroom, so I expect to be enjoying colorful cattleyas next blooming cycle.  I love to open the shutters in the morning to see my orchid blooms smiling at me!

WhenI started this process 9 years ago, I included bromeliads on the trees.  I like the look of the 2 together but I really do not add anymore now.  I pay attention to when the  mother plant needs to be removed, then the pups take over.

Our rainy season really has not begun yet. Collin came through last week and gave us some needed rain but now we are back to very dry conditions.  I attached my new orchids lower on the trees so they will get the water from the irrigation until God takes over watering.

This year I decided to try attaching 3 orchids to a potted tree we have at the front door entrance.  Its covered so I will have to water them. I will be so excited when they bloom since the front door is glass.  How pretty from inside. When I have the Botanistix Open House in Nov, I may have spikes!

I am so happy its done and yes I have big expectations for next season!  Here is a visual for you.

Ready to go onto the trees

As you can see, the pantyhose color is navy- so stylish! I cover my handiwork with moss.

Cattleyas in the sunny tree this time.

This will be my test.  Its at the front door and I will have to water them!

This was the view from the side yard this Spring.   Orchid Alley!

                                                    WHATS YOUR VIEW?

Its a simple but often overlooked element of a room’s design, the view.  Of course if you have a built in view like a body of water or mountains, all the better. Most of us need to create our views.

Whether you are newly home from your winter in Florida or you are a Naples full timer, this is the time to make what you see from your windows something special for you.  I have tried over the past few years to make my window views something that attracts me as I walk by.  In our bedroom when I wake up and open the shutters, the first thing I see are my orchids and bromeliads growing on the palms and the blue sky vine growing on the wall behind them. Its taken years to get the vine all the way over on the wall, but its beautiful now.  Patience, its a virtue!  

Outside of the kitchen window I have added colorful orchids and interesting bromeliads that attract my attention to the dual palm tree.  Each summer I add to the trees knowing that the view will be even better next year.  Its very much like when perennials are in the ground for several years, they really come to life.  The garden eventually becomes the photo you had in your mind originally.

When I am at the kitchen sink, I want to be able to look at something interesting which takes the focus off the not so interesting chore of the dishes.  Outside I have 3 large planters with eye catching color combinations to attract my eyes and all of a sudden, the dishes are done! 

Recently, I hung an unused chandelier on the tree outside of my dining room. When I entertain I use small battery operated candelabra lights and everything glistens.  I also keep glass ornaments on the tree.  When the lights are on, the reflection on the glass makes me do a double take.  Its all about keeping it 

interesting, if only for ourselves.

If your front  door is glass like ours, the view needs to be considered from both sides.  I chose a tall heavily textured pot planted with a tree, flowers and glass Botanistix stakes. The look is welcoming from the outside and pretty for us from the foyer.

In our study, we have a very tall window that gives great natural light.   The bougainvillea planted just outside is very tall on one side of the window and it washes the fuchsia color on the interior wall.  Something as simple as this color splash is just so beautiful.

  

Our hot and rainy summer means everything grows at an alarming rate which makes it a great time to plant.  Its the perfect time to plan for next season’s views.  

  

Making the Most of your Views

   Summer is flying by, its Aug this weekend!  Hopefully, your flower beds are at their peaks.  Did you do all that you wanted to do in the garden this season?  I have tried very hard over the past few years to make my window views something that attract me as I walk by.  When I wake up and open the shutters, the first thing I see are my orchids and bromeliads growing on my palm trees.  All winter I see the beautiful blooms.  Each summer I add to the trees knowing that next winter, I will be rewarded with more blooms.  I  have consciously tried to make the large planters outside my kitchen attract my  eye so that when I am doing dishes, I have something else to focus on.   The same is true for our front door, which is mostly glass.

   Recently, I hung an unused chandelier on my tree outside my dining room.  When I entertain I use the small battery operated candelabra  lights and everything glistens.  I also keep glass ornaments on that tree.  When the lights are on,  the reflection on the glass makes me do a double take.  Its all about keeping it interesting, if only for ourselves.

    Consider this a small reminder before your season is over.  What can you do with the remaining months to make next summer's views even more special?    Each season you can be a little closer.

   Our gardens are always a work in progress like us, right?

This is what s going on!

Hi,

Happy summer to all of you!

Summer is officially half over and I, like many of you are wondering where it went so quickly!   I am happy to report at the gift shows so far, most of the antlers of the last many years are finally waning, thankfully.  Hope none of you hopped too heavily, on that bandwagon!   Burlap is everywhere.  I love texture so this is a great look to me.  It was in tablecloths,  patterned in pottery dishes, pots,  even in hair clips and jewelry.  Yikes.  So if you like this textured look, go for it.   Grey/Grieg the new 'it' color, was everywhere.  Greige is a grey with some beige, no surprise there.  The tone is much warmer and color really pops with it as the background.  If you are curious, because you have a project coming up, check it out on pinterest.

Decorative Boxes

Of course Botanistix had to jump on the Greige bandwagon.  Ours is in a greige mirrored decorative box.  The box's shape is outlined in a shiny silver chain which is a nice contrast.  On top we have a piece of agate in variable colors and shapes.  Thankfully, the top is not removable. It is attached, which is so much nicer.

And we  still love the canary yellow box. Color just pops off this one too.  They both offer a modern, sophisticated look to a traditional piece. We are not trying to change the world, just update it a little.    Options are available for the minerals on the top.

Minis

We are now selling Botanistix™ Minis.  They are about 13" long.  Three themed minis are now on the website.  They are fun 'girlfriend' gifts.  Stilettos, Martinis and the ultimate welcome symbol, the Pineapple.  I have had requests for themes for some time now and decided summer was the time to pop them out.  The mini pineapple is perfect for a new neighbor in a plant or flower arrangement.   Botanistix™ have really become 'the' new accessory for flower arrangements.  I think it started when we needed our cell phones to be all 'bling-y' and of course, it has escalated from there!  Its official, everything needs a lil bit of tasteful sparkle.  Botanistix™ Home Decor is only too happy to help with that. Enjoy the rest of your Summer.      Botanistix™  is only a click away!   Christi