Springtime surprise

All winter long we have kept the temperature in the new apartment above freezing to try to save as many of our house plants and outdoor tropical plants as possible. There have been some casualties but most have survived.

Two plants in particular seem to have gone into suspended animation through the darker months. They were kept in the unfinished bedroom, the only room we could close off and keep warm, but it is on the north side and the window was kept covered most of the winter to retain warmth.

Here is one of them, a bird-of-paradise plant that I grew from seeds Sandy's son brought home from his honeymoon in Hawaii about 8 years ago.

The seeds sprouted soon after they were planted, and the plant seemed healthy all this time, but it wasn't until spring last year that I realized it needed full sun. I put it in the front yard of the house in Indianapolis until it was moved to Greene View Springs in July last year.

In the fall I noticed the flower stalks, but by then it was time to bring them in from the possible frost and freezing, and the hibernation began. A few weeks ago they were moved to the south-facing room in the sunny windows and the rest you can see.

There are a few more buds. I'll try to remember to get a picture when they are all blooming.