Thanks Rakes and Blades!!

A couple of years ago I bought a pair of birds at Home Depot at the end of the summer. I have always wanted birds, but never thought I would have any luck with them. I didn't know much about them, but I know that they are very pretty to look at while they are blooming.

Well , I got the two because they were very low priced, and planted them. The orange bird I thought would do well under my angel trumpet in the corner of the yard. I really picked the spot because I wanted to be able to see the blooms from the kitchen table. I knew that it would take a few years for it to mature and start blooming. The white bird I put just outside the fence, near my bedroom window. I wanted a tropical look for that area and I knew it would grow fairly big. So I planted them both, put them on the drip system and promptly forgot about them.

Imagine my surprise when I went out a few weeks ago and found my first bird sending up a flower stalk! I was so excited! I was thrilled to know that the plant was finally maturing and I didn't kill it!! I am a gardener with low self-esteem, always thinking I am killing everything. I have been waiting patiently for the flower to open, and as soon as I did, cut it off to show off in the house!

This brings me to why I am writing. I must thank the Rakes and Blades club, and Dwayne S particularly. At the last club meeting, Dwayne gave the program showing us all how to take the cuttings from our yard and transform them into nice arrangements. I wanted to show off my first bloom, so I cut a bunch of shell ginger fronds and used them as the greenery in a rose vase with the bird as the centerpiece. My mother and I have been enjoying this lovely display of nature at every meal.

Now I am patiently waiting for the white bird to bloom. I can wait, though, since the excitement from my first bird bloom is still going strong!