Hippeastrum mandonii that I grew from seed three years ago. These were expensive seeds and I wasn’t confident that I could get them to grow, but they sprouted and grew nicely.  I actually sprouted them in water, which is what I read online.  Who knew?

Here is the potential the bulbs hold:

One reason I thought I might be able to grow Hippeastrum species from seed–the red and white hybrid clone I have set seeds a couple of years in a row and I threw them around into pots in the greenhouse.  Here are three of the offspring.  There are at least two others that I haven’t potted individually yet.  It is always exciting to find something that likes the greenhouse environment.

A luscious, somewhat shy gesneriad.  This from brother Tim from the gesneriad club sale from years ago.  It has fantastic leaves and gorgeous flowers.  I think this is a Kohleria–but no longer sure and didn’t see the label.  It has a significant tuber at this point.

Speaking of tubers–I wasn’t expecting to see a big one attached to this Aloinopsis rubrolineata that I grew from seed, maybe seven years ago.  It just seems to moulder away on the shelf in the greenhouse, so I gave it some new soil and a new position–maybe that will cheer it up.

Amazing surprise, as I was trudging through my greenhouse chores today, I moved the huge Coelogyne cristata hanging basket and right behind it, previously hidden, the glorious Sinningia tubiflora was strutting its stuff.  The photos aren’t great, due to the bright backlight, but I’ll try to get better ones tomorrow.

This plant has required a huge amount of patience.  It has grown well and filled a gallon pot with dozens of tubers.  But it has only bloomed once before, with just a few flowers.

Because it is hardy (or said to be), I have threatened it frequently with being planted outside.  But I can’t figure out where I would put it–probably in the Douglas fir bed…but not sure it would thrive in that dry, root-filled environment.

The best thing is that, because there are so many tubers in the pot, I can divide it up next spring and give some away or try a few in the garden.  The flowers are said to be fragrant, and I remember them smelling like vanilla the first time the plant bloomed, but this year I can’t smell them at all.  Not sure if it is my blind nose or the time I was sniffing them.

I believe there are three pots of Ferraria crispa now.  I got them from Ebay back in 2012–almost four years ago.  One of them grows pretty well, but to my knowledge it has yet to bloom (tough to be sure, as it is a winter grower and I’m not always looking in the greenhouse in winter).

These tenacious plants really needed repotting today–their roots were exploring outside the pot and the soil was completely depleted.  These are seeds from Africa that were the free gift with some other seeds I ordered.  There are two plants here, but they’ve grown together and I didn’t want to upset them by tearing them apart at this late date.

From Wikipedia, here is what the flowers may look like in another two years or so:

I bought this Vetheimia bracteata from Sky Nursery three or four years ago–it was half off ($7.50), which seemed like a steal for  a blooming-sized bulb.  Since then, it has spawned a pup.  It needs to be repotted, but I didn’t have the time or energy today–maybe this fall before it leafs out.

Another Ferraria crispa bulb.  These plants are really unusual, with pretty iris-like leaves and fascinating flowers.  Sometimes called starfish flowers.  There are a lot of clones that have different looking flowers.  I can’t wait to see what mine look like!

I ordered more than one species of Ferraria.  It is possible this is NOT crispa.

These seedlings don’t look like much right now, but these are some more winter growers.  This clump includes a mix of Babiana hybrids.  These are two-years-old from seed.  I divided the seedlings into three pots and they seem to be doing alright, though they haven’t bloomed yet.  Babiana leaves are pretty cool–all pleated and crinkly.

This cactus has been with me for what seems a lifetime.  It does get flowers in a double ring towards the growing end.  I think this may be Mammillaria matudae, not super happy in low-light Seattle, but muddling through.

Gasteria “Marble” that I’ve had for a few years.  This is a plant family that I can’t resist.  They are completely carefree and the flowers are interesting and the leaves are fascinating, too.

Another view.

And the tag.

Another Gasteria–this one came from brother Tim.  It is prolific–look at all those babies around the parent!

I will pot up a few pups this year so I have some extras to give away.

This is a Sauromatum venosum bulb that I ordered from eBay and planted in October 2014.  This voodoo lily is new to me and it will be great to see it bloom one day.

Originally from the Flower and Garden Show–I think from Edelweiss Nursery, these Freesia laxa (syn. Anomatheca laxa) have been consistent in coming up and blooming–and spreading seeds all over the greenhouse!

Another Gasteria–this one came from sister Cate many years ago.  It bloomed already and it is throwing another scape.

I only have one Pancratium maritimum seedling left–originally I had potted three of them on.  I’ve always dreamed of having one of these bloom in the greenhouse.  I really hope this one makes it!

This fuchsia plant, a cultivar called “Rijs” has charming, smallish flowers and has survived a sunny shelf in the greenhouse until now.  This one came from brother Tim, from a fuchsia sale he attended several years ago.  I pruned it back, gave it fresh soil and moved it out of the sun!  Hopefully, it will get back to blooming before cold weather sets in.

I lost two of my pitcher plants this year, but still have this–and it happens to be my favorite.  I need to make sure it has enough water all the time, which I haven’t been as good about this year.  It usually sits in a water-filled tray, but the water-filled part was harder to maintain this year for some reason.

This seems to be an iris seedling, but no idea what kind.  I grew dozens of seeds three years ago and this is one of the few left in the greenhouse.  It likes water, so I keep it with the pitcher plant.

Pelargonium “Grossersorten” cutting, with some small “Petals” cuttings in the same pot.

Leon got this Haworthia cutting from a friend.  It was a lot longer, but I cut it off where the stem was bent.  Right below the bend, there are fresh starts coming out among the leaves.  I think this will do well in the greenhouse and nicely complement the Gasterias.

I’ve had this Pelargonium for a long time.  It is possibly from City People’s on the back of Capitol Hill.  I suspect it might be carnosum, but it has never bloomed–maybe someday!

Here are a couple of Amarine bulbs purchased online several years ago.  Amarine is a cross between Nerine and Amaryllis.  These bulbs haven’t been super happy since I’ve received them.  I’ll move them outside this year and let them fend for themselves.

Pelargonium papilionaceae  cuttings.  My older starts of this species are five feet tall and bloom impressively in the greenhouse in spring.

Another old friend–this is Plectranthus forskohlii (I think).  These are impressive foliage plants, and they add lovely white flowers in late fall if the season has been warm enough.

I’ve kept two stock plants going for years now and I take cuttings as needed.  Unlike the closely related, warmth-loving Coleus, these plants do just fine in the cold greenhouse.

Here are some cuttings I took today.

My second stock plant.

There are so many Clivia seedlings in the greenhouse–I don’t plan to photograph and inventory them all.  However, this one actually and miraculously has a label!

I can’t seem to find pictures of this cross online, but at least I know it is a hybrid (or is claimed to be).

Another Quail x Nakamura seedling–these are three or so years old, but somewhat diminutive.  I will see if some fertilizer and tender loving care might help them.

Pelargonium “Petals” cuttings.  I always keep some of these  coming along, as they tuck into pots nicely.

More Pelargonium cuttings–not sure what color.

I’ll call this a memorial pot–it used to hold a fuchsia bonsai that I’d kept for 10+ years.  That plant died away last year, but three fern sporelings have popped up in this pot, including some type of brake-fern, a hardy male fern, and a tender-looking delicate other sporeling.

Another grand old friend–this  is a big pot of Oxalis triangularis.  If I remember, I will divide some bulblet out of this pot and plant them separately this fall.  These are really nice pot plants to mix among the green green greens that permeate the patios.

Some stalwart begonias have held on in the greenhouse for many years, including this one.  I think this is Begonia “Honeysuckle” and I think I bought the mother plant maybe in 2002 as a tiny pot plant to have in my office at work.  The leaves are attractive and the flowers are surprisingly showy.

Close-up of the flowers.

Another view.

And another view.

Leon brought cuttings home five years ago from cousin Brenda’s setcreasea.  Even through several moves, when we visited her in July, she still had a big pot of these showy, tenacious wanderers.

Here is one of the pots with the Pleione mixed bulblets.  I think I popped seven starts in this pot.

Here are some second-year offsets from the Pleione maculata in the greenhouse.

In the midst of my plant inventory and tending, Leon suggested maybe I could clean up the greenhouse for the party he’s having on September 3rd.  Because I’m working so much right now, I knew I couldn’t give the mess the time and attention it deserves to get it really organized.  Instead, I went for the “what they can’t see won’t hurt me” approach–I put up curtains made of landscape cloth!  Above is the before.

And here is the after!!!  Why didn’t I do this years ago!