Finally, Rain!

After an arid summer and early autumn, the rain came yesterday and is forecasted to stay for about ten more days, at least! The air is finally cleared of the anxiety-inducing smoke from the local wildfires and the plants are all voicing deep sighs of relief.

Today was a fun day spent in the greenhouse between bouts of computer work. There are some fun things blooming or preparing to bloom in there.

Plectranthus blooming better than ever because of the long, hot summer.
Begonia blooming well–I think this is Honeysuckle.
Nicotiana alata–this long-time greenhouse resident got off to a late start this year but is providing lots of scenic beauty and scent now.
Thanksgiving cactus that might actually bloom at Thanksgiving!
Abutilon.
So many Clivia plants need to be moved into the greenhouse next month!
Euchomis blooming and setting seeds.

There is a lot of general cleanup to do in there and lots of propagation, too. I took cuttings of salvia, fuchsia, and pelargoniums–lots and lots of pelargoniums! The frustration with pelargoniums is that they have excellent cutting material now, in the fall, but it isn’t really a great time to propagate them. The success rate on the cuttings can be really low. I’m hoping if I take better care of them in the next six weeks or so, they will do better than in years past.

Foliage colors have been sad this year, more brown than bright. But my tonsai trees have some brilliance despite their diminutive sizes.