- Author: Karen Metz
This spring I have been very excited about getting several plants to bloom for the first time. Some I have had for several years without blooming. One, Parrot's Beak, Lotus berthelotil, I had grown before, but had killed it before it bloomed. I had decided to try the Parrot's Beak again as the flowers are so unusual. The grower had assured me that it would survive the winter on my partially covered patio and it did. Come spring time, it took me awhile to figure out that I needed to water it daily. Once I did the plant flourished and I have enjoyed the blossoms for weeks.
Another first time bloomer for me is Callistemon viminalis 'Little John' or dwarf bottle brush. I see these blooming everywhere, but I have had such a hard time with it. I have tried it several places in my yard before it has finally bloomed. It is in a wine barrel in my side yard now and finally seems happy. I am never sure if I have finally hit upon a good spot and watering schedule or if the plant needed to mature before it was ready to bloom.
Lastly, I am eagerly awaiting the opening of a bud on my Epiphyllum oxypetalum or Orchid Cactus. A friend gave me cuttings a few years ago. This plant I know likes to be pot bound and tends to bloom from April to September. It needs protection from frosts. It hasn't opened fully yet but looks like it will be any day now.
Last year I was thrilled when I finally got my Plumeria to bloom after many years. This year it is blooming away, as if it had always been abundant. Watching these " firsts for me" blooms these last two years has been really entertaining. It got me to thinking, birdwatchers have Lifetime Lists, which, if I understand it correctly, record the whens and wheres that they see a species for the first time. Maybe we could have something similar for gardeners, but instead of listing when we first see a species of plant, it could be when we first successfully grow the plant to maturity. In some cases this would be a bloom, or a fruit, or vegetable. With other plants, of course the goal would be its beautiful foliage. What do you think? Why should birders get all the fun?
