The Gardens on Spring Creek

  Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera x bridgesii What's Blooming:  Holiday Cacti by Bryan Fischer, Horticulturist, Gardens on Spring Creek   Holiday cacti have intrigued me since I was a kid. Particularly, I’ve been fascinated to see how common they are in the homes of family and friends, yet how poorly understood they are, both in identification and in care requirements. This post seeks to demystify these ubiquitous, durable and exceptionally long-lived houseplants, for our benefit and theirs alike. While they are true cacti (family Cactaceae), the plants we call holiday cacti today did not originate in the desert as many would expect.   Rather, they grow as epiphytes in tropical and subtropical South American rainforests, meaning they live on the bark of a host tree.   They differ from parasites in that they glean no nutrition from the trees upon which they grow.   As a result of their origins, all holiday cacti perform well in homes with indirect li...

  Malachite butterflies on Tropical Hydrangea blooms What’s Blooming:   Tropical Hydrangea by Kelly Kellow, Horticulturist, Gardens on Spring Creek When the snow comes to The Gardens, outside plants are in their winter slumber.   But, in the Butterfly House you can find plants that are in full bloom, making it a sweet, summer-like oasis.   There is one special specimen in the flight house that is blooming just in time to chase the winter chills away.   Its giant, light pink spheres hang from the tree like shooting stars that smell like buttery cake batter – a true delight during the cold winter months!   Dombeya x walichii (DOM-bay-ya) or Tropical Hydrangea is in the Malvacea family and has large pendulous umbels of light pink flowers and large bright green leaves that have short hairs, giving them a velvety soft texture.   It is native to East Africa and Madagascar and does not handle temperatures cooler than 30 degrees Fahrenheit, making it...