Sometimes "I want that!" turns into "I just GOT that!"

It's been fun reading the reactions of others who see new plants (whether new to them or new to everyone) and how they deal with that rush of "I WANT that!" Sometimes, we succumb instantly. This time of year, after all, is when the glorious green phalaenopsis spoke to me last year, begging me to take it home. How could I refuse? And see how it's repaid me?

My stroll around den Haan's garden centre in Middleton on Friday gave me a much-needed boost. There's something about the scent of warm soil, green growing plants, and humid air that just makes me feel much better about life in general. There were a lot of plants I could have taken home with me. I love the abutilons, but they were looking a bit spindly after the winter, though still flowering joyously. 

There are certainly a lot of colours that weren't available when I first grew these mumblety-seventeen years ago, at Agricultural College. I always had one or two in my room on campus, though they were prone to sulking in the dry air. 

There were a LOT Of pansy geraniums, also known as Martha Washingtons and Regal geraniums. I happen to love these, both for their scented foliage and their really handsome flowers, and this one came home with me. The photo doesn't do it justice; the flowers are a very, very deep wine, about the colour of a good Wolf Blass Shiraz wine. (why yes, that's my favourite red, why do you ask?) And in fact, this variety is called 'Maiden Burgundy.' 

So bemused was I by the happy blossoms I never thought to check the other regals for their cultivar names. I almost brought this one home too, but was distracted by the lavender instead. 

Aren't they great? I know that magenta isn't to everyone's liking, but at this time of year, nothing brightens a blog post like an outburst of magenta...

Or maybe you prefer this hot pink one with the red accents. I like it but really the burgundy one did the trick for me best. I think this and the magenta cultivar may be among the longest-existing colours, which is probably why I tend to look at them, smile, and move on to the next. Familiarity, and all that. 


And finally, the plant that has caused me a great deal of plant-want-angst this winter, the clivia. Kylee has one, and I know some of our other fellow bloggers have them too, but it's Sunday morning and I can barely find the top of my desk, let alone references to clivia in other blogs. I stood and looked and looked and looked at this plant at the nursery, and almost--I repeat, almost--brought it home. But it's expensive (moreso than the orchids) and I just wasn't sure I could justify it, so you know what happens...I get you guys to talk me into it. After all, I can't buy any outdoor plants yet. So let the convincing begin! 

(and longsuffering spouse, you might listen to them...just sayin'.)