a new year replete with houseplants

Happy New Year, friends! We had a lovely holiday with lots of visiting with family and friends, and we're back to the regular routine tomorrow. As much as I love the chaos and clutter of the holidays, I adore the cleanup and settling into a new year that comes afterward. A lot. I've been cleaning and organizing and purging (even moreso than usual, so thanks for putting up with it, Adam) and the vacuum is tired out.

The sun made a very welcome appearance this morning, so I started taking a few pictures around the house. And I noticed that I seem to have accumulated several plants over the years, all of which I love and have somehow managed to survive. Since this is the sort of thing I would love to read about on someone else's blog, here we go - a history of the plants in my house. I love having plants around. They give a sense of life to a home, and I enjoy having something to nurture. They also filter the air, which is just kind of awesome. I've certainly managed to kill my fair share, but these are my standbys.

Above are some paperwhite bulbs I'm forcing in a south window. I do this every year after Christmas, for a few reasons. First, it's when they're on clearance, and second, it's just so nice to have something to look forward to to get through the depths of winter. And what better than flowers? A quick disclaimer: the flowers kind of smell like cat pee. But they're so pretty.  I'm also forcing a red lion amaryllis this year. In the past, I seem to have had mixed luck. One nutty year, I had a bazillion double blooms on several plants; others, I've had only duds. This one has two stems already started, it's firm and heavy, so I'm hopeful. (Always check the bulb inside the box before you buy it; sometimes they're dried up, moldy, or showing no signs of growth.) It's also great for teaching kids about plants, growth, measurement, and responsibility. Now is the perfect time to pick them up if you see them at the grocery store! Hyacinth bulbs are often available, too, but I've had more failures than successes with those. If you choose one that's already started, you'll have a better chance.

This is a plant I don't know the name of, but it has a great story. (It seems like some kind of jade, but the leaves aren't thick like that.) My maternal grandmother always had plants in her house, and she had one of these by her living room window. After she died, well over ten years ago, I took a leaf and plunked it in water, hoping that it might root. It took ages, but somehow it finally did, and this is the result. I can't seem to kill it no matter how much I neglect it, so I highly recommend it. It does well in low light and brighter light, too, and likes a regular good watering.

I'm still trying to figure out the care for this one - it's an asparagus fern which I picked up at a garden centre last summer. I repotted it not long ago, and all of a sudden it started exploding with all those crazy long fronds! It looks a little scraggly with the clump in the middle, and it seems to have some aphid companions I'm trying to control, but I love how I imagine it looking someday. It also likes a good regular watering.

 This beautiful lipstick plant was a gift (thanks, Debbie!) and I have it on a shelf in the porch where it gets south and west light. I can't seem to keep the darn thing happy for long - right now it's content and the leaves are glossy, but I can't seem to get it to bloom. Which is fine, because I love the foliage on its own, but also means that I can't give you any help on how to treat them.

 In Thomas' room, there's a little ivy. Can't kill it - it's great. Next to an awesome owl I found at Value Village, which hasn't yet been hung.

In the kitchen, I have one of three Christmas cactuses (I kind of ignore them a lot, and they seem happy about it) and a hoya plant, also given to me by Debbie. (Thank you! It's doing great!) When I was a kid, my mom's best friend had a massive hoya plant on her piano. The blooms are beautiful star shaped clusters, with a tiny dot of nectar at the base of each, and they smell incredible. She died when I was 15, and I think of her every time I see one.

I have an aloe vera plant in the pantry, which we use for cuts, scrapes, and the like. I like these little ones, since it's tidier to take a little bit when needed. Just pinch off a tip, squeeze out the gel, and apply it where needed. It's soothing and healing, and I wouldn't be without one.

There you have it. Who knew I had so many in the house? If you have any of the same plants and can give me tips or correct names, I'm happy to hear them!

I hope your new year is off to a good start.