Pineapple Cilantro Fish Fajitas

It's been a while since I've done a food post, but this Florribean recipe I made up definitely deserves a place on The Rainforest Garden. With the exception of the fish, you can grow the ingredients! I've pan fried tilapia and added a sauteed medley of peppers and pineapple to the mix, finishing off with a little lime, pomelo and cilantro. All in all, this easy recipe took somewhere between 10-15 minutes to make! Unfortunately, it was so good that it took a lot less time to eat. (feeds four)

Blooms in the Rainforest Garden

I feel like I've finally joined the ranks of all those other garden bloggers; you know, the ones who always have lots of flowers in bloom to share on their blog, regardless of the season. That's right, my tropicalesque garden is finally growing up. Though I am partial to foliage, there's something to be said for having those wonderful flowers to enjoy. Here are some of the things I have blooming at the moment!

How to Plant a Terrarium

Wardian cases, or terrariums, were popular in the Victorian era since they allowed exotic plants from abroad to be displayed in temperate climes. Today Mary Ellen Gambutti is going to show us how to plant your own wardian case with bromeliads, step by step! She originally posted it on the Rainforest Garden Facebook page, but I thought that you guys would love to learn how she did it too.Here's Mary Ellen Gambutti's wonderful guest post, with descriptions to each photo.

Aechmea Distichantha or Quesnelia?

Okay bromeliad sleuths, time for another taxonomy mystery. This bromeliad was passed along from a neighbor and has finally bloomed after two years. My gut tells me that it's some form of an Aechmea Distichantha with a tight rosette, but since most pictures of distichantha show a branched and open inflorescence, it doesn't quite match up. Though these photos show an unbranched spike, they so sometimes branch at the base. The leaves are also rigid and incredibly spiny.

I Love Working on My Balcony

I just thought I'd share a few of the fun things I've been finding on my balcony lately. The other day I found a green tree frog in my flowerpot hunkering down during a severe thunderstorm, and the day after that I found a couple of green anole lizards that have taken up residence in my hanging rhipsalis baskets! If those animal encounters weren't enough, I've been enjoying the Vriesea sucrei flower (to the left) as well as another surprise...

Vertical Gardening Inspiration

Happy Epiphyte Day! Today I'll be sharing vertical gardening ideas from myself and others in the blogosphere. After all, what better plants are there for vertical gardening than epiphytes? Not all of these ideas use epiphytes, but you can easily improvise and replace the soil with a more appropriate medium for bromeliads or orchids. As always, you're all invited to share your own posts on epiphytes, leaving a link in the comments field!

Billbergia NOID

For this Wordless Wednesday I've decided to share one of the blooms in my garden. The flowers haven't yet emerged from this unidentified Billbergia, but I think that makes the inflorescence all the more beautiful. This is one of the mottled gray hybrids that can be found in old homesites of Clay county, long after the houses themselves have crumbled. By the way, epiphyte day is coming up on the first, so don't forget to share your posts! Maybe I need a Linky thingee too...

Aechmea Cylindrata, or Aechmea Gamosepala?

I'm not alone in the confusion here. I have seen my plant labeled at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens as Aechmea cylindrata, even though the real A. cylindrata looks a little more like this "Blue Cone". It couldn't possibly be an A. gamosepala though, because it's simply too massive in every respect! The leathery rosette is over a foot tall, and so is the densely packed neon inflorescence.

What Gardening "Green" Means to Me

This baby box turtle is who I garden for. I refuse to poison the insects munching on my beloved plants, because if I'm patient enough to deal with the damage, those lacewings, lubbers and katydids provide food for Sheldon the box turtle, the multitudes of treefrogs, and every single one of my garden's inhabitants. I'm a "green" and "organic" gardener, but not for the reasons you'd expect.

How to Make a Rainforest Drop!

I completed this vertical garden in less than 30 minutes, using nothing but:

    - a grapevine ball, available at craft stores
    - orchid bark, available at garden centers
    - sphagnum moss, available at garden centers
    - epiphytic cacti, drought tolerant and easy

The cuttings take root quickly, and will eventually form a solid mass of luxuriant rainforest growth.

My Top 3 Picks From Proven Winners' Spring Lineup

I don't generally get too excited about bedding plants, but the excitement during Rick Schoelhorn's presentation was palpable. You couldn't help but get sucked into the energy, with each flash of colorful blooms on the screen conjuring up "ooh"s and "ahhh"s from the dazzled audience as if the Calibrachoa and petunias were fireworks a la Powerpoint.

Montane Rainforest at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

This was the most jaw dropping display of plants I've ever seen. When you enter the montane conservatory, you first notice the blast of cool and humid air, and then you see the plants. Plants, mosses, lycopodiums and any manner of green coating every available inch of exposed surface, draping from branches and dripping with moisture. Branches were festooned with naturalized clumps of orchids and bromeliads, and the stones surrounding pools were coated in velvety moss.

Balcony Makeover

When my fiance asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I excitedly responded that all I wanted to do was garden and write. I got to spend the first half of my day rearranging and cleaning the balcony, the second half writing, and the third half... wait, that's not right... nursery shopping and going out to eat! Oh, and for the ultimate birthday activity, I'm blogging and tweeting on #gardenchat at the same time!

Field Trip to the Fuqua Conservatory

When I caught my first view of the Atlanta Botanical Garden's greenhouses, I could see a steady stream of children heading in the same direction. It didn't take long for me to picture myself pressed up against the wall by a mob of kids while trying to photograph orchids, so I realized I had to act fast. I tried to play it cool at first, just walking a little faster than the impending herd, but that was getting me nowhere so I gunned it, walking at a speed more akin to running, my legs like scissors cutting past the perplexed kids. They must have thought I was crazy.

Proven Winners Outdoor Living Extravaganza, Part 1

What an amazing trip it's been! This event was so packed with great information, fun and yes, food, that I'll have to break this one up into two posts: First I'll tell you all about the event and the great speakers, and next week I'll focus more on the lineup of Proven Winners plants introduced by Rick Schoellhorn for this year. Much to my relief, Rick did an excellent job of tailoring his picks to the Southeast's climate. This week however, I'm focusing on the rest of those enjoyable seminars.

Epiphyte Day: Atlanta Botanical Garden

I'm going to have to cut this epiphyte day short, guys! I got back from my amazing trip with a nasty cold, so I've pretty much been sleeping and working since I got back. Rest assured that I have plenty to show you from the Proven Winners Outdoor Living Extravaganza as well as footage from the Atlanta Botanical Garden and its extensive epiphyte collection!

Garden Update!

First of all, I absentmindedly rescheduled epiphyte day for a day when I'll clearly be in Atlanta and unavailable to blog, soooo... how about you leave links for your posts and I'll compile them when I get back? This means you now have til the 5th to share your posts! For the time being, I'd love to tell you what's going on in my garden before I start my trip.

Friendly Reminder: Epiphyte Day is March 3rd!

How did it sneak up on me so quickly? Since clearly I don't have my stuff together, I'll make this month's epiphyte day post on the 3rd so I... I mean you have time to get your epiphyte post together! The rules are the same as last time: Post about your favorite tree dwelling plant such as orchids, ferns, bromeliads, ant plants, etc., link to my blog and be entered to win a care package of free epiphytes! Again, this month's epiphyte day is on the 3rd, so there's still time!

Spring Has Arrived!

Well, at least spring has arrived here in Florida. Last night I woke up in a cold sweat after having a horrible nightmare, in which the weather forecaster predicted unheard of lows in the teens! Then I woke up. After I regained my composure I was more than eager to explore this delightful and ice free spring day. If any of you had nightmares of frost and ice, take solace in the fact that you're not alone. I am so happy to finally take photos of pretty plants again!

I'm Going to Atlanta!

I recently blogged about the Proven Winners Outdoor Living Extravaganza in Atlanta, and guess what? I'm going! Does anyone else want to come along? I have it on good authority that snacks will be involved...