It occurs to me that this winter may seem extra long and dreary (apart from the obvious) because we have not been away. It has been the norm for us to get away in January for the annual holiday and that means that the destination of choice, in most years, is one of the Canaries. We decided to cancel at Christmas when it was obvious that the easing of Covid restrictions would end in disaster.  It was the right decision, as it turns out. It is not just the sun and warmth I miss but the plants too. Though January is not the best time to see plants there it is the only time I can get away – summer is a no-no if you have a garden.

The garden here is not complete and the greenhouse is  still not built so tender plants are tricky right now. But my dragon tree, that I have had for 20 years or more, is happy in the conservatory and my canarina plants, now three years old, from seed, are beginning to bloom for the first time. I have written about these several times, including here. They are lovely plants, that grow in winter, and tolerate cool temperatures but will not tolerate frost – as I have discovered with the plants I had in the polytunnel. But I brought several inside the house, stood on the wide pot of the dragon tree. Here they are happy and are opening some blooms.

My seedlings are from purchased seed collected in Gran Canaria and others from Tenerife and this is the latter. I am ridiculously fond of the plant, as I am the dragon tree it is scrambling up. Look closely and you can see Mia catching some rays.

You may think that the cat (Mia) is not bothered by it at all but she wanted to see what I was so interested in.

But luckily she does not chew most of the houseplants

But is fond of flossing with the dry ends of bilbergia leaves

Before rolling over for a tummy rub

are Savannah cats friendly