Tillandsia or air plants...

I was out shopping last week and mainly looking around in a local store that I hadn't had time to explore very much.  The owner sells and uses the Annie Sloan chalk paint and she sells many of her up-cycled creations along with other items like handmade jewelry and clothing.  I passed by an area that had some rocks and plants and woodsy things and it caught my naturalist's eye.  Upon deeper inspection, I realized that none of the plants were in soil but appeared to be just plopped into  natural vessels so I asked the owner what type of plants these were and she said, "Air plants, also known as tillies, short for Tillandsia."  I was immediately enchanted by these unusual plants.  The only air plants I remember from my childhood were those "air ferns" which people sometimes grew in their bathrooms.  I never thought they were very attractive, but these plants have much more substance and character to them than the air ferns did.  Some are of the succulent group of plants, but all need no soil to live and thrive.  Some of the air plants like to eventually attach their roots to woody objects like drift wood or an old chunk of shaggy wood.

As I asked more questions, the store owner explained that all of the plants would bloom the most exquisite and colorful flowers.  That also intrigued me, so I decided to make a purchase then and there.  I bought the Ionatha at the top.  It is green with orangy-red colors coming from within it and is said to produce lovely little purple blooms.  The grass-like air plant in the second picture is called Juncea and right beside it in the rock is another Ionatha.  In the white vase is one called Funckiana.  Another plus to growing Tillandsia is that they will reproduce and pups will form after they bloom or after they reach a certain size.  I love it when plants have babies!

Air plants are considered "easy care" because all they really need is a dunk in a bowl or tub of water every 7 to 10 days depending on how humid it is in your home.  And that's it.  Some people spray-mist them and others I've read say it's better to saturate them by dunking them underwater for a few minutes, so I guess I'm of the dunking theory so far.  Did you know that Spanish moss is considered an air plant?  Some people combine the Spanish moss with the air plants in their arrangements.  I am so fascinated by these plants that I have been doing a little research online to learn more and I have discovered some beautiful ways to display air plants that really appeal to me -- rocks, wood, even hanging suspended in mid-air.  I will add some links for you to browse below.  I also have found that you can buy air plants on Etsy as well as other online stores.  They are, after all, easy to ship with no soil, and very little weight.  However, if you live in the north like me and it's a very cold season, shipping might not work so well.  It might be best to find a local plant seller or wait until warmer weather comes to purchase tillies online.  So my gardening continues through the winter months  indoors with my new-found plant love -- Tillandsia!

OK, now for the links to some fun stuff!

 How to Display Air Plants (video)
Air Plant Care 101 (e-How) 
Air Plants Care and Design Made Easy
Wedding Worthy Air Plants

If  you dare to go on Pinterest and search for air plants, you will be overwhelmed and very tempted to try them for yourself.  There are such gorgeous ideas out there.  Do you grow air plants or have you seen them growing wild in trees in temperate climes?  Do tell!

New spring arrivals are here!

 A ball of fluff under the heat lamp in early morning.

Twenty-one pullets and one cockerel are amongst the new spring arrivals here.  They arrived through the mail to our local feed store.  I sent OnlyDaughter and her girls, Bee and Rootie Toot to go fetch them for me since Hubby would be late to town to get them.  The littles were thrilled, to say the least, that they would be able to enjoy baby chicks at their house for a little while.

When the chickies got home, I had a place all ready for them with cozy straw bedding and a little sugar water and chick feed.  Of course, there is always a nice, warm heat lamp above to keep things the right temperature for little fuzzball chicks.  This year I ordered:  Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, American Auracana, and Red Sexlinks.  I didn't order a single white chick (or Leghorn) for some reason.  Everyone here made the honored walk out to the coop to see the New Arrivals -- Peach and Toodles and Little Boy Blue along with their mama and new DIL.  It's always a thrill to see the chicks.

I've been going to make a blog post time and time again and either decide there is nothing to say or I decide that I don't want to do it.  It's not that I don't think of you, I do, but the springtime bug has got me and I'm preferring to be out of doors rather than indoors typing on the computer.  We've had some really nice days and so all of us ladies here have been working on our lawns and sprucing up flower beds and veggie beds.  Not that one can do any sort of planting just yet, but it's fun to get things cleaned up and ready.  I felt of the soil in my veggie beds and it's quite cold yet.  Someone once told me that if you can sit comfortably with your bare butt in the soil, it's ready to plant. I did buy my seed potatoes and onion sets.  I cut up the spuds so they could scab over and soon I will toss those in the potato patch.  They can go in early-ish.

The men farmed up a 24 acre spot on the hayfield where we re-fenced last year and are seeding it now with barley, peas, and crested wheat grass.  We're hoping this is perfect timing because we are expecting moisture in just a couple days.  Hubs and I are aerating our lawn.  It surely needs some deep, lovingkindness.  We'll also over-seed it after that is done.

Miss Bee is having her 3rd birthday party today and we're all happy to go help her celebrate.  Papa and I will be taking Peach and Toodles with us.  There will be hamburgers, salads, chips, and angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream for birthday cake!  Wahoo!

Now I must away to the outdoors.  There is more dirt to shovel and fling on the yard.  One more thing I wish to share with you.  If you are like me and have rough, dry hands from being in the dirt and water you will like Salt Scrub.  It's so easy and very effective.  You can use this on rough feet too, but don't use it in the shower or the oil will make the floor slick enough to fall.

Salt Scrub

1/2 c. salt (fine sea salt and course salt)
1/3 c. olive oil (or other oils you prefer)
Essential Oil of choice to desired strength of smell.  (I used lemon oil and lavender oil)

Mix in a small mason jar and stir well.  Set by the sink where you wash up from outside chores.  I wash with soap first and then with the Salt Scrub.