Gardening, yes, in chilly temperatures

 Christmas cactus at left, brunnera at right, sanseviera, Amaryllis, begonia, etc.

 Big schefellera, it's more than 20 years old.

Decades-old palm tree ar left & recently repotted schefellera at right.

During lunch over the holidays, a friend asked, "Why no new garden blogs?"

The easy reply "It's too cold out!" makes sense, until a visitor comes into the house. There are two big patio plants on each side of the doors, fresh flowers on a kitchen cart, a poinsettia on the table, a large Christmas cactus and six plants in various stages of development in the south-facing 'sun room'.

Yep, gardening is still possible in Eastern Iowa, despite the winter weather.

Each plant has a story.

They all take some care, but good reasons exist to do the work: The porch plants started out as funeral flower arrangements for my dad, who died in 1989. The cactus began in a four-inch pot, purchased at a local gardening store. It now has been repotted several times, and blooms cheerily twice a year. An experiment with a new plant, a brunnera, was repotted from the garden and brought indoors this year. That was done to match the lovely leaves with a green pot, but happily, was later found to be how to save the plant.

Dividing the sanseviera, or mother-in-law's tongue (a personal favorite) meant a few stems went out in the landscaping where some height was needed and then brought inside before the ground froze.

Sometimes, keeping track of what needs watered, and when, is like the little boy trying to keep water from coming through the dike. I have an air plant that needs water monthly, and others weekly. Somehow it all gets down.

So what do these plants in the house mean for the average home?

Health-wise, plants naturally add to the humidity level, which takes a dive in cold weather. Decent humidity levels make it easier to breathe. In addition, indoor plants help to purify the air -- indoor pollutants are gathered up in the leaves and dirt, according to a website, livescience.com. 

Importantly, the plants add a natural beauty to a home.

This author started growing plants indoors in a college dorm room. In the 1970's the style was hanging plants, and it was always a challenge to get a stout hook up in the ceiling to hold a plant.

Before the house plants, our family always had a live Christmas tree, which we kept watered for about a month.

These days, the household has several fake Christmas trees but about 12-14 live green and flowering plants. In less than six months, the big plants will be hauled out to the front porch, and the poinsettia will be transplanted into a spot in the garden. 

Gardeners find fun in moving plants indoors and out, believing in the appropriateness of each site.

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