Mother-in-law's tonge

Beautiful!

ooo..it seems to love all the sun...funny cause mine does best when I put it in the shade house...

Thanks Tasteyg and Lori. I saw it a few minutes ago and the flowers have all opened up.

Ottavia, my neighbour says the locals call this mother-in-law's tonge

Is this your plant Terry, or Ottavia's? So gorgeous but the blooms don't last very long.

These belong to Ottavia - there are so many blooms on this plant, that no sooner does one shrivel up, there's another one opening up ...

Just had a thought! (hahaha...miraculous occurrence!) Maybe Ottavia has some hints on growing this plant that I could try...It seems to like morning sun...but I was reluctant to give it hot sun and direct light...this plant in your pic...looks to be in a small pot...hence...likes to be rootbound...it is in the hot sunshine...sooo... should I be giving mine more light...? Mine is a young plant just nicely two years old...and if I'd done things correctly it should be able to bloom... I have it nicely rootbound but don't think it's getting enough light or warmth...(that will come, I hope!) How often does she water...and does she fertilize while it's blooming or while it's resting?I hope you won't mind my asking...

MMM Lori I envy you these miraculous occurrences - !!!!

I shall be seeing Ottavia over the weekend so I shall ask her - I do know however that it's in the sunshine all day - albeit out of necessity as she has no shade outside her house and I also know that she uses manure that she gets from her sister's farm - I shall ask which kind and when she uses it and get back to you Lori .... Oh and she does a LOT of talking to them ....

Glad to hear that you will be enjoying some time up North. And I know you will thank Ottavia for me.... I'm a believer...plants understand vibrations...and they hear the love in her voice! I suppose you might think I'm silly to believe such a thing but there are scientific studies of the vascular responses of plants to verbal threats! lol. very interesting reading will have to look up the source of that info...

Well Lori, I asked Ottavia this weekend about how she cared for her sanseverina and she just shrugged her shoulders and said "niente", implying that it looked after itself !! She gives it some sheep "enriched" soil every now and then (when she remembers!) and does not give it too much water - all very vague I'm afraid - she did say however that now the sun is stronger, she's going to protect it by putting it in the shade. She is an amazing lady - I've never yet known a plant not to respond to her cooings !!!

Ottavia sounds wonderfully charming! will have to try "cooings"!!
: -)!
Yes, I have a friend in the US who grows epi's and he has a shade house for them to enjoy every summer. From the long range forecasting department of Environment Canada, we've heard that this summer is supposed to be very hot and dry (starting in Mid June apparently!) Must admit I'm not a hot weather person...I can't sleep when it's sticky hot..and our heat is always coupled with humidity...So while I'm here...my orchids and cacti will have the luxury of the shade porch I made last year!...It has a grape ivy roof...(which is just starting to leaf out) and lattice sides....great spot to keep orchids happy!
BTW... Have a friend who swears that "sheep noogies" are the best fertilizer! lol.

I don't like it either, Lori when it gets too hot. I'm definitely a spring person and Rome becomes unbearable in the summer. That's why I escape to my cool little house in the hills, where the stone walls are over a metre wide. I remember our summers used to hot and dry but these last few years have been so humid, that any form of movement become such an effort.......... are we ever satisfied ??

I guess that's the nub, Terry. summers don't last forever...best to enjoy every day of it.