We went to visit my aunt (my mother's sister) yesterday and she very kindly dug up some of her red ginger for us. She also gave us some swiss chard from her garden, turkey soup to keep us healthy and videos for my mom. We can never leave her house empty handed. Everybody should have an aunt like her. She's got boundless energy...even more than my mother which boggles my mind since I can hardly keep up with her!
I just looked up red ginger in Wikipedia and this is what I discovered:Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata), also called Ostrich Plume and Pink Cone Ginger, are native Malaysian plants with showy flowers on long brightly colored red bracts. They look like the bloom, but the true flower is the small white flower on top.
Its two varieties are called Jungle King and Jungle Queen. Red Ginger grows in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and many Central American nations, including Belize. It is also found in Samoa, where it is the national flower, and is locally called "teuila."
Red ginger can also be grown in South Florida since, in general, the region does not fall below freezing temperatures. It prefers partial shade and moist humid conditions, although it can tolerate full sun in some climates. It tends to like to be well watered and not left to dry out.
Ginger can also be grown as a houseplant and its cut flowers can be used in arrangements.
Ginger tends to spread. (Uhhhh ohhhhhh....)
My aunt says Poochie never listens to her. He didn't pay much attention to me either. He preferred to just sit in the shade of his little house and ignore me. Apparently, my cousin is his favorite. My cousin is the pilot who got us the tickets to AUS-NZ very, very cheap. He also helped us install our kitchen cabinets. Everybody should have a cousin like him.
Well, here's the spot where I'm putting it. I've asked my brother to help me plant it this weekend since Art is busy working on installing flooring right now. Everybody should have a brother like him, too!
I wish I had a cousin like yours, tickets to AUS-NZ...nice.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous flowers and excellent helpers!!!! You are indeed blessed!
ReplyDeleteExcited to see the wall of ginger. Should smell nice. Will remind me of my walks in the rain forest.
ReplyDeletePoor Poochie...KC misses him. :)
Wow, that ginger grows tall. Never realized that!
ReplyDeleteYou do have a wonderful family, all wanting to help each other. You and Art are right there on top of the list for helpers .
Cute Poochie too!
wow you are using very inch of your property to grow lush plants and flowers. good for you!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't look like it can spread very far there.
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to have so many family members nearby.
Beautiful flowers, plants! interesting info about the Ginger! You guys are so busy and industrious! Can't wait to see pictures of the house and yard when you get everything that you want finished!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have wonderful family members! Every family should be so lucky to be so close to each other. How wonderful you all look out for each other. The red ginger looks so pretty and will brighten the space in your yard.
ReplyDeleteAnd every one should visit a blog like YOURS, Kay! Aloha-
ReplyDeleteI was going to say that you have such wonderful family members...(maybe the ginger will behave itself)
ReplyDeletewonderful family members you got:) Ginger as houseplant? We use the root of the ginger as food spice especially for fish dishes. I wonder if that's the same ginger that you got.
ReplyDeleteAlmost garden time here inna hills & mountains(45-60 more days maybe).
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a crow; a 'hooded crow' to be precise. It's similar to the 'carrion crow', but the latter isn't native to the Giza area. /s/Old Injun Birdbrain
Blogette: So very nice to meet you! I do love having my cousin around.
ReplyDeleteKay: I am, I am. Thank you.
Tif: Wrong kind of ginger, Tif. This one doesn't have any smell but it's long lasting.
Peggy: My aunt says it will grow tall if we have good dirt and we take care of it. Hmmm...I think we'll have a miniature.
Lin: You're right, we don't have a lot of usable yard space so we are using every inch.
Linda: I just don't want it escaping into the neighbor's yard. They might not be too happy with that.
Sylvia: I can't believe Art is done with the stairs. Now it's my turn again to caulk the spaces.
Cheryl: I do love having extended family around again.
Cloudia: Awwww, Cloudia, you are too kind. Thank you so much!
Michelle: I'm really going to keep my fingers crossed.
Marites: This is the wrong kind of ginger for spices and you don't use it as a house plant because it grows too tall....except ours maybe because I tend to not be a terrific gardener. Because the flower is long lasting, they're great for flower arrangements.
Mike: Yae, Mike! Thanks a bunch for the information! I love finding out what I took a photo of.
You have a house full of relatives all willing and eager to help you out. I think that is just wonderful. I also love that peaceful dog photo. I didn't know about ginger but it gets way below zero here so it wouldn't last long.
ReplyDeleteWhat a loving and helpful family you have Kay. Great post as always. That ginger plant is what I fell in love with. It is so exotic looking.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Kay!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty. Inspires me. Maybe I'll get out and do a little gardening...maybe.
ReplyDeleteThe ginger plants are just lovely and so is your family! You are a lucky lady...
ReplyDeleteOh they're lovely. I wouldn't mind them spreading at all I think!
ReplyDeleteKay, you've got the nicest family, and talented at so many things too; you're very very lucky indeed.
The ginger is really gorgeous. I like it a lot. I hope it doesnt spread too far and wide. You have great relatives but I think they have a pretty fantastic sister and cousin too. Happy planting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blossom and interesting info about ginger. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,