Tales o' the Pups, Part 2 (Tillandsias)

Here's Part 1 in case you missed it:

http://mylifeamongthelithops.blogspot.com/2013/10/tales-o-pups-tillandsia-pups-that-is.html

My Tillies continue to pup like there's no tomorrow. Last time I wrote about Tillies that pup at the base. This week, I've got some hidden and subtle pups to show. Here are three of them. It's hard to find images of Tillandsias and their pups, so I hope this will add to our global photo album of Tillandsias.

Tillandsia magnusiana with pup, MR, 2013

My favorite fuzzy Tillies, T. magnusiana, are as close to  airplant pets as it gets. They're soft, fluffy silver balls that fit nicely in the hand. I swear they'd purr if they could. The sacred Tillie of the Maya has equally cute pups. They grow quite hidden at the base for a month or so, then suddenly, a lower leaf will lurch away from its fellows, and there you'll see the pup, only about 1cm in diameter.

Tillandsia caliginosa with pup, MR, 2013

Tillandsia caliginosa has a cleverly disguised pup branching off from the base, approximately two leaves up on the mother plant.

Tillandsia filifolia with pup, MR, 2013

T. filifolia pups at the base, but the pup grows in a direction perpendicular to the mother plant. It's very hard to spot at first. This pup has been growing for several months and is now clearly visible. You can see the central rosette of the pup clearly in the lower right corner. It's darker than the mother plant.

Well, that's enough pupping for now! Have a wonderful weekend and happy gardening.

Another Fragrant Tillandsia, and a Bunny!

Tillandsia caliginosa

Another lovely Tillie has bloomed, and it's one of the rare scented species. Tillandisa caliginosa (kah-lee-jee-NO-sa) has tiny, brown and yellow flowers. But the flowers smell powerfully of mimosa, honey, and bread dough. A rare treat for the Tillie gardener, I've been happily huffing T. caliginosa's perfume this weekend. And of course, still working with my Corel program and making pots.

Here's one of our neighborhood cottontail rabbits, so sweet! We've named him Victor- he comes to our garden to watch the sunsets over the river, seriously. (Bunnies are very artistic and spiritual creatures.) Here's Victor watching the sunset with great interest and appreciation....Have a great weekend!