Garden Photo of the Day

Growing Plants Indoors and Out

Veggies, flowers, and houseplants

Today’s photos are from Pauline, aka The Awkward Domestic.

I’m a 32-year-old novice gardener living in the DC metro area. I have always enjoyed caring for plants, but I got more serious about the hobby three years ago when I purchased my first home. In addition to florals and veggies, I maintain a decent collection of indoor plants (68 plants and counting). I am a strong believer that gardening and spending time in nature have the ability to heal and nurture one’s soul.

Pauline’s plant-filled office! It used to be you couldn’t easily keep plants happy using lamps like this, because old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs don’t produce enough of the wavelengths plants use for photosynthesis. But modern compact fluorescent or LED bulbs are not just more energy efficient—they also are great for plants!

swiss cheese plantA beautiful Monstera adansonii, aka the Swiss cheese plant.

Who needs curtains when you’ve got houseplants?

Giggy the cat appreciates all the greenery indoors.

Giggy also appreciates the outdoor floral beauty. It is almost like he knows that a backdrop of the yellow leaves of creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 3–9) will show off his dark fur to perfection.

growing cabbagesPauline’s a great vegetable grower. Her baby cabbages are just getting started.

cabbagesFast-forward a couple of months, and the cabbages are growing to perfection.

Pauline with a spectacular cabbage nearly as big as she is! Why don’t my cabbages look that incredible?

GladiolusGladiolus (Zones 7–9 or as a tender bulb) just popping into bloom.

crop of lettuceA pretty spectacular crop of lettuce.

 

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Comments

  1. blondie3 07/23/2020

    Fantastic!

  2. nwphillygardener 07/23/2020

    Giggy on the red velvet pillow is a spectacular photo. Between that pillow and the luxurious houseplants in a sunny room, that fur baby is living large.

  3. Carolyn3134 07/23/2020

    Wonderful! You definitely have a GREEN thumb! Kudos on the vegetables!! Don't tell the cabbage moths where you live, LOL!

  4. Maggieat11 07/23/2020

    Great! And congratulations on your new home. Enjoy!
    I wish I was as good at house plants as you are😉😁.

  5. wittyone 07/23/2020

    Wow! I don't think you can call yourself a "novice gardener" any longer. Those spectacular cabbages and lettuce, not to mention all those houseplants, totally push you into the "advanced gardener" category.

  6. Patchworkgardener 07/23/2020

    I’m impressed Pauline, biggest cabbage I’ve ever seen, and what a spectacular indoor jungle. You get the GREEN THUMB AWARD! Thank you for sharing 😁

  7. User avater
    simplesue 07/23/2020

    Those cabbages are like sculptures, almost too pretty to eat with those shades of blue-green.
    You sure know how to grow healthy houseplants, and I always love seeing a happy cat in amongst the plants!

  8. User avater
    meander_michaele 07/23/2020

    Very impressive, Pauline...you have the magic touch for both indoor and outdoor plants. Your greenery filled office is an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

  9. btucker9675 07/23/2020

    Oh those cabbages! Made me hungry for a big bowl of cole slaw!!! I, too, love houseplants and but have only 20 which is peanuts compared to your collection. I also have front and back porch plants, and my outdoor gardens, and agree with you that gardening feeds the soul!

  10. Sunshine111 07/23/2020

    Impressive! You grow girl!❤️ What is the time when I had 60+ house plants as well... 😊

    1. Sunshine111 07/23/2020

      There was a time I had 60 houseplants as well 😊

  11. User avater
    treasuresmom 07/23/2020

    Love to see someone utilize all the space they can for flowers & veggies.

  12. schatzi 07/23/2020

    Pauline, you are a gardener after my own heart. Plants and flowers indoors and out, and a happy cat to complete the picture. Great work! Keep it up and be happy.

  13. Cenepk10 07/23/2020

    Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous!!!!! Love your office & gardens indoors & outdoors ! I’m afraid you’ve got “ it” dear !!!!

  14. Wema 07/23/2020

    Wow!!

  15. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 07/23/2020

    Thank you, Pauline for sharing your home & garden. Great photos of your wonderful success - may it continue!
    I'm tempted to give the LED bulbs a chance - we suffer from extreme lack of sunlight during the winter months and indoor plants really suffer. Grow lights just weren't cutting it.
    Thanks again and all the best!

    1. User avater
      cynthia2020 07/24/2020

      Re: I'm tempted to give the LED bulbs a chance

      Ditto!

  16. janeeliz 07/23/2020

    Clearly you have the magic touch, Pauline. Both your indoor and outdoor plants look wonderful! Giggy is adorable, too!

  17. cheryl_c 07/24/2020

    Yummy looking healthy veggies have shown you are a very quick study in the gardening department! Congrats on such a successful start in gardening.

  18. User avater
    cynthia2020 07/24/2020

    Pauline - I especially liked the photo of the Monstera adansonii with the ruby and white of the room, the purple glads, and your eyes looking into the camera in the cabbage photo! Thanks!

  19. pattyspencer 07/27/2020

    Awesome - both inside and out

  20. sydneyleigh 08/17/2020

    Great gardening! You are a true plantswoman. Your neighbors are very lucky to have your place to look at.

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