Here are some of the delicious smelling blooms.
More yummy flowers.
I realize the word tree might be a bit of an overstatement for this plant, might be more like a Lemon "shrub". It has many open flowers and lots and lots more buds growing each day.
I had mentioned in an earlier post while reading up on the care of indoor citrus that since there wouldn't be any pollinators indoors we'd have to hand pollinate. From what I could find on hand pollinating a small artist's brush was the best thing to use, although I found one person that suggested using a finch feather. We decided to go with the paintbrush. Here you can see the brush being carefully brushed against the pollen in the flower.
And look who my little bee is... The Littlest Gardener was very excited to pretend she was a bee. I told her how bees pollinated the flowers by visiting different flowers and carrying pollen from one flower to another. She worked very intently on making sure she got to each flower.
I'm sure each flower was pollinated as if an entire hive of bees had been on the little tree. I figure this is our little indoor winter experiment. If we get fruit it will be very exciting, otherwise it was a good lesson on how important the different pollinators are in the world.I did read that some people hand pollinate the flowers regularly until the flowers are spent. My little busy bee and I will keep you posted on how our lemons do. Until then I will be stopping by regularly to breathe in the wonderful smell of lemon blossoms.
How neat! that is the cutest bee ever! I can't wait to see how well she did!
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how good it smells Catherine. The blooms are quite pretty too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely task to share with your little bee. It looks a pretty shrub. I'll bet the scent is delicious.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are doing everything right for it and that it is happy in its new environment. The little bee will get all the credit for the lemons with her hard work. She would probably be a lot more patient with pollinating the blooms that I would. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have never smelled lemon blossoms but you make them sound so good.
Looking forward to seeing lemons.
What beautiful snow-white flowers! And the little pollinator is doing a great job! Precious! I remember growing a lemon tree for several years indoors in my previous life. Don't remember if we had any blooms and fruit, it was soooo long ago. But I remember a big tree with tens of yellow fruit in the university where I used to teach. The room wasn't especially sunny, but that tree didn't mind. Let's hope you will have a yellow lemon some time soon! Have a Healthy and Happy New Year, Catherine! All the best to you and your family! Hugs,
ReplyDeleteTatyana
I am definitely going to get a lemon tree this spring. I didn't realize the blooms were so pretty. You have a cute, busy bee!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I really think your lemon tree is lovely - I can almost smell the flowers from here. I hope you and your little bee get some lemons - they would make the best lemonade ever!
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the Littlest Gardener a/k/a The Littlest Bee is so precious. She has a good teacher in you and she's learning a lot.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty flower on your Meyer Lemon tree. Wish I could enjoy the scent through my computer. Why doesn't someone invent something to make that possible?
What a great photo of your daughter. She is taking it so seriously and when the lemons form she will have a great science lesson coming true. It is a beautiful bloom.
ReplyDeletemuy bonitas las fotos y las flores. Un saludo
ReplyDeleteWonderful pics of your little helper!!! That's great. Oh how I wish this was smell-o-vision! The fragrance of those Meyer blossoms - wow. I wish you luck with your bee-ing! Cheers, Bonnie
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tree (yes, it counts as a tree!), and a delightful little bee.
ReplyDeleteThose blooms are lovely and I can imagine the glorious scent emanating from them.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, You have the most amazing posts! These blooms are so pretty and I can just imagine taking a big whiff each time you pass by. The Littlest Gardener is the perfect height for this project with the paintbrush. She is always going to treasure this experience and I do hope you get lemons. I wish you all happiness in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks really healthy & happy. I hope the pollinating works & you have a fruit for each blossom! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteA very cute bee. :) We used to have a Tangerine tree whose flowers I miss, but which I do not miss lugging in and out. Citrus flowers smell wonderful. They remind me of jasmine.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely flowers, and what a great little gardener. I long for the day when the figure out how to transmit scent digitally. For now, I just have to try to imagine the scent of your beautiful blooms. -Jean
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has grown citrus outdoors, I have always been fascinated by how people from cooler climates bring theirs indoors. I just love the smell of citrus blossoms too, although they usually don't really start here until February. I love your little pollinator helper.
I love this plant. I took mine to the library to overwinter and it has now lost all its leaves but it looks like they are coming back out.
ReplyDeleteshe was so absorbed.... in her paintwork. haha. Just look at her lower lip.... ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteI am quite ignorant about citrus tree growing, however I did know that orange tree blossoms were heavenly scented. Thanks for revealing that lemons are too. I'll have to start trolling the nursery aisles to see if I can snatch one up. My kids would love to "paint" a flower!
ReplyDeleteChristine in Alaska
I bet those blooms do smell heavenly! How nice. My friend Carol has a lemon tree (shrub) but it has yet to bloom.
ReplyDeleteOh for heaven's sakes! Catherine, you are teaching wonderful things to your daughter. Wonder what she'll be doing someday... :-) You have inspired me for sure!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine~~ Littlest Gardener is so intent on her bee-job. It's been a long time since I've whiffed the scent of Meyer Lemon. Hmm... what am I going to do about that? Oh, I know...a trip to the nursery! Thanks Catherine. I was looking for "a reason." LOL My fingers are crossed for a successful pollination.
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling little bee you have there. If I were that lemon "shrub" I would put out some lemons for her.
ReplyDeleteCatherine I can't imagine the delight you must have enjoyed when you woke to that wonderful scent wafting through the house. That must have been a terrific Christmas present for you.
Catherine, your stories always have a certain charm, and I read for hours!
ReplyDeleteI imagined the scent of flowers from a distance of your beautiful "bush" of lemon) also because I know very well the smell. I'm lucky, I own three and can be safely out in the open all year with our climate.
Your little Bee is absolutely delicious and very laborious. You're a great teacher, and you will see that the student surpass the teacher soon! =)
A hug!
It is good to teach young children about the birds and bees. She is such a cute and good helper. Happy New Year 2010!
ReplyDeleteOh Catherine, you have the cutest bee in the world! It's so beautiful to see those pictures. I also use a smll paintbrush and I find it quite easy to get fruit on the small trees. I have two differnet citrus but no lemontree. I just love the smell from the flowers. Do you know that if you rub the leaf betwen your fingers it smells just like the fruit? And you're abel to use the leafes when you'r making dinner. Put a few of them in the (oh I have a languageproblem here) stew (like you do with the bay leaf) to get some citrus taste in it. It's great! Happy New Year Catherine! I also think it's been a pleasure getting to know you this past year / gittan
ReplyDeleteI LOOOOVVVEEEEE Meyer Lemons! Those blooms are soooo fragrant. What a treat to have them open on Christmas. My sister in law had 7 lemons on hers one year. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a special little helper you have in the shape of LG. I am sure that lemon is going to flourish and produce fruit.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers look yummy Catherine. I would have chosen the paint brush over the finch feather too! I bet the littlest gardener did a awesome job pollinating. I love how you're instilling an appreciation of nature and the garden in your children. They will grow up to have their own spectacular gardens I bet. Happy New Year to you! I hope to see lemons soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow interesting and I love the flowers..it is so nice this time of year to have flowers indoors..my Christmas Cactus is blooming now but not as profusely as last year.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of her hand pollenating the flowers and it was such a cute photo of her doing it.
Hmmm thanks for the tip about coffee grounds. I've been unable to find citrus fertilzer at any big box store and my lemon tree looks terrible!! This is the second year overwintering - last year blooms, but no lemons. This year not even blooms.
ReplyDeleteLucky you!!