Ilena Gilbert-Mays
banner
ilenagm.bsky.social
Ilena Gilbert-Mays
@ilenagm.bsky.social
Horticulturist in coastal North Carolina🐚 🇺🇸who loves tropicals, gingers and exotic plants, oh who am I kidding! I am obsessed with all plants and please, be kind🙏🌎🌱🌸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇧
Pinned
This cactus was the star and start of my cactus collection and addiction. I had to set an alarm to not miss this beautiful sight. It grew too large and was donated to a larger collection 🌵💘
#Cactus #Succulents #Flowers #FlowerReport #CactusAddict
It’s a rainy day today and hopefully it will melt the rest of the snow. It has certainly been a inside week and seeds may have been ordered while spring daydreaming 😆

#Flowers #Gardening #Winter #GulfOfMexico #FlowerReport #February
February 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
Lots of activity today around the bird feeders !! 😁
February 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
Blue tit and sunflower seeds 😍
February 1, 2026 at 11:18 AM
While the tropical greenhouse was closed for snow, ❄️ my red #Amaryllis decided to bloom in private 😂 I discovered it yesterday ❤️‍🔥

#Flowers #Gardening #MyGreenhouse #WinterFlowers #GulfOfMexico #FlowerReport
February 3, 2026 at 11:50 AM
I took this photo before the snow. I tried to cover all my #Hellebores with some frost cloth but it blew away in the gale force winds🤷🏼‍♀️they are well covered in snow now❄️

#Flowers #Gardening #Winter #GulfOfMexico #FlowerReport #GroundhogDay2026 #February
February 2, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
This is simultaneously the most anxiety-inducing and most satisfying weather for a greenhouse owner. If the heater fails at night, everything will die, but with the sun reflecting off the snow today, it’s 29 C and 75% humidity inside. Looks, feels, and smells like a tropical vacation. 🌱 🌴
February 1, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
Happy #February
Birds of Paradise
🌱🧡🌱💙🌱❤️🌱

In 1952 the Bird of Paradise was designated the official flower of Los Angeles.

#SoCal #FlowerReport
#Bloomscrolling
February 1, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
PEACE be with you, Friends
Rabbits, Rabbits, it is FEBRUARY!
February 1, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
I's so's sorry, Ilena😞 Mother Nature been really hard on us this season🥶❄️ Try to stay's positive and think's of all's the beautiful plants and floofs that's will grow in the Spring🪻🌼🐞🌱🌺🐝🌿☺️ Stay safe and warm!🤗😚💚
February 1, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
The same, eastern North Carolina. I think we got closer to 15 inches.
February 1, 2026 at 1:50 PM
The snow is over my boots 👢 so I am trying to stay in and resist the temptation to open either of my greenhouses. The #wildlife needs a little extra care during these times with food and water.

#Nature #WildlifePhotography #SnowSunday #Gardening
February 1, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
We hit 14, just found out the added heater worked in the greenhouse 🎉 I hope the snow insulates your (& my) tender plants from the extreme cold, only Spring will tell 🤞🙏🤞Good luck.
#WinterWonderland it has finally quit snowing in the last few minutes with an unofficial total of ten inches and currently 18 degrees Fahrenheit. I must admit I cried🥺 when I got up, there are things under that snow in my gardens that will not survive

#Snow #Gardening #Nature #BombCyclone
February 1, 2026 at 12:50 PM
#WinterWonderland it has finally quit snowing in the last few minutes with an unofficial total of ten inches and currently 18 degrees Fahrenheit. I must admit I cried🥺 when I got up, there are things under that snow in my gardens that will not survive

#Snow #Gardening #Nature #BombCyclone
February 1, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
#sixonsaturday 31-01-26 : News shoots New leaves New flowers New fruit !
Crocus, gaultheria, grapefruit, tetrapanax, rose and fern 🌱

fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2026/01/31/s...
January 31, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
A real mixture today for #SixOnSaturday with flowers, foliage and berries. We have Winter Berry, Crocus flower, Grass seed-heads, Clematis, Hellebore and Iris reticulata flowers.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the respite from the rain.

🌱 #Gardening #UKGardening #FlowerFeed #BloomScrolling
January 31, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
Saturday salutations sky-folk, if it's still winter it's LATE winter, with all sorts of things starting to happen outside (see alt-text for details).

#SixOnSaturday #Bloomscrolling #Flowers #UKGardening
January 31, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
#SixOnSaturday
#FlowerReport:

All from this week,
in San Jose and Gilroy, California.
January 31, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
It's cold today but spring is just around the corner.
#SixOnSaturday #EastCoastKin #Gardening 🌱
January 31, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Ilena Gilbert-Mays
Ilena's daffs are hunkered down, still showing yp for the #DailyDaffodil report 💛
#bloomscrolling
January 31, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Don’t look up! These snow flakes could take out an eye they are so big!🤣❄️👁️

#BombCyclone #WinterStorm #Nature #SnowStorm #GulfOfMexico #GotToBeNC
January 31, 2026 at 8:28 PM
January 31, 2026 at 7:23 PM
#SixOnSaturday this week comes from inside #MyGreenhouse except for the #Amaryllis photos were taken yesterday as the heated greenhouse is stuffed to the door inside this morning .

#BombCyclone #Flowers #Gardening #GulfOfMexico #Plants #FlowerReport
January 31, 2026 at 11:47 AM
In waiting mode now #WinterStorm #BombCyclone ☃️🌀❄️💨
#Gardening #MyGreenhouse #GotToBeNC
January 31, 2026 at 11:36 AM
January 30, 2026 at 11:14 AM
I’m preparing for a #BombCyclone 🌀coming this weekend, most things were secured already but now all the patio pots have been given their own popup greenhouse. Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best 🙏

#Flowers #Gardening #Winter #GulfOfMexico #Plants #GYO #FlowerReport
January 29, 2026 at 1:22 PM