Hello, Darlings
Today I am sharing with you a part of an encounter with an elderly male, who may or may not be as old as I am. These days with the exception of my husband, most of the men I encounter are younger than myself. Nevertheless, as I was riding home on the bus, the above man asked me the name of the palm tree I had just bought.
Being a jovial mode and with a little thought (very little), I responded, Jeff. This went on until I had mentioned the names of several of my other plants. I mentioned my Fred the “Indian Laurel”, a ficus tree, George, a Weeping Widow tree also a ficus tree, and one other. But I didn’t name Thelma, a snake plant or, that one of my cats name is Sam.
As I was leaving the bus I noticed that a few of other passengers on the bus were smiling with little twinkles in their eyes. This was a good day.
Well, it wasn’t until early today that I realized that that man was asking me the botanical name of my palm tree, and if I hadn’t been in such a playful mode, would have stated in all truth that I never keep the botanical names of any plants in my head. I only keep what I believe is useful and necessary up there. I know the common names of the plants and that is good enough for me. However, the botanical names of all my plants both indoors and outdoors are written in my indoor and outdoor gardening journals. I have kept journals for years, and I keep them update to date on my success, failures and of the pests affecting them; the flying, the crawling, the four legged and the worse -- the two legged. The latter is the cause of most failures since moving into this house. Nevertheless, my gardens are one of my favorite pastimes since my retirement, and I am not pleased at all when someone destroys one of them.
However, and back on a good note, the botanical names of plants are not important to me. Over the decades, I have learned enough about indoor and outdoor plants from their basic knowledge, characteristics and care that makes them the perfect choice for me to add it to my two gardens.
Below are photos of some my indoor plants to which all of
them are growing well under plant lights with little or no natural sunlight.
When it isn’t cold and drafty the added sunlight is a plus to their growth. Click pictures to enlarge
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| Sago Palm - Cycas revoluta surrounded by Super Blue Liriope - Liriope muscari, Chinese evergreen - Aglaonema, Bromeliad - Bromelioidea, Anthurium - Anthurium spp. Araceae, Spider Plant - Chlorophytum comosum, Calla Lily - Zantedeschia & others |
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| Easter cactus - Rhipsalideae gaertneri |
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| Sansevieria Trifasciata - Mother-in-Law's Tongue Plant - Snake Plant |
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| Spearpoint Ivy - Hedera helix |
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| Weeping Widow - Ficus tree |
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| Pygmy Date Palm - Phoenix Roebelen |
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| Cat Palm - Cataractarum Palm, ZZ plant - Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven. Bromeliad - Bromelioideae, Little Bing - Cherry Tomato Plant & others |
As you can see from their botanical names they are a mouth
full that I don’t have any interest in learning. Give me the everyday common
names. As stated above, they are all living without natural sunlight at present.
Until next time,
Chow, Darlings
P.S. Among the recent classic movies I have watched is the 1956 “Please Murder Me”. In it a scheming widow used several men to her bidding and for personal gain. This film is an AFI favorite and should be viewed only for enjoyment and study of the entertainment arts.