I got another batch of plants today. So many of the herbs I bought earlier, drowned. I simply do not understand how that happens.
I am going to start hiding my beautiful watering cans; out of sight, out of my hands. Even the aloe vera drowned. Who else drowns their plants? Probably no one but me. If I was not in the apartment all of the time, maybe that would help. But I am, and there is no getting around that; not for the foreseeable future, that is.
Here are a few photos of our ever enlarging jungle.
This little beauty is called a Darling Orchid, of the common genus, Phalaenopsis, and is only about eight inches from flower to the pot bottom. I figured, it I kill it, it is so small I may not grieve too much.
I am trying to get the most use out of this one window box. Most of the plants, in the middle, are herbs; basil, sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary, lavender, parsley, a few scrawny chives, and some epazote. I was able to use some fresh thyme, and rosemary the other day, in a dish, and some rosemary tonight, when I basted the fish with butter, and rosemary. It was delicious.
We also got a new Areca palm, (five bucks folks), as the other one is, what? You got it; drowning. I bought twenty four plants total, for around ninety dollars. Five dollars for a palm tree! You cannot beat that with a stick.
Other than the pink orchid, the pink flowers, at either end, are Cyclamen; they are so pretty. I have never had the opportunity to grow those, so we shall see if I can grow them here.
The small orange flower, top photo, middle, front row, is a Calendula; it has medicinal properties, none of which I can remember at present. I have to tell you, though, that I tried growing this from seed from when we bought our first house, in Moline, IL, in nineteen hundred and eighty two. Nothing. They never grew.
The bright red plant in the middle, is known as an Anthurium; here it is called Anthurio. It is commonly called a Flamingo flower, because of the bright red flower disc’s. I am not going to explain it all here because A) I am too tired, and B) I really do not understand all of the terminology; (most especially at one o’clock in the morning.)
We wanted some flowering elements, so the aforementioned are the flowers I bought. Oh, I forgot, the Heliotrope; last photo, fourth plant from the right; three snake plants then the Heliotrope. It is tall with purple flowers; also medicinal.
Last, but not least, in the first photo, just to the right of the tall ZZ plant, is, what here is called a Mona Lisa. What its true name is, I cannot say. When I look it up, it says it is a lipstick plant. Not so, I say. The leaves look similar to a violet, and the flower is tiny, and looks like an orchid. Who knows? I certainly do not.
The Anthurium was the second most expensive plant, coming in at sixteen dollars, but the new Rubber tree plant won first prize, at twenty dollars. Each of the herbs were one dollar each. What is not to like?!
Until next time, please, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.
