Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The Year I Killed My Menorah

Here's my delightfully menorah-like South African Aloe plicatilis; what a pleasure it's been to come home to this plant. Judging by its looks here, I'm guessing it's history; I'm also thinking one of you knows the answer for sure.

Every summer, I scout around for friends with room in their greenhouses to overwinter my Z10 succulents. Every fall, I say, yeah gotta pot those suckers up and get them shelter. And every December, I kill beautiful, innocent and often expensive specimens because I'm disappointingly lazy. (I say disappointingly because I'm gullible enough to think I'll change).

But if I had managed to protect my tender wards, Burl Mostul at Rare Plant Research would be $100 poorer every year and we can't have that.
at 9:20 AM

21 comments:

  1. Kailla in Portland writes:

    I am so glad you have this site! I would miss you.

    You should send my parents info on the Turkey trip....

    My Dad may have told you the story - but once when someone was showing my grandmother a map of Turkey and the surrounding areas she moved her hand over the whole page and said simply
    "Full of Tulips"
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  2. Will do. But Kailla, what about my ALOE???
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  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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  4. regarding Anon's post above. Such are the risks of being out in the open on the net. Fortunately you can just delete such comment's. Keep doing what you are doing, Ketzel.
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  5. I've followed you this far for -er, 30 years!? can that be? - I'll be checking in here, too. I do love plants, weeds, botanical-thingies, even though I've managed to kill silk flowers and can turn fertile deltas into barren wastelands.
    All the Best in the coming years,
    Stephan
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  6. Rich - Should you return to read this - re:the abusive comment you refer to (now deleted) - bless you; ain't no chicken shit Anonymous bully gonna get me down.

    Stephan - Yes, er, 30 years I got to NPR when I was 24.

    Thanks for stopping by!
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  7. You sound like someone who could use a hidden greenhouse in an attic for winter - equipped with solar tubes.

    We've got this big short attic at our home, and I'm wondering if it could be put to practical use someday.

    Cheers,

    M. D. Vaden
    Beaverton
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  8. An idea with enormous possibilities (and a hefty price tag) but it does jumpstart the imagination...
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  9. he he... all chicken shit anonymous bullies are hereby put on notice!
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  10. Somebody besides me kills plants? Somebody like you?? I guess that gives me some hope. And I see I'm not the only one that tries to grow tropical plants in silly cold areas. I once had a coconut palm and ginger plants in Nevada City, CA, which is nearly 3000 ft. elevation in the Sierras! Talk about positive thinking! Or delusional.
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  11. Now the really funny thing is that I have my various Euchervin? (variety of hens and chicks) indoors for the winter since I have them potted and they are not happy at all. Having said that I am sure Burl appreciates the business!

    Cheers, Stefe
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  12. Oh don't talk to me about Echiverias! I'm too embarrassed to post a couple of pix of what I did to those. Hope you have plenty of sun for them inside.
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  13. Is your aloe REALLY dead? If it were mine I wouldn't give up - unless those newer leaves in the center of the candelabra are deader than they look in the pic... And even if it lives, I'd still view the near disaster as a plant shopping opportunity! I'll miss you on NPR/talking plants blog but am glad you're 'rooting' here.
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  14. RE: the continuous project of overwintering tender succulents... I have, basically, Rare Plant Research satellite HQ in pots on my back steps every summer. I leave it all out (incl. Aloe plicatilis, echeverias, Cotyledon orbiculata, Senecio mandralisceae, Aeonium etc) outside until "mittens weather". Then, one very cold night, I bring it all inside my back door. There, it gets insufficient light and looks rather sad come March. But it LIVES. And in spring, I cut it down (except A. plicatilis!!!) and start millions of babies by simply laying leaves atop flats of well-drained mix. I will share with you next spring (sorry, Burl) and you'll find it a joy to stuff your terrace beds with echeverias, knowing there are plenty more!
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  16. And Kris, don't by shy, you should brag a little about Blithewold...

    http://www.blithewold.org/blog/
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  17. Ketzel...we hardly knew ye! When I heard of your separation from NPR I started to really pay attention for the first time and followed you here. (Take you or NPR for granted?!) I am a live-and-let-live plant lover...never met a weed that I didn't want to know better. And besides, too many plant homes are being replaced by thinkers and planners who may not appreciate how beautiful it all was before it was dozed level!
    Best wishes,
    Dan
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  18. Well, I'm glad to see you've landed on your feet running. I will say I did a little "grrrr" when I wrote out my yearly NPR check (but then, if more people wrote out that check, you'd still be on NPR).
    Don (An Iowa Garden)
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  19. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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  20. Oh, boy. A pity that this character who spits out such poisonous invective is afraid to say who he is. Forcing others to listen to insults and abuse - particularly anonymously - is a bullying act and simply does not deserve a hearing. Dear Anonymous, if you don't want to discuss SUCCULENTS or engage in intelligent or courteous conversation about politics, please gently stuff some frost cloth in it - as my fellow gardeners might put it.
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  21. Ketzel,
    What a loss. But onyl to NPR< not us. As everyone say's who has been there.....it sucks, then, it gets better, and then EVERYONE says that it's the best thing that ever happened to them, it just takes time to get there.. One day at a time. I mean, I doubt you are the type of person who would end up watching TV all day.
    That said, I am seriously interested in that Turkey trip. Is it true botanizing (During bulb time or with some elevation?) How best can I send you my email, or contact me on my blog -Growing with Plants.
    Thanks!
    Matt
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Why be Anonymous? After all, I've showed you mine.

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