Friday, January 30, 2015

Monkey Puzzle


My blog pal Linda Sue recently posted a photo of a Monkey Puzzle tree, which made me think of this photo, which I took a few weeks ago for Bleeding London. So we have Monkey Puzzle trees in London, and apparently they grow in Washington state, and I know they grow in Florida. They're amazingly adaptable, aren't they? And also sharp as heck.

We'd heard we might get snow last night, but from the looks of things outside, none ever materialized. I was sitting in the library yesterday afternoon when I began hearing what sounded like sand or gravel being thrown at the skylight. A ripple of excitement ran through the room, and some kids said, "It's snowing!" A few ran outside to see. I don't think it was really snow, though -- more like sleet or frozen rain. Snow doesn't make that kind of noise!

I brought our amaryllis plants inside last night. They've been sitting in the cold, dark garden shed for the past six weeks or so -- since before we went to Michigan. In fact I felt very guilty when I picked up the pot because lots of little sowbugs and a slug were underneath, keeping relatively warm, I suppose, and I hated to deprive them of their winter resort! Hopefully they'll scurry away to another shelter. I watered the amaryllis and set them next to the glass doors in the living room. We'll see if they sprout and flower again this year.

More purging of the library rolls yesterday. I'm up to the letter M, so I've still got a long way to go!

8 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

I do not know the Monkey Puzzle tree. How is this possible?

ellen abbott said...

I've never seen one either but they look alien from the pictures. I'm sure your amaryllis will bloom. I have several bulbs I need to get in dirt.

e said...

Monkey Puzzle is new to me as well...

Linda Sue said...

Thank you, I knew it was monkey something, maybe "tails" but yes, the monkey puzzle tree, they are impressive, spiraling out like sharp spinning stars, huge, they grow so well here but not many have them. Probably due to their irascibility.

37paddington said...

Never heard of the monkey puzzle tree but that's an amazing photo.

Steve Reed said...

I'm surprised so few of you have heard of this tree. Maybe, despite its adaptability, it only lives in frost-free areas? It's a type of conifer from Chile, called Monkey Puzzle because its stiff leaves are incredibly sharp. Here's more about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana

Steve Reed said...

Oh, and Linda Sue, apparently it is also called Monkey Tails.

The Bug said...

I'm laughing at your concern for the bugs :)