I was happy to see that our honesty plants are blooming. I like honesty and find it so cheerful -- I have two that took root of their own accord in a pot of lilies, and I think they're all struggling a bit because there are three plants in a single pot. (Hey, I didn't tell them to grow there!) The honesty will eventually die back naturally, though, and I don't think the lilies are in danger.
(This is a different pot of lilies from the one colonized by toadflax. I am not very diligent about weeding.)
Here's my latest plant rescue project. This rubber tree has been sitting on a windowsill outside the Lower School library for several months, looking sadder and sadder. I'd water it every now and then -- it always felt dry as a bone -- but no one seemed to claim ownership, and although I asked around I couldn't find anyone who knew where it came from or who it belonged to. So, with the encouragement of my Lower School colleagues, I brought it home.
It needs fresh soil and it also has thrips, I think. I gave it a good rinse and left it outside in the garden, hoping that exposure to our chilly spring temperatures, and predators like ladybugs, will knock back the insects naturally. Check back in a few weeks or months!
Incidentally, this is our fifth rubber tree. I have a problem.
Here's what my teasel seedlings, plucked from the seed head, look like now. Two of them died but four are still with me. I'm going to let them get a little bigger and then I'll plant them out. I also have zinnia, cosmos and sunflower seeds that I got free during the past few months with our Gardener's World magazine subscription at work, and I need to plant those at some point.
Yesterday was a very domestic day. I vacuumed the house, cleaned the refrigerator and did my normal weekly houseplant maintenance. After such a busy week it felt good to have a day of restful routines! I even made progress on reading "Flashlight" -- I think I'm about a third of the way through and I'm liking it.
With all those rubber trees, you can become a tire factory mogul. "Teasal" is a wonderful word. We should celebrate a National Teasal Day when you have your tire factory wealth.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
The rubber plant sounds like the soil is too dry to absorb water. I'm sure you'll get it going nicely.
ReplyDeleteYour new rubber tree will find itself in paradise under your care!
ReplyDeleteI have one that needs repotting, too, but I am soooo lazy when it comes to things like that...
I gave up on rubber plants as mine tended to grow too spindly and looked ugly.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with yours ... you are more green fingered than I am!
Not very diligent about weeding? Once you claimed that was your main task in the library.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a strange world when every time I see the title “Flashlight,” I read “Fleshlight.” I have never owned a rubber tree and I have always loved them. Good luck with your latest.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a Rubber Tree Anonymous group that might help you with your "addiction."
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can start a rubber plantation. My late-brother-in-laws father was a biologist at rubber plantation in Africa before he moved to Michigan to teach high school (he was our high school biology teacher.) He had wonderful stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteI think the first step is always admitting you have a problem Steve. Then comes the denial, anger and all the other stages before you find acceptance!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should start a 'rubber tree rescue society', you can be the founder ... and possibly only ... member. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou've found so much interesting stuff of all kinds on your walks to school that you might just have to continue after retirement, forage walking! Dave will be so thrilled.
ReplyDeleteThis blog title sounds like the title of a Dave Brubeck album. Ha!
ReplyDeleteCleaned The Refrigerator , Rock Star Status !!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell Done ,
Cheers
The only houseplant I remember my mother having when I was young was a large rubber tree in a pot. This was in Roseland. It did not do well because my little brother insisted on practicing his scissor skills on its leaves. I remember Granddaddy eventually replanting down by the river. I can't remember how it did there though.
ReplyDeleteThere's a song about an ant 🐜 and a rubber tree plant ... do you remember it? Something like High Hopes ... 🤷♀️
ReplyDeleteThose little purple flowers do indeed look cheerful. I do love purple flowers.
ReplyDeletePlants can keep you busy. At school kids did the watering. They also spent a lot of time just watching them grow.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should start your own little plant nursery or plant hospital after you retire.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to do a better job of weeding outside this year but we will see... depends on the weather. Your garden will be even more lush once you retire and are out there everyday. ;)
ReplyDeleteI expect the new rubber tree to rebound as all your plant rescues do.
ReplyDeleteThe honesty plant purple flowers are delightful. I love purple in the garden.
Are they easily propagated? Having a patch of purple in the garden would make a good display.
You have five rubber tree plants? My god man, where do you sit in the house?
ReplyDeleteI have only one rubber tree plant and I have to keep trimming it back or it will touch the ceiling. I'm sure that plant will be much happier with you.
Loved the pics you took at the rally.
Restful routines will define your retirement! Before I hosted Book Club last week, I did all sorts of household chores that I usually avoid. DUSTING, blech! However, I felt great after I'd finished the dreaded tasks and I wondered why I make such a big deal about them.
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