Multiplication

My airplane plant a.k.a. spider plant has been very productive in the warm months; it was time to let some of its babies grow on their own. I gathered up my empty plastic pots, washed them in hot soapy water and filled them with potting soil. Then I snipped off plantlets that most needed the nourishment of soil—and that fit the pots. I’ve been saving shallow clear plastic containers for saucers; buying them would be about 69 cents apiece! These new little plants will make good Christmas presents.


Though I potted ten or eleven plantlets, the daughter plant (daughter of my original plant) has plenty more in various stages of growth—a couple dozen.

Raining, Cats, Dogs, Bees

Though it’s been raining again, the giant “bee” is back doing some loud and serious cutting. Its handlers are chopping bushes that obscure the view between our homes and their business. Hello goldfish bowl.

Something has agitated some unseen dogs—“Good Sam” cats perhaps (cats that make their home on the grounds and are fed by “Good Samaritans”)?

The rain has thankfully washed the ragweed pollen from the air. Even when it isn’t raining, the garden needs much less water since the sun isn’t as harsh and the days are shorter.

A nearby maple is painting a few of its leaves red.

Lazarus Update

Lazarus airplane plant is doing remarkably well. It’s once grey-green and shriveled leaves are now a robust green. Though initially larger than its brothers (or should I say sisters since airplane plants have “babies”) it’s not quite as healthy yet. Lazarus’ fully green leaves still droop while the other plants hold their leaves firmly up. I’ll know the plant’s fully recovered when it begins producing new leaves; then it will be moving beyond survival mode.


Was it a stick I saw or a dead leaf? I looked more closely and discovered that a caterpillar had chopped off a third of my chives clump! I found the severed strands on the wooden balcony floor—I guess I’ll be having chives for lunch. At times like these, I’m very glad for “vegetable soap”! If possible, I don’t harm “var-mints” (as the Old West movies used to say), so I sent the thing to reside in a bush below.

I heard birdsong this morning that rang like a crystal goblet.

Resurrection

A day or two ago as I was looking over my airplane plant (aka spider plant, but I don’t call it that since some people are so frightened of spiders, I don’t want to prejudice them), I noticed that one cluster of “babies” was the wrong color and knew something was wrong. Eyes are some of the best gardening tools! As I looked over the limp gray-greenness, I was pretty sure that the plantlet’s connecting branch had somehow been broken. It had.


Airplane plants can be easily propagated from these “babies” but usually only when they’re cut and planted right away. However, I’ve not had success in planting the “dead” ones. But I had a pot of soil and decided that I had nothing to lose if I planted this one. Maybe some TLC would pull it through; would it thrive like others (2nd picture) I had cut and planted—I didn’t know. I potted and watered and put it in the least sunny place in the garden (any difference in sunlight is incremental though since in the afternoon the entire garden is ablaze).


This morning when I checked on it, I was pleased to find that it was making a come-back! It’s not yet fully flourishing like its brothers but it’s on its way—a kind of resurrection. Since the morning some years ago when I collapsed and showed no signs of life until my husband shouted, “Be alive in Jesus’ name!” and I was, I’ve been reluctant to give up too easily. Even when things show no signs of life.

I’ll keep you posted on “Lazarus” airplane plant.