Farmer's Almanac Weather Prediction for Ontario: "Rain east, snow west"
Top Ten House Plants for 2001 -- Part 2
 Flaming Torch (Vriesea splendens) - Even though this is a popular house plant, it's a favourite because of its spectacular burgundy and green striped foliage. While the plant is impressive when flowering, the fact that it can hold it's own post flower is what makes it special to me. I like a pretty flower, but I am becoming more and more attracted to unusual foliage colour, texture and shape.
 (Pachypodium geayi) - When I first saw this plant at the Canada Blooms Garden Show this past March, I thought it looked like an alien. It's a spikey column with leaves coming out of the top. Oh and it's silver. It's like a dangerous spiked rocket with green flames shooting out the end. Either that or a frightening phallus. This is one plant that really came into its own out on my deck this summer. You may recall that a visitor to our place commented that it was "healthiest he had ever seen". I'll be gloating about this one until the summer at least.
Century Plant (Agave americana) - I've fallen in love with the agave. It started with my first sighting years ago on a trip to California. I was in awe of all the plant life I came across on that trip. Everything was just lush and green and smell-erific. Then it was heightened years later -- the result of a huge specimen at Canada Blooms and increasing further during our 2000 trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. Fields of (cultivated) agave were growing everywhere. It's the kind of plant in which the more you learn about it, the more exciting it becomes. Ethnobotany is a fascinating field of study to me as it melds my interest in culture and my interest in plants. If I had stuck with science, I might have been drawn to it.
When I found this plant in the house plant section at "Plant World" I couldn't pass it up. I actually prefer the blue agave to this variegated americana but it's still pretty cool. My favourite thing is the needles. Did you know that Aztecs used to pull the giant needles from the leaves and use them for sewing? When you pull out a spike it has a strong fiber attached to it making it a needle and thread all in one.
 Air Plants (Tillandsia) - Have I mentioned my fascination with epiphytic plants? Tillandsia are like tiny little alien creatures. Every one is unusual and fascinating. They are extremely addictive. I have them scattered all around my apartment attached to pieces of drift wood or hanging from fishing line. I even have a few in a terrarium that are doing well.
There is always a booth selling them (along with bonsai) at the C.N.E (Canadian National Exhibition), Canada Blooms and The Royal Winter Fair. I'd swear they are there just to tempt me. I can't pass by without a purchase. I am always aggravated by the booth workers though. Without fail someone always approaches me and explains "how easy they are to care for". Lies I tell you. While it is true that some species virtually care for themselves, there are others that seem to succumb despite my best efforts. Through experience I have come to know which ones I can provide the appropriate environment for and which ones will never make it in my dry winter apartment simply by looking at the foliage. Thin, delicate leaves are an absolute no no. The one in the photo (left) is one of my oldest and hardiest.
(Haworthia) - I love all haworthia. They have incredibly textured leaves that range from bumpy to checked. However I am most intrigued by the clear windows and colouration in the leaves of this (Haworthia cooperi)(?) To add to that it has an unusual chartreuse colour that gleams when the light hits it. At those times you can look right into the translucent areas. There is nothing to see through the windows. It just looks really neat.
 (Rhipsalis) - I'm not sure exactly what species of rhipsalis this is. It doesn't matter. What is unusual about this cactus is that it is a forest cacti and therefore requires a rich humus and regular waterings. Like the aporocactus, it reminds me of a prehistoric creature with it's joined stems that branch out in all directions like antlers.
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