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Show and Tell of a Furry Variety
5/7/2010
2/8/2010 The snowy day adventures of Marcus and Brutus.
11/09 The other day Gary brought in all the plants that had been stretching their limbs outside since May. As plant lovers and suckers for other people’s horticultural cast-offs, we have a tremendous number and variety of potted plants. One ficus, in particular, represents a triumph of sympathy over sense: a donated bonsai was all contorted and twisted, it’s odd trunk and tiny leaves reminded me of bound feet. I set it free! I repotted it in a huge container, gave it extra nutrients and let the squirrels and deer visit it all summer. My benign neglect from that point extended to the papyrus, peace lilies, dracaenas, aloe veras, ferns, begonias, plumerias, Christmas cacti, and assorted other plants whose names I do not know. It was a GREAT year for plant growth—they expanded exponentially. Once inside, they were more than intrusive, they were burdensome. Naturally, that was from my point of view; Marcus and Brutus are absolutely charmed. The papyrus, in particular, sent them into ecstasies of prowl and attack. Brutus took special pleasure in toppling the “formerly bonsai” ficus, then clawing all the fine nutrient-rich soil onto the hardwood floor. All night we could hear eager running, great thumping smacks, a furious rustle and something knocking the brick fireplace. Clearly, it was the equivalent of a Saturday night bacchanal at the frat house.
Here are a few photos of the boys AFTER I’d taken out a full garbage bag of dead leaves, mutilated blossoms and excess soil. (www.capitalquilts.com) Uncertain about how to deal with all this fun (feline companionship plus shared botanical interest) I consulted the Internet about the plants’ possible toxicity. Good Lord! I was courting anything from gastric distress to death—and Brutus had already consumed at least one peace lily! Many of the plants have to go, fun or no; but the papyrus, with the highest pleasure index, is in the dining room to stay.
