I was perusing my yard last week and found this strange growth coming from one of my plants. It came up overnite. One day it was not there and the next day it was. My friend, Bob, the Peanut Man, gave me these plants a couple of years ago and he called them Rice Paper Plants. According to him, this plant is indigenous to China and was once used to make paper. He said the first year they grow, the second year they run and the next year they flourish. There is a catchy little phrase, but I can't remember it.
He was right - the first year they just were there, same as when I planted them. The second year, all these shoots came up. I pulled many of them because I wanted to confine the plant to one area. And the third year they flourished.
This is what the plant looked like last year. This year they are about 4 feet tall and now have put out these strangers in my yard. I like weird plants - it suits my taste. My papyrus has taken hold also, and it is finally flourishing. I was a bit apprehensive at first that they would make it, but alas, I believe they will be fine.
Plants are a little like people, you just never know how they will turn out. You can fertilize them, nurture them, talk to them, but you just never know.
Makes me think of my family. Now bear in mind that the M.U. and my dearly departed dad had three children. We could not be any more different. We all have completely different personalities. We have all three chosen unconventional lifestyles - I mean not one of us lives in suburbia with 2.5 children and a two car garage, none of us are in a traditional familial setting. But, we all love each other deeply. Blood IS thicker, my friends. The M.U. loves each of us, but I believe she often wonders how all this came about.
It is the mystery of life. Much like those strangers in my yard.
Peace!









