Flower Power

VENUE: Balcony @ Home
MOOD: Aged, but hormones keeps me disgruntedly awake STILL

A week ago, I came home with her [See Specimen picture, left] She is a member of the conifer family. Her cousin is the pine tree, and size does matter here. I would hate to lug a 10 footer baby tree home; when I can get them cute at 12 inches...oh la la? She inserts easily into my classic blue scandinavian vase.

I adore that she is not high-maintainance. Warm shots of morning sun and an inch of cool watering keeps her all perky this holiday season. [Easy to tell, her pointed leaves are all erect, not drooping.] Every few days, give her that extra surpise: keep her soil acidic with a few spoonful of leftover tea in the kitchen.

Certainly, she is not as dramatically pretty as a Gardenia. [See Bloom Speciemen below] I've raised one pot previously. She simply refused to re-bloom after her spectacular virgin blossom. This flower is blessed both with looks and aroma [most flowering plant has only either]. She also demands more attention, and attract unwanted visitors *bugs! yeek!* in larger flocks. Fertiliser is a must if one wishes to woo her into a blossom again... ...

My conifer cutie is an evergreen. Once you get USED to her ordinary prettiness, she will not disappoint you all year round by fading into a lower grade.

I may even get to see her bear miniature versions of the pine cones which is a classic 'posing tool' for squirrels, oft captured by nature photographers. But if you have a fetish for squirrels with nuts...I recommend you watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory *wink*

But of course, the size of cones my conifer cutie will bear *probably* can be mistaken as a grain of rice turned brown. The only kay-poh creature who would like to carry it away would be idiotic ants... ....

I am seeking someone with a crush on conifers too. Shall we chat over a warm cup of coffee?