84-Lancaster Farming,
On being -7-. .
a farm wife f
JHBbV TM
Jh
Joyce Bnpp '
-And other
hazards
Beyond the fragile barriers of
two panes of clear glass sandwich
ing dead-air insulation space, this
January day is lead-gray and dull.
Clouds hang just above the tree
tops, throating the imminent start
of some sort of messy, mid-winter
mix of moisture.
But the “in” side of the window
barrier boasts an old friend,
parked on the windowsill, bright
ening even the dreariest of such
days. Above the plastic pot it dis
plays wide, roundish leaves, crisp
and deep green, with a zoned area
of a much paler shade. Newer
leaves cover the plant’s center,
displaying almost silvery-colored
markings on their smaller
surfaces.
Rising through the leaf cover,
on slender, reddish stems, are the
earliest buds of the cyclamen’s
annual array of delicate, long
lasting blooms. The tightly-furled
buds are suggestive of some spe
cies of heron, tiny green heads
with giant fushia-colored beaks,
perched on an super-skinny neck.
At least a dozen and a half of the
buds are already poking from the
crown of this beauty.
Lack of competition from
fields, garden and perennial bor
der during this period of winter
dormancy allows for real enjoy
ment of prized houseplants. The
cyclamens’ preference for cold
temperatures and mid-winter
blooms won my affection years
ago. My present trio of mature
specimens will color the window
sill behind the kitchen sink almost
through Easter, while another
lanuary
half-dozen seedlings thrive in the
chilly environment of our little
greenhouse.
Houseplants become an exten
sion of self when you’ve had them
very long, almost like part of the
family. When they behave and
perform well, they inspire great
pride. Occasionally they frustrate,
plagued with infestations, fungi or
just a general “blah” look. No, I
don’t go around talking to each
one, but well, maybe
sometimes.
The lone African violet is wav
ing fat clusters of double royal
purple blooms above its fuzzy
leaves, after suffering a summer
long bout of neglect Its fellow
houseplants usually vacation out
side or at least bask in the breezes
of the open windows. Having
wiped out my share of African
violets over the year by exposing
them to summer breezes, I’ve
learned to shield them from fresh
air. A safe spot is also often a for
gotten spot; the violet no doubt
figured the only way to get any
attention was to burst into bloom.
Mission accomplished.
A Venerable jade plant summers
on the porch but hibernates in the
living room. At more than thirty
inches high and wide, it’s become
the housecat’s house-bush. She
stalks behind it, sulks behind it
and uses it as a launch site for
guerilla-tactic pouncing at unsus
pecting passersby and toy balls
left laying on the floor.
Years ago, a small Boston fem
found its way here from some fel
low plant lover and has repro-
duced like the proverbial rabbit.
When the original waved fronds a
yard long and filled a large pot, I
butchered it into sections with a
large kitchen knife and replanted
the sections. Each section in turn
followed suit, was attacked with a
knife, and on and on.
Likewise with a small palm
plant, apparently inspired by the
reckless abandon with which the
fern family was expanding.
Between the ferns and the palms,
I’ve pondered opening a rent-a
plant business.
“Christmas” cacti are just now
blooming, save for one plant
recently acquired at a church
bazaar. Perhaps this particular
specimen, with very tiny “crab”
foliage segments, is instead a
Memorial Day or Halloween cac
tus. That element of surprise - the
unexpected bloom or unusual col
or - is part of the intrigue of
houseplants.
And so are the memories they
represent - cascading bridal
wreath from our summer wed
ding, a Mother’s Day hanging
basket gift, begonias snatched
from the icy jaws of frost, and ger
aniums rescued from storm
flooding.
They give so much - and ask so
little in return. Show’em you care.
Hug your houseplants.
Everything but a cactus.
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Young Designers Compete
In ‘Make It Yourself’ Contest
(DENVER, Colo.) The
nation’s top young designers will
be in the spotlight January 13-14
in the National Make It Yourself
With Wool competition at the
Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizo
na. The national competition is the
culmination of 38 state competi
tions with states sending their top
winners on to the national contest.
At the contest, the winners are
judged by a panel of experts made
of some of the top textile and
design professionals in the coun
try.
The events are held in conjunc
tion with the American Sheep
Industry Convention on January
14-17. The annual convention
attracts more than 1,300 sheep
producers, agribusiness people,
educators, and government offi
Home Schooler Club
WEST CHESTER (Chester
Co.) A new and exciting club
has been added to the 4-H pro
gram in Chester County. Primarily
represented by parent educators
and their children, the Home
schooler 4-H Club meets as family
groups to discuss each of their 4-H
projects which include Adopt-a-
Tree, Meet the Plants, Embryolo
gy and Woodworking for Wild
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Marta Alto of Palmer Pletsch in
Portland, Oregon, heads the panel
of judges. Alto is nationally
known for her workshops on serg
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200 workshops. On Saturday,
January 13, she will host a custom
workshop on sewing with ultra
suede for the contestants.
State winners will compete
Saturday and Sunday, January
13-14. Winners will be announced
in a fashion show Sunday at 7 p.m.
at the Hyatt Regency. Tickets for
the event are available at the door.
In addition to the Make It Your
self With Wool fashion show, the
American Sheep Industry Women
will host a wool fashion show and
luncheon on Monday, January 15.
Tickets are $25, and will be avail
able at the show.
life. The interests of the children 8
to 9 years old determine the nature
of the project that they choose.
The Homeschoolers 4-H Club
presendy meets from 1 to 2:30
p.m. on the third Friday of each
month in the Carriage House at
Springton Manor County Park,
Glcnmoore. For further informa
tion, contact organizational leader
Cindy Valentino at 436-8141.
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