Upon looking out the window this morning onto the frontyard, I was captivated by the beauty of the yellow hybiscus. When first purchased, it was such a tiny little plant and has struggled since day one to survive. At one point, I just knew it was not going to make it but I continued to nourish it daily giving it ‘soothing talks’ on my morning rounds. Okay! Stop laughing!
In a 1986 interview, England’s Prince Charles discussed his gardening habits, commenting “I just come and talk to the plants, really. Very important to talk to them; they respond.”
The theory that plants benefit from human conversation dates to 1848, when German professor Gustav Fechner published the book Nanna (Soul-life of Plants). The idea is a popular one, and has spawned several more books and even an album—recorded in 1970 by an enterprising dentist—titled “Music to Grow Plants By.” But will crooning compliments to your ficus really have any effect on its growth? Read MORE. . .
Dew on Hybiscus
(In my frontyard)
Of course, along with sharing catnip’s morning observation must come some attempt at adding a touch of poetic finesse. . .
loveliness in flowers
gilds the lawn
sparkling is the dew
morning does spawn
each droplet a shard
evoking broken glass
transparent, not cutting
together en masse
with a close sniff
comes a tickle of the nose
to be ne’er as redolent
as that of the red, red rose
©2012
catnipoflife
Do you croon compliments to your ficus or flowering plants? What are your favorite ‘tunes’?
Penny for your thoughts?
catnipoflife 
As usual you capture the very essence of beauty, Sharla. All the best, Mary Firmin, author Deadly Pleasures.
Thank you for your kind words as usual, Mary. So glad you enjoyed your impromptu catnip:>)
What a lovely Hibiscus and poem. Yes, I do talk with my plants I also sing to them but that may be doing more harm than good. I just talk about how beautiful they are even if they are straggly and thin, eventually they perk up…that whole flattery will get you everywhere thing… 🙂
Love it, Len! What a wonderful reply:>) I mostly hum. . .ahem!
I can carry a tune….as long as it is in a bucket with a lid on it! 🙂
We might make a good duet…the Bucket Sisters:>)
Seductive, attractive, and recieving the goodness in life. Mmmmm you have this mastered this in your writing. you somehow bring in sweetness in what you write
Thanks for your comments! Believe me the entire post is indicative of its title: Impromptu! I write as I see it:>)
That’s why we read your posts hun !!!
I have two red hibiscus plants that struggled last year–I thought they were gonners–but I attributed it to the severely hot summer we had, and cut them back when the first frost hit. They came back this spring, and I actually did have a brief conversation with them. I said, “Look, I’ll water you, maybe give you a little fertilizer now and then, but that’s it. Either you live and bloom, or you die. Up to you.” Like I said, they’re doing great. Tough love works!
That is priceless, Charles! Thank you for sharing and bringing on a smile and a chuckle:>) We have red ones also but the yellow is just so striking!
ah’ight den
If only I had time to croon to my plants… I leave that to Vin…Oh hang on.. maybe that’s why they don’t look too good! LOL 😉
As always, you are just too-o-o-o-o funny! Maybe you and Vin should try crooning together! Oh, dear! Do you have close neighbors? LOL:>)
He’s a great singer until he puts his headphones in from his mp3 player… then all are bets off…and …. RUN! LOL
My mother talked to plants. She was an atheist, and avowedly believed in nothing at all. Except she believed that plants understood you and each other and no plant should be alone because they did not thrive without other plants for company. I believe she was right, except I doubt they understand words. More like vibrations. They know if you care. I have no idea how, but they do. If you tend your garden, it’s not just pulling the weeds that makes it flourish.
Your picture is lovely. If you send it to me, I’ll fix it and return it. I have tools to improve pictures. Yours is good already, so it just needs a bit of help (all photos do … it is the professional photographer’s dark secret).
Yippee! It is on its away along with an extra one of Bootsie:>) Love your comments and thanks for sharing. . .now I must live up to these words and have a longer visit in my garden! Not a bad idea at all. Um-m-m? Time away from the computer. LOL:>)
I like all the sensory imagery and I an still feel “the tickle of the nose.”
Cool! A delightful tickle I hope:>)
Where did you find that award? That is the funny of the day, no! the week, maybe the month!
shh I pinched it!
I crooned, pleaded, encouraged, one of my dying plants, but it just went and died anyway. Now, I wonder… if I stood there yelling and telling my weeds how unwanted they are – would they shrivel up and die? LOL
Now that is something to contemplate for the weeds are taking over my yard! In the morning, I think I will just run around the yard screaming. Do you think anyone will notice?
I talk to my plants, even caress then when they’re feeling blue. I play music for them . Most like country western but my Philadendron prefers Bach. Oh Sharla, you would love my story, For the love of house plants”. lol It’s a spoof on horror stories and about killer houseplants written tongue in cheek and has an Edgar Allen Poe meter. It’s on my blog in olderposts.
Gotta read it! Can you send me the link? Is it on WordPress? I could reblog here as a response to this post. What do you think?
Sharla
I talk to my plants and encourage then to get new sprouts and flowers saying, “I know you can do it.” I’m glad I’m not the only crazy one here.
I have a plumeria I have nursed along for years and now it is about 4 feet tall. It did really great in Ca but of course not as good here in the desert, although it does bloom most years. And of course I move it to the garage in winter. They’re not supposed to be in temps below 40 degrees.
Sunni
Thanks for stopping by Sunni. Always enjoy your comments:>)
Yeah I know this, while we were studying Botany, we came across this. They respond to several environmental stimuli as mentioned.
Hey, that is cool! Thank you for sharing, Aditya. Always glad when you stop by:>)
Although I have attempted to talk to my plants, I never seem to stick to it, I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the fear of someone thinking I’m crazy, or I mumble to myself, I don’t know, but I still can’t bring myself to do it! Thanks for the thought that there are those that bravely do. I will try again today!
Good to have you stop by for a visit, Lisa. I know what you mean…I often wonder what people think passing by when I am in the front yard just talking away with no one else around. LOL:>)
I love this whole Post, all of it. Just great! Penny 🙂
Now that’s what I like to hear! LOL:>)
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Sharla, As always you have managed to uplift the spirit. I don’t talk to my plants, but after reading your blog, maybe I should start.
Dicy
I got that from my mom. She was a florist and had a green thumb, which I did not inherit. But, I can do the talking part! LOL:>)
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