An Intern Grows

"Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul" - Thomas Merton

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The End

August 8, 2014. The day has finally come where we wind down our bi-weekly broadcast.  While most people may be expecting one last adventure out of Rio or one of his fellow green friends, I want to use this post to focus the attention back on our core mission: to motivate people to grow. For the last 10 weeks or so (65 days, to be specific) I have been researching the web, exploring the streets of NYC, and even equally importantly caring for my own plants with the mission of figuring out how to best get more people involved.

 I wanted to get the non-gardeners to start gardening, and the gardeners to garden some more. I wanted to persuade people, by example, that having plants in the workplace provides a unique source of Zen that can bring the best out of all my fellow workers. And I wanted to show that anyone could plant something, no matter how much or little experience they had.

How did I go about doing this? Well you already know, but I’ll remind you anyway (looking back makes me nostalgic). There’s the little guys, Howie and Nemo, and the seed plants of course, but the true centerpiece of my operation has been the one and only, Rio. Rio and I have been through a lot. I remember when I first bought him. I remember when I first potted him. I remembered the first time I watered him, and the second time, when I overwatered him. For the last 10 weeks, he has most literally been by my side.  More importantly, he has grown, as I have grown.  Today, he is as tall and green as ever, resting easy ever since learning of his new living situation at my house.

Have Rio and my other plants convinced others to whip out their green thumb and plant more? To be honest, I have no clue what metrics to use to answer that question. However, I can say that wherever I walk in my office, I am within viewing distance of a plant. I can also say that my blog posts have captivated all my followers in a way I never thought a plant could. Now with Rio’s new location at my house, he can continue his mission.

I want to finish my final post with the most valuable piece of information I learned throughout this growing process. If there’s one thing to take away about plants, it’s that their truly exciting. No, I don’t mean they are exciting because they can grow 10X its size in a matter of minutes (if you’re plant can do that, call someone right now, anyone). I mean it’s exciting to be directly a part of the growth of something, whether it is a plant or a person. Even if he hasn’t quite grown the 20 inches I originally envisioned, Rio has literally grown before my eyes in the last 10 weeks. He couldn’t have done so without my consistent watering and nurturing. I take pride knowing my role in the process and have felt a personal sense of growth. Thus, I challenge you to grow something, to play a role in something that you can take pride in at the end of the day. All it takes is for you to find the Rio in you.

[tiffanykimicata]

The Penultimate Post

The Penultimate Post

  August is officially upon us, and with that, we are coming down to our final two posts. For all you Rio fans out there, I have a big announcement to make.  As you know, when I sign off of Tumblr, and move on in my career (and away from my desk), Rio is going to have to leave as well. Well I am here to announce today that we have found Rio a new home!

I must preface this story by saying it wasn’t easy. For the past two weeks, I’ve been working with Rio to find him a new home. We searched far and wide. We started by asking people around the office if they had an interest in adopting a plant. This didn’t work out- I have no doubt that this didn’t work out merely because every worker is taking care of numerous plants already. Although discouraged, for Rio’s sake, I decided to broaden my scope. Next, I messaged all 734 Facebook I friends, and sent out a tweet to all my followers. I even Instagram-ed an adorable photo of Rio when he was younger and included a callback number. No luck. Rio and I were growing irritable; we both knew we needed to figure this out sooner rather than later.  I decided to take out an ad in the New York Times, but all that led to was a bunch of prank phone calls including one caller who said I should just have a Rio Salad (ironic, right?)

As the days passed by, Rio was growing visibly more concerned, and in a symbolic act of defiance, Rio vowed to not take in any more water and grow until this issue was solved. Oh boy, now my plant was turning on me…

Then, just the other day, something miraculous happened, something that changed everything. I got a call from my mom, and learned that there was a death in the family; a plant that sat in a planter right by the front door of a house. My house! I quickly went on the web and learned that although snake plants (such as Rio) can survive indoors in an office, they thrive outside. This was it. I had finally found Rio a home.

  In this photo, you can see Rio’s new dwelling, this time next week. Rio is going to be located in the planter just to the left of the front door. Thus, not only will Rio be able to take advantage of the sunlight, but he’ll also be located in a prominent spot where everybody can see and take note of his beauty.

Rio isn’t just getting a new home; he’s getting a better home.

Now, about Nemo and Howie’s relocation…

[tiffanykimicata]

Rio Has Grown!

This morning when I arrived to work, I sensed that something was profoundly different on my desk. I asked myself, “has anything been taken?” No. All of my work-related materials were in the same place that I left them, including my nerf guns (Don’t ask). Thus, I realized it must have been something to do with one of the plants. Howie and Nemo seemed fine, but what about Rio? In fact, something was up with Rio, literally. And then it dawned on me- RIO HAS GROWN.

Can you spot the growth? On the top, it appears like Rio is doing his thing like any other day. But if you look closely at the picture on the bottom, you can spot the new growth that has taken shape. In the center of that green sprout, the lighter green portion of the plant with the sharpened edges, was not there this past weekend.

This is a huge moment for Rio. Growing is for plants like graduating college or getting married is for humans: there’s nothing better and more important. And as Rio’s “father”, sort of,  (Plants are asexual, and therefore don’t really have biological parents), I’ve never been so proud to call him the green son I always wanted.

This father-son is particularly appropriate for another reason, given that it already the end of July. That is because in less than two weeks, Rio will be moving out of his home at my desk. Another way to put is that Rio is going to have to ‘fly the coop’. Now, technically I’m leaving the desk as well, but the principle is still the same. Rio is growing up, and therefore he’s going through a different phase in his life than me. While his roots are making him grow larger than ever before, my employment roots are taking me to new places in my career.

I wish Rio and I could stay at my desk indefinitely, but, as they say, ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’.

[tiffanykimicata]

Plant Seeds: My True Love

I wanted to address Rio’s thousands of fans who were struck with fear after last week’s post. As many of you know, last week I wrote a post about a non-true, hypothetical fixation on eating Rio. I thought it was witty, but apparently, my post didn’t grow well with many of my followers. Therefore, I want to tell you personally that I, in fact, have absolutely zero percent intention to eat Rio.

I cannot make the same declaration, however, for my, recently planted Phase 2 seed plants: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, and Lettuce. I want those plants, in my meal. Plain and simple. However, in order to make this a reality, these plants need to grow. Considering that I only planted them two weeks ago, I’m asking a lot of these plants in terms of growth.

However, I’m in luck. Since I started watering the plants as consistently as Rio, they have grown so much more. Maybe they are responding to all the attention they are receiving from passer-byers in the kitchen. My guess is that they are responding to the sun. If there’s one constant guarantee about July, it’s that the sun is always out, especially beating down on us in a high-rise office in downtown Manhattan. For our Phase 2 seed plants, they love this. The sun is to them as spinach is to Popeye (or me): growth, growth, growth.

Clearly, plant number 3 (the one not growing) is a disgruntled  Rio fan. But all things considered, this is a lot of growth for fourteen days. Can these guys sustain it? Well they have exactly fourteen days remaining to make me proud.

[tiffanykimicata]

Left Field

When I set out on my mission to bring more green into the workplace and to encourage planting, I had two ambitious goals: make a meaningful impact, and do it in 10 weeks. I’m sure you are wondering how I’m doing on this honorable and uplifting goal. Well today, I’m not here to talk about that. Today, I’m here to talk two things that usually wouldn’t be uttered in the same sentence: Rio, and my insatiable hunger for plants (literally).

Lets backtrack. This morning, I was conducting an errand for my boss in which I had to pick up dozens of flower buds. More specifically, I was given two criteria to base my flower purchases on: they had to be colorful, and they had to be edible. Edible. Why? Well, the ‘why’ doesn’t really matter for this story.  Suffice to say, it got me thinking… what do I do with Rio after week 10? Quite frankly, Rio very well could be homeless in a mere three weeks.  It’s not as if I will be here anymore to care for him, my work here is done after week 10.  

Now in actuality, we will discuss options for Rios relocation next week. This morning however, I decided to pause reality, and ask myself “is Rio edible”?

“Is Rio Edible?” Hmm, on the surface, it sounds like this lovely blog about planting at work just turned into a creative thinkspace for committing planticide (plant homicide).Why was I suddenly thinking about Rio in this palatable way? I mean…  I was working with edible flowers earlier in the day. And I have been eating salads more, why can’t I just take some’ Rio leaves’ and make some lunch?

Mmmmm Rio Leaves

Back to the Million dollar question. Let the research begin.  “Siri, are Snake Plants edible”?

Findings: Contrary to popular belief, digesting Snake Plants cannot cause you to become a mute. It appears that snake plants have low toxicity. With that being said, they are not recommended for eating and don’t provide any true nutritional value or flavor. Rio is safe… for now.

[tiffanykimicata]

Phase 2.0

Its been so exciting to watch Rio grow these last few weeks (Nemo and Howie too), but I have lost sight of one of my chief goals with these plants: exposure. I’m not referring to the type of exposure Kanye West gets when he decides what pants he’s wearing. I’m talking about the exposure that motivates other people in the office to plant as well. While the plants on my desk have done a decent job, I must do more in order to grow this vision and get more people to grow.

Thus, I have decided to commence what I call “Phase 2”, today. For Phase 2, I’m growing 4 seed pods in a location that I guarantee everybody passes by daily: the kitchen.

This photo shows me preparing these bad boys for their primetime location. Each pod contains seeds for several herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, and Lettuce. The pods are separated several inches apart, and sit flush against the top of the soil. Just like with my other plants, these seed pods require consistent watering, so I will be inviting them to “drink” on Mondays and Fridays as well. Additionally, the pods require sunlight; therefore I have placed them on the windowsill adjacent to the fridge.

There’s a lot of pressure on these pods to grow fast, especially in this location. Successful growth may encourage others to join in on the fun and plant for themselves. Little or no growth, and the plants have no shot and grasping the hearts of passerby’s.

Thankfully for these plants though, they are being coached by someone with  6 weeks of experience (6 years of experience in plant time), someone who knows how to give them attention, and when to be strict on their diet. It also doesn't hurt that they have set up their home right in the kitchen by the window.

You know what they say, location location location.

[tiffanykimicata]

Action and Consequence

Do you remember a time in your life when you did something wrong? Perhaps you were young and inexperienced, and didn’t know any better? And maybe you were then confronted by somebody older than you, somebody more experienced and knowledgeable, someone who’s been around the block. And maybe that special someone taught you the timeless lesson that “every action has a consequence”.

Well today, the student becomes the teacher. As it turns out, people aren’t kidding around when they say it.

Lesson of the Day: Every action truly has a consequence.

If you recall, dating back several weeks, Rio and I had an incident in which I got him so drunk off water that he started overflowing. As a reminder, here is a picture taken firsthand as the incident was unfolding.

After the incident, I was ridiculed, called names… people even questioned whether someone else should take custody of Rio. Well the rhetoric had since died down, so I was under the impression that the flooding was no longer an issue.

Like a nightmare I can’t get out of my head… It came back. Now let me provide you with the background story.

This morning, I came into my office and noticed these miniscule bugs hanging out with Rio, Nemo, and Howie. Other than the plants and myself, I did not agree to house any other living beings at my place of work, let alone bugs. Naturally, I wanted to how and why these insects made their way to one of the top floors of a NYC high-rise office building. After numerous searches, I was able to identify the invaders as Fungus Gnats. As it turns out, their larvae can be found towards the top layers of my soil.

So how does this relate to my actions from several weeks ago? Fungus Gnats grow in abundance in areas that are fully moist and don’t go dry. For those few days after I overwatered Rio, the plants extra moist soil offered the larvae perfect conditions to become full-blown gnats. Folks, you cannot make this up.

While this whole series of events doesn’t quite carry the weight of the butterfly effect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_effect ), it reaffirms the timeless lesson. Every action you take has some sort of effect, whether it be good or bad. Hopefully, your actions don’t result in unwanted critters crawling about your desk.

[tiffanykimicata]

The Killer Bunny and Protecting Rio

This past July 4th weekend was a particularly scary one… for my grass at home.  As it turns out, we have a serial killer on the loose. His target? Anything that is green, living, and beautiful, apparently.  Yesterday, I caught him in the middle of the act, and learned that it was a bunny, a bunny! You would think cute and innocent, right? Wrong! This demon bunny has been burrowing in and out of holes, making a mess of my front lawn and stomping on plants left and right. Here’s a picture of the bunny.

As you can see, it’s one scary dude. All of my plants are afraid the bunny will come for them next.

Naturally, word spread to Rio (this is why I shouldn’t leave him next to my computer on the weekends), and I could tell he was concerned as well. It got me thinking, what kind of threats could Rio face?

Well, if a bunny managed to get all the way to my desk, which is located several floors up in a high rise, than I’d say we have bigger problems than Rio’s wellbeing. With that being said, it’s safe to say we can rule out pests as a legitimate threat to Rio.

What about disease? Most people don’t know, but plants can get sick too. Fungi and bacteria can get into the plant through the leaves or roots, and wreak havoc from within. Plants can get sick, or even die depending on the severity of the problem. This is why many plant owners use something from the array of available pesticides to act as a defense against the never-relenting threat from fungi and bacteria. Do I use any of these products for Rio? No, but not because I’m trying to scare the soil out of Rio. You see, most plants get into trouble when they are in nature, exposed to other plants and living things that could be carrying the bacteria. On my desk, the only thing getting sick around Rio is myself, and plants can’t contract human-illnesses. 

How about water? As we have also discussed, Rio doesn’t have to worry about when he drinks too much, because the chemical composition of his soil ensures that he doesn’t drown. Under watering, on the other hand is a concern. But I’m pretty diligent, and Rio is never worried.

Seems like Rio has nothing to be worried about.

However, there is one thing that Rio is horrified of. Scissors. I can’t even have them on my desk because of how scared he is of them. One cut of the blades, and his leaves could become mincemeat. At least I know how to scare him if he’s not cooperating...

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Jealousy and Independence

  Things have been tense with Rio and I the last few days. Ever since the flooding debacle, Rio believes I’ve been seeing other plants. He’s right. Store after store, I keep running into succulents: I’ve seen them in pots, planters, glass bubbles, and even in hanging wall bags. Here’s an example of a run-in I had.

  In this photo, taken at a West Elm in midtown, it is clear that plants are taking over the world. There were plants on sale and plants on fancy displays. It seems like everywhere I go, I’m running into new plants.

As it turns out, plants and plant accessories are very trendy these days. Whether it is in furniture stores like West Elm or supermarkets like Whole Foods, retailers of all industries are cashing in on the novel plant demand. Move over orange, because Green is the new black. Plants are even becoming a fashion statement. In Anthropologie, you can find dresses and skirts with flower prints on them, because they’re “in”.

Personally, I hope this trend grows into a larger green movement (pun intended). However, Rio has become jealous. All the attention is being diverted away from him and towards trendier plants. Does he have a right to feel bad? I suppose, but in my defense, I’m seeing these plants for work. It’s 100% business, 0% pleasure.

I’m sorry Rio is feeling insecure, but this is the perfect week to raise his spirits, because this week includes one of the best holidays of the year: Independence Day.

Although we know Rio is Brazilian, and thus, the holiday has no significance to him, the Fourth of July means there will be fireworks. And who doesn’t love fireworks? In fact, NYC holds the title for the biggest fireworks celebration in the entire country. Rio will be in for a treat. I will move him off my desk and to a window facing the East River (where the fireworks are going off this year). He can put his leaves right up against the glass and look out into the beautiful spectacle that thousands of people will be simultaneously witnessing.

I’m hoping this will make up for the jealousy Rio has been feeling. Maybe I shouldn't mention to him that I won’t be there to watch it with him, nobody comes to work on July 4th….

[tiffanykimicata]

Parenting and the Almighty "No"

It’s hard to believe that Rio and I have been sharing a desk for over three weeks. It feels like it’s been ages since that time I flooded Rio… or was is it last week… ? Anyways, it’s exciting to see Rio grow up right before my eyes -wow, I feel like a parent. Speaking of parenting, it is important that I guide Rio through the next stage of his development. The effect of my consistent watering is starting to take hold, literally: Rio has several new leaves that are coming out of the soil. Thus at this time, my parenting plays a vital role in Rio’s continued growth and well-being.

Lesson of the day: Don’t be afraid to say no.

So the thing is, as Rio grows and matures, my ‘parenting techniques’ must adapt. A big part of being a good caregiver for Rio is not being afraid to say no. For example, Rio asked for water today. As you and I are aware, Rio has been spoiled with water on Mondays and Friday (in fact, he was so spoiled that he gave the desk  the excess water). Today however, I realized the water wouldn’t do him any good, and decide to cut him off.

Let me give you another example. The other day, I returned from a trendy Midtown furniture store. I took photos to documents my findings. My pictures included these colorful pots.

                                             Rio saw this photo and several others like it. Being the fashionista that he is, Rio asked for a change from his current pot enclosure to one of these bad boys. I guess it took him three weeks of building up a disdain for Terra Cotta plus several JPEGS of trendy plant pots for him to ask for the switch. Do you know how much of a waste of time and money it would be to replace his pot for an identically functioning pot with a different color? When Rio grows up and starts making his own money, he can spend it on all the trendy plant accessories he wants. But as long as he’s living on my desk, he lives by my rules, which includes no wasteful spending.

 Not all no’s are about leisure. Some can be lifesaving. Exhibit C: Rio wants to join me at the beach tomorrow. My reaction:  -_-

Why? Because Rio is a plant. He’s a desk bum, not a beach bum. Ladies and gentlemen, in general, there are three things that can happen when you take a plant to the beach: He can get stepped on, he can get taken in by the tide, or he can be engulfed in sand. What do these three occurrences have in common? #PlantObliteration .

Folks, I will not let “plant obliteration” take place on my watch. Rio may be upset that I won’t let him come to the beach, but that is why you must be willing to say no. Ironically, the key to growth is setting limits. Without saying no, Rio will never reach his fullest potential.

[tiffanykimicata]

Full House

Good Monday everyone.

While this is a blog about my interactions with Rio over the next 10 weeks, the truth is, I’m still angry at him for overflowing with water the other day. The plants around the office have been giving me dirty looks all morning. People are calling me the Wet-Bandit and American Idiot. There’s even an email chain about me circulating amongst my colleagues titled: “No Country For Old Plants”.

 For those of you who don’t know, Rio can’t die from overwatering. As it so happens, I learned that there exists a soil that controls for over and under watering (who knew, right?) When I introduced you to Rio, I failed to mention that I used this particular soil to avoid that issue. At the time, I didn’t think the soil I used seemed like pertinent information… my mistake.

Notwithstanding the facts, word around the office is that I may lose custody of Rio if I can’t control his wetting problem. It’s simply embarrassing. Thus, I would like to take the time to introduce you to my other residents on my desk, who are often neglected by the rest of the office.

On the right is Rio, who you already know (stupid selfish plant who steals all the limelight); then there’s the other two, wonderful plants on the lower left. About being neglected… I wasn’t kidding. How long have they been on my desk for? Nobody knows. Where did they come from? Nobody knows. What are their names? Nobody has a clue.

What do we know? We know they are classified as succulent plants, which means they can grow in areas that do not receive much sunlight, such as on a desk in an office. They do not require much water either. This is extremely important and beneficial because unlike with Rio, these guys don’t have a saucer underneath to catch excess water. This has created an enormous trust bond between me and the two smaller plants. They trust that I will feed them the water they need. In return, I trust that they won’t consume too much water and subsequently “pull a Rio” by overflowing onto my desk.

 I would like to find out more, but for now, let’s give these guys something everyone should have: an identity. I declare that we shall give these plants names. I shall name the taller of the two plants Nemo, because the color of his pot reminds me of ‘Nemo’, the clownfish from Finding Nemo. I will name the small white-potted plant Howie. He is named after Tim Howard, the goalkeeper for team USA.

Nemo and Howie > Rio.

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H 2 0

It’s been one week since Rio joined my desk at work. Although the World Cup is a touchy subject, we have found common ground on a different subject, something we both have a passion for: water. For me, it keeps me hydrated and fills me up. On a more personal note, I credit water as the reason why I cut back on my drinking problem (soda; I’m 19, remember?). Rio loves water too, like you wouldn’t believe. When Rio first told me it helps him get “in shape” I asked him, “Do you work out?” (When it comes to learning how plants live and operate, I’m more gullible than McFly).  Rio means to say that he needs it for survival, and a lot of it. But just how much does he need?  As I mentioned before, I set up a twice-a-week drinking regiment to satisfy his needs. Sounds pretty simple, right? Wrong. Boy was I in for a surprise.

Lesson of the day: There is such a thing as too much.

People say there’s no such thing as “too much”. Well today I learned the hard way that the expression doesn’t hold merit when it comes to water and plants. In the photo above, we can see that Rio is literally flooding. The saucer under the pot is designed to catch excess water from the bottom of the pot if there happens to be too much. Now lets be clear: even if you see water in the saucer, as you can in the photo, that doesn’t mean you overwatered your plant. In fact, it optimally means that the plant is adequately “full” and simply doesn’t need more water.

So how do you know when the pot is overfilled? We know Rio isn’t a talker, and I’m willing to bet that your plant isn’t any different (if it is, please get in contact with someone immediately). Thus, we can’t depend on our plant to tell us. And sure, there are probably a plethora of scientific tools to determine the exact water saturation level in the soil. But why make things so complicated? Based on my experiences, here are the basic questions you should be asking yourself to determine whether you have overwatered your plant:

Is this saucer bubbling up or overflowing with water? Is your desk turning into a pond? Are you using any paper towels to clean up your mess? Are you using an entire roll of paper towels to clean up your mess? Is the garbage can that contains all your used paper towels subsequently overflowing as well? Are you reconsidering whether or not to postpone the next time you plan to water your plant?

Wow, that was a waterfull. Anyways, today the answer to every question was “yes”. To my surprise, Rio was leaking so much water that I thought he went for a dip in the East River when I wasn’t looking.

What have I learned? Rio may love water, and needs it to grow, but like anything else, moderation is key. Do you take care of a plant? If so, don’t make the same mistake I did.

Talk about growing pains, ehh? Until next week…

[tiffanykimicata]

Office Space

When I walked into my office, I noticed something peculiar on my desk.

“What the heck is this”, I said to myself. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a Caxirola, the official instrument of the 2014 World Cup. When I introduced you to Rio, my new plant, I forget to mention that he’s a die-hard Brazilian football (soccer) fan.

For those of you who didn’t know, Brazil won a very exciting 3-1 match against Croatia Thursday night. Clearly, Rio celebrated late Friday by having a lot to drink, too much (water, of course). In his intoxicated state, he left his noisemaker on my desk. I was none too pleased.

Its tough sharing office space with someone… or something else. Here’s a lesson for RIO: my desk is my sphere, my personal place of work free of the clutter of others. Other than Rio himself, my desk consists of my computer, my monitor, my daily iced coffee (and napkins to prevent the otherwise inevitable water ring), and my all-important black moleskin book.  I don’t have any photos or sports identifiers on my desk, but if I did, it wouldn’t be a Brazilian Caxirola. You see, I’m rooting for team USA.

I recognize that caring for a plant means accepting all the responsibilities that it comes with. Whether that means inhibiting Rio’s drinking habit twice a week to make sure he stays healthy, or giving him some attention on Instagram so he doesn’t become self-conscious about his color. My responsibilities to him as caretaker do not, however, extend to permitting his Brazilian World Cup paraphernalia. I simply can’t have a Brazilian Caxirola on my desk, for it will send a mixed message to my red white and blue comrades. Rio and I are friends, and when I’m at work, arguably even colleagues. However, when the World Cup comes on, we’re competitors, regardless of whether we’re on the field or at the desk.

[tiffanykimicata]

Introductions

Hello again, WWW.

Meet my plant. His name is Rio, named after the location of the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Rio is a Snake Plant, also known as Espada de São Jorge in Brazil. He doesn’t have a lot to say, but his distinct green color speaks volumes. In fact, Rio is many shades of green, but don’t call him Shrek. He has one of the best living situations of anyone I know: he lives in a Terra Cotta Pot on the 5th floor of a downtown Manhattan high rise. His place is so nice he never wants to leave, and therefore, he doesn’t… ever. Consequently, it’s my responsibility to keep him happy and healthy.

So how can I help? I will visit him 5 days a week. I will tend to his water needs twice a week, every Monday and Friday. I will keep the world up to date on his growth. My friend, Wikipedia, tells me that a mature Snake Plant, can grow up to 35 inches tall. Considering this guy has less than 10 weeks with me before he’s on his own, I’ll be aiming for 20 inches.

So how can you help? Give Rio some #RioLovin. Plants may reproduce asexually, but that doesn’t mean Rio doesn’t need to be loved. Buy more plants so Rio can have some friends. Rio’s desk job lifestyle can get dull, so lets spruce the place up a bit, make it nice, and green.

PS: Fun fact of the day; for those who didn’t know, Spruce is a type of tree.

[tiffanykimicata]

Pilot

While I’m not an expert at planting, I have almost 20 years of experience when it comes to growing… one could say I’ve been growing since birth.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s never too late to grow, whether it be from the inside, or growing a plant. Today, I commence my attempt at the latter. My roots will take hold on the 5th floor of a downtown Manhattan office building, and the possibilities are limitless.

 Lesson 1: the possibilities are not limitless. Sunlight and water are limited; sunlight is limited by the nature of growing in an office building, water is limited by human error because, lets face it, I’m going to forget sometimes.

Lesson 2: What plant shall I grow?

Using my extensive knowledge… err, scratch that. Using the power of Google and the internet, I have found several plants that previous adventurous office-goers have grown and nurtured to bring more life to the office place. I want a plant that’s going to have a presence, not like a little bean sprout that will reach 2 inches at its matured stage if I’m lucky. The Snake Plant sounds like a statement.

Some might ask: “Why are you trying to make a statement with an office plant”. My answer?  Why not. In a quintessential workplace in a sprawling urban metropolis like New York City, why not contribute to the green in a statement making way? Will it encourage others to grow? Maybe in an ideal world, but in reality probably not. But that doesn’t mean it can’t make people smile when they pass my desk and see a beautiful plant. That doesn’t mean that someone can’t look at my plant and enter a happy frame of mind as they think back to frolicking in the garden before supper time, or that first time someone picked, or purchased, roses to give to a lucky lady. If my plant makes the slightest positive effect on even one fellow employee in the 10 weeks my baby blossoms, let my endeavor be declared a success.

Thus, let’s begin.

[tiffanykimicata]

A thing of beauty

gettysport's photo on Instagram

[flora-file]

True Blue (by flora-file)

Echium plantagineum

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Why so 'blue'?