Our new family member:
Ling Ling!
I have always wanted a bamboo plant. I have discussed this nearly every other day since Jessica and I moved into our apartment. Well, this and the fact that I really want a pot of grass since it is majorly lacking in Boston. I have this whole idea where I’ll cut my little pot of grass with scissors every week. Anyway, that is perhaps a bit off topic.
On Sunday, I went to the local Asian market with some friends of mine, and I found a Lollicup there, and I saw bamboo plants. Jessica loves Lollicup, so I knew immediately that she would agree to meet me there. Jessica got her Lollicup, and we bought our bamboo plant.
Jessica has fondly referred to our bamboo plant as our “love plant.” On the way home with our bamboo plant, we decided that it needed a name. Jessica suggested Boris, Herbert, Barthomolew and then Henry. I rejected the first three options. My counter suggestions were Jet Li and Ling Ling. Jessica visibly brightened at the latter suggestion, and so we had our name. We then decided that our plant was a he. Of course, then we discovered that Ling Ling means “darling little girl.” I proposed that maybe we change the name, but Jessica said that we already gave him a name and gender. So, the name stays.
I had wanted to take a picture of Jessica and Ling Ling, but she told me that she was “not a single mother” and told me that we were taking a family portrait. So, there we are. Here is a picture of our special little guy:
We are so proud.
I should probably mention that I have never had my own plant. Actually, I have never taken care of a plant. I tried once, but it ended up wilting a bit. I did not tell Jessica this until today. We are hoping that this ends well. I am not certain how one cares for a bamboo plant, but I am hoping water is good enough. If it is not, I suppose we will have to get Ling Ling the Second. Either way, I am very excited.
While I am on family members, I should mention that Jessica is saying good-bye to the Volvo. Soon we will have a 2009 Ford Fusion. To commemorate the occasion, I took pictures of Jessica saying good-bye to the Volvo:
You have been a good friend.
You will be dearly missed, Volvo.
It is a season of changing, and we are very excited to see what it will bring. Hopefully I will not manage to murder Ling Ling. If you happen to know anything about potted bamboo, please let me know, as I do not plan to do anything other than water Ling Ling once or twice a week.
Water is good! But what do I know? My thumb is so black I once killed an aloe plant!
Hmm, he has Jessica’s nose, but your hair. It is a very beautiful plant.
I do not own any plants. I was given the sweetest little rosebush when Elizabeth was born and I managed to kill it BEFORE my cut flowers died.
Egads! You are going to try to keep something alive? It amazes me, to no end, that we are related. I have a thriving garden :p
In all seriousness, I have told you for several years that bamboo is the plant for you. It is as low maintenance as plants can be…plus it is hard to kill (though I’m sure if ANYONE could find a way to kill a bamboo plant, you could!). I have faith that Ling Ling will make it…with a little bit of advice from moi!
First off, bamboo doesn’t like a lot of sunlight. It grows in a dark, thick forest and doesn’t see much sunlight. Put Ling Ling in your dining room, kitchen, or bar
I’d say a bathroom would work too, but I don’t personally feel a bathroom is an appropriate place to put a family member. Second, don’t water too much. If the top inch of soil is dry then Ling Ling wants water. If Ling Ling’s leaves start to turn yellow then he is either getting too much light or too much bad water. That is about all you need to know about Ling Ling.
Good luck with the new addition, you crazy kids!!!
Wishing you many happy times with the plant, and many happy miles with the new car! I had my bamboo plant a whole seven months before the cat overcame her dislike of the taste and chewed it to death. Guess it wasn’t so lucky. . .