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Flora: The Grass Strikes Back
Tue, 17 May 2005

The silly grass experiment continues! Yesterday was the beginning of the week and when I showed up at the office some tiny blades of grass were showing up on the left (Ryegrass) side and so far nothing on the (Bluegrass) right. Today the ryegrass is really pulling together though I expect bluegrass in another week or so...

The whole deal was assembled and planted only last Thursday, so this is only the 5th actual growth day so its quite amazing to see how fast the seedlings come to life (and it occurs to me that this is the same experiment small children make in public school. You see, you can teach an old dog old tricks :) I was telling someone yesterday (maybe even inspiring an experiment of her own? eh?) that really the reason for this is just to help bring a little life into the office. Sure, everyone has a plant or two (or should!), but actually starting the process from seeds and dirt all the way to the scissors-of-shaping stage brings you much more in tune to the innocent struggle of nature and the joy of helping something come to life. (My late grandfather, a bit of a green thumb himself, would be proud!)

When I was young, maybe 8 or 10 years of age, I planted a single maple leaf seed (key?) into a cup of dirt and let it sit out the back; the poor thing slowly grew into a single slender ever-so-brittle little ... stick - maybe a foot high and without bark or the like. After awhile longer a single branch sprouted out the side and with time, that single branch sprouted a single leaf, which later opened wide and proud... and promptly bent over the sapling under its own weight. It was a shame when I found it dead (I was young, it probably could've been saved :), but it was one of those amazing little experiences I'll always remember. Having a puppy was similar but of course nothing beats a boy and his dog...

Anyway, growing this tiny patch of grass is just a tiny way to help a small piece of life grow in what is otherwise a dry environment. Sure, I'm as techy and detatched as everyone (more than everyone!), but sometimes you need to be human too.

In case you are curious as to how I water the beastie: we use conical drinking cups for drinking the office water. I simpyl nipped the very end of the cone off and pour water in.. it drips out slowly so I can easily get water to where it is needed without making a mess. A funnel would take 'work' to get or make and pour too rapidly perhaps.

Picture below.

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