Or even older. I've had it for at least 20. And who knows how long the woman who gave it to me had it before she got rid of it. It has looked better, but ever since we moved here I haven't had a sunny indoor spot for it and it has suffered. I've got a couple of young jade plants on the go that don't take up quite as much room. This plant is going to a new home with Will and Curtis. Ditto for the mounted sunflower poster. I was going to paint over it as a practice board for acrylics, but it's big and heavy. I have enough canvasses to use up. Tashi — just because.

Tags: art, plants, cats, August 2010

Young cats are like kids. They resist falling asleep until they almost fall over. There are too many birds to watch outside the window, too many other cats to follow around, too many shelves to jump onto, too many keyboards to walk across. Tashi eventually settles down, but not for long. Bear still hisses at her, but she just avoids him. She is much, much faster than he is, and she knows he's just grumpy. He hasn't ever made a move to hurt her, has just tried to swat her away with claws in. The felines in the house will eventually succumb to her charms, just as the humans have. In the meantime, I have given away a cactus that I've had since 2000, after rescuing it from the office of a colleague at an ad agency where I used to work. He moved away and left it behind. It now has a new home in Port Alberni. The pine cones were part of my nature collection — a friend is making Christmas ornaments this year from pine cones, so I donated to her raw materials.

Tags: cats, plants, July 2010

Only two more months to go on the official challenge, but I think I will be getting rid of things long past December 31. Took some paint cans to the recycling depot yesterday. Thought the place might take old anti-freeze but it didn't. Nor did it take the fire extinguisher. We have a bigger one now — not sure if this one even has a charge any more. I'll have to research where else in town to take it. Getting more brutal with the houseplants. This orchid hasn't bloomed in a couple of years. We keep the house too cold, and now that it's fall it's going to suffer even more. I believe I have found a new home for husband's geiger counter — the yellow thing in his hand. He has a new computerized one now. Another pair of shoes. The second pair of Rockports I ever bought. The first pair was in 1986. I bought them to work 12-hours shifts at EXPO ’86, walking around the Canada Pavilion. I got rid of them just last year I think, either that or they are in the earthquake kit as my spare shoes. I will have to check. This black pair is probably 15 years old. Here's the story about the rock. A woman in Sooke paints them and leaves them on the beach for people to find. She places them face up; the message is a surprise when you turn the stone over. I didn't find this one myself, it was given to me by a friend who regularly walks on the beach and has found several over the years. I find it mildly disturbing. I plan to leave it outside in a park or along a path for someone else to find.

Tags: paint, fire extinguisher, plants, miscellaneous, shoes, odd, November

Another plant that my recently deceased cat Phoebe would nibble on almost every day. Husband thinks it is really ugly, but I still like it, and spider plants clean the air. But if getting rid of it makes him a wee bit happier and makes the hallway less of an obstacle course, then it is an easy way to get some good spouse points. This one has an almost 3 foot spread. When the decluttering is finished, we can go out and get some fresh house plants that haven't gotten too leggy. The guy who was going to take away one of my other plants (Sep 28) didn't show up until yesterday, so I gave him this one and another really tall plant that will show up as tomorrow's post. My doggie friend Lucy recently got a companion, a young male named Toby. He's still very shy and not completely socialized, but is very sweet and learning to trust his humans.

Tags: plants, October, dog

Last Friday I read poetry to strangers in hotel lobbies. Me and 5 other poets. Part of the Victoria Downtown Business Association promotion of the arts. It was a blast. Six hotels, 5 hours — I have no idea how many poems I read. Met lots of tourists and locals. Most were receptive; only a few rude responses. My favourite excuse for not having 45 seconds to listen to a poem was "Sorry, I have to go have a pee." My weekend guest arrived Saturday morning and left yesterday. Went around tonight and took photos of four things to get rid of. Two plants. The spiky one was a favourite of my recently deceased cat. She would chew on the leaves and then throw up. So I kept it around for years just for her. It has a very tall (7') stalk on it. One of the fellows who helps me garden is looking for some houseplants, so he will take it away next week. The african violet is very sad and will go to the compost heap. The pillow has been on the sofa for about 3 years now. I'm simply tired of it. The woven faux suede strips get all tightened and twisted around. I don't want to keep smoothing it out — it's a bit like adjusting tennis racket strings. And I want a brighter colour next time. The bi-fold closet doors and cupboard door went out a few weeks ago with other stuff from the shed. I have a wee twinge about letting the nice wooden one go. Just a twinge. I'm sure it will pass soon.

Tags: pillow, plants, September

This rubber plant is huge. At least 5 feet from side to side. I adopted it not too long ago when I helped someone move. She had the plant for sale on craigslist, but no one wanted it, so I tried to find a place for it. Tried being the operative word. It is such a healthy, pretty plant. I moved some furniture around in the living room to accommodate it, but it was always in the way. Once the weather warmed up I was able to put it outside on the deck. I started to ask around to see if anyone I knew would give it a new home. It is now with someone who appreciates it as much as I did, but who actually has a space for it. The other shot is of my red leaf lettuce patch, with some kale in the foreground and iceland poppies in the background.

Tags: plants, June, garden

Fostering struggling plants is no longer on my list of what I want to do. They look too sad. I’ve changed my mind about trying to save them, trying to root all the stems that fall off — if I don’t like the way it looks, out it goes. I was given three or four African violets last year, so this ancient one has been replaced anyway.

Tags: plants, April

So I bought a tree peony, hoping the blooms would be like the ones on my neighbour’s tree peony. I waited six years for it to bloom. Not at all what I expected. Lovely blossoms in their own way, but not the floppy spectacular ones I thought I was getting. Anyway, I gave the peony a couple more years, but I’d rather replace it with something I’m really excited about. I dropped the plant off at my friend’s this morning. One of the pruned branches from my climbing hydrangea had rooted over the winter, so I stuck that in the pot too. The leaves on the peony are just starting to come out. I had fun throwing the ball for Kyro.

Tags: plants, April

Another month begins! When I look back over the past two months of decluttering it certainly feels like I’ve gotten rid of a lot, especially when I scroll through all the photos. But when I look around the house I’m looking with a more ruthless eye and can see many more things I can live without.

When a large piece of a houseplant breaks off, my first inclination is to try and root it, thereby gaining another plant. This poor piece of African violet has been rooting in water for well over a year. I haven’t planted it yet. I’ve gotten rid of two plants so far, why not another one? I don’t really want to nurture a tiny violet in the hope it will one day flower. If I really want more violets I can pick up a plant in full bloom for about $3. Besides, there are still seven African violets around the house. The compost will receive an exotic deposit tomorrow. (I’m keeping the vase. Yard sale, Vancouver, 1992, $2)

Tags: plants, March

My clivia (Jan 15) was very popular! A friend contacted me last week wondering if it was still available — it wasn’t. But I had another one, started from seed at the same time as the first, and for a $10 donation to Leslie’s Kenyan projects I was more than happy to let it go as well. Thanks L.!

Tags: plants, January

I grew this Clivia miniata from a seed pod fallen from the mother plant, — one of several that successfully took root. I’ve watered and cared for it for almost five years, but if I can’t find a home for it, I will return it to the earth. A proper burial in the compost bin.
(this is a freebie, no donation required)

Tags: plants, January