Jing-reed's Musings from Thailand

All the Time in the World

All the Time in the World  [Rachel Sussman]

"What a charred ancient tree can teach us about impermanence, deep time, and our place in the universe.

The tree had been on fire for over a week before anyone noticed. The Senator, one of the oldest Cypress trees in the world, was killed when a smoldering ignition from an errant lightning strike slowly transformed it into a towering chimney and fuel source in one. Or maybe it didn’t happen like that at all. Perhaps it was an errant cigarette, or a sinister match strategically placed in its hollow berth. The mystery endures, but the fact remains: on January 16, 2012 The Senator collapsed and died, engulfed in flames. It was 3,500 years old. . . . ."

Rachel Sussman Photographs

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Yellow Adenium

A note and photo from David Clulow in Venezuela that he has finally had a true yellow Adenium to flower.  Felicitaciones and congratulations David, it is absolutely beautiful. 

For those of you who are not familiar with the Adeniums [Desert Rose], they are a floriferous African plant that in the past has been limited to flowers in the color range of reds, pinks, and whites with few deep purplish reds.  They do quite well here in the tropical clmate of Thailand.

"On 28th August 2010 I received some seeds from Mr Ko which included 12 labelled 'Yellow Earth'.  These were sown on paper and 9 germinated.  It was obvious from an early age that 2 of the seedlings would be albas, or more technically correct concolors as their stems were without pigment and were jade green coloured.  When these two seedlings were reasonably big the tops were cut off on 11 April 2011 and five grafts each were made.  Fortunately all of the grafts took and the first one started to flower this morning. . . .  The brown mark on the petal is just insect damage.  Here is another view to show the leaves,  they look to me to be rather narrow and "V" shaped possibly indicating A. swazicum and A. crispum in the background of the breeding. "

"This is Mr. Ko's photo of 'Yellow Earth', possibly my seedling flower will flatten out as it gets a little older."

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Botany of Desire

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World is a 2001 nonfiction book and film by journalist Michael Pollan. This work explores the nature of domesticated plants from the dual perspective of humans and the plants themselves.  An excellent book, and exceptionally beautiful film.

Pollan presents case studies that mirror four types of human desires that are reflected in the way that we selectively grow, breed, and genetically engineer our plants. The apple reflects the desire of sweetness, the tulip beauty, marijuana pleasure and the potato sustenance.

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