Annamaria Getting Ready for Bouchercon
You know: Whenever we go on a trip, we pay for our being absent from regular life: tasks that need to be done because you won't be home to do them, preparing to make the most of the time away, to say nothing of the catching up once we return home. Today's repost is of one I put up just before leaving for Bouchercon ten years ago. I am in the same position this year. Working hard to be ready for the conference and paying my dues because I will be away for five days. Here a second time is my pean to a plant. BTW: I have seven of them growing in my place today. And there are many from the same original in the homes of friends and neighbors.
Here comes largely a photo essay, given the fact that I will leave in an hour for the airport and LA, on my way to Bouchercon. It's Saturday as I write, by the way.
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| Papyrus growing in a well in the Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily. |
I have loved the very word "papyrus" since my fourth grade history book showed me a picture and told me the story of it.
Papyrus figures in my ancestral history. My paternal grandparents were Siracusani--from what had been the Greek city state of Syracuse. Here are some pictures of papyrus growing in fresh water a few feet from the Ionian harbor where a great battle of the Peloponnesian War took place. Some posit that that fresh water so close to the salt accounts for the founding of the city way back in prehistory.
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| Papyrus in fresh water near the harbor. |
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| The scene of a battle in the ancient war. |
During the dreadful AIDS plague of the 80s, David and I lost many friends, including his best buddy from high school and his partner. When the second of those dear men was dying, he told us to take whatever we wanted from the house. I chose the papyrus plant. It lives on. It has of late become part of the decor in my Egyptian revival dining room.
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| The gift of Bob and JP. |
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| The mantle in the dining room. |
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| American illustration art: complete with pharaoh and papyrus |
Of late, it has given birth, in a manner of speaking. A few months ago I noticed that in the middle of the fronds, tiny fronds had emerged. I wondered what would happen if I cut off those stalk tops and put them in water. Magic is what took place. So now I have four plants. The babies have the look of bonsai papyrus. It won't stay that way, but I wish one would. What a centerpiece it would make a dinner parties!!
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| A baby at one month |
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| Two months |
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| Three months and gorgeous. |
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Wonderful, Annamaria! So much history, beauty and importance in one plant! Greatly looking forward to seeing you in Long Beach. I've made it to Reno NV so far!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michael. Can't wait to see you. Reno? Really?
DeleteWe have a garden koi pond (that I dug by hand, back when I could do so for hours on end without turning into a self-dessicated pile of leather and calcium deposits), and papyrus has always been one of our staple plants in the pond.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at Bouchercon, and for those of us not lucky enough to attend, be sure to write up your experiences for us in an e-Papyrus!
EvKa, a koi pond in the backyard sounds like a delightful thing. You can count on lots of photos and quasi coherent reporting on the conference from the MIE crowd.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures in your dining room. The papyrus is so lovely and airy. Can one purchase these plants. you have them in soil, so I guess I don;t need to keep them in water. Have a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteLil, I think you can buy it. It grows well in dirt as long as you keep it very well watered. It does best in pots without drain holes. Or sitting in a tray that is also full of water. Like Everett, I us to have a fountain in my yard, when I was lucky enough to have one in NYC. But I had to take it indoors in the cold weather.
DeleteFabulous!!!! Somehow, I never thought of papyrus in real time, only in the Bible and ancient times... What a lovely exhibit to have in your home! Thelma Straw in Manhattan P.S. Hope you don't have cats... fear the plants would not last long...
ReplyDeleteThat very interesting, Annamaria, for in a reverse of genealogical nomenclature, your careful cloning has created grandpapys. Barumphump. I bet you can't wait to hear more like that in person, in Long Beach. I'm waiting for you.
ReplyDeleteThelma and Jeff--fellow Manhattanites--thanks for your comments. I Am enjoying LA, even though I will never master its geography.
ReplyDeleteLong Beach awaits! See you guys soon!!!
ReplyDeleteMy gran died at 106 years of age. I inherited her tiny cactus which was always around in my childhood. None of the children or grandchildren can recall that wee cactus never being there somewhere so we reckon it's well over seventy years old. But it never grew, it only survived. Then last year, for no apparent reason, it started to sprout, has trebled in height and now it could be a prop in a cowboy film.
ReplyDeleteCaro, we need to take those magical plants to Howarts. Perhaps we can make a plan on Thursday when we met-- to which I say HUZZAH!
DeleteI love this! I hope you'll repost it --especially with an update on how many papyrus plants are with you/ in new homes--as a pre- Bouchercon feature!
ReplyDeleteFrom AA: What a lovely idea. Ovidia. I would have to think hard to remember where the off-spring went. And some friends tell me that they do the same--propagate them the give them away. It makes me think that the spirits of Bob and JP are still in the world.
DeleteHere's hoping you miss that plane to LA and catch the one to Nashville instead...because Barbara and I are looking forward to seeing you soon!! xx
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping you miss that plane to LA, Sis, and catch on to Nashville instead, because Barbara and I are anxious to see you soon!!!xx
ReplyDeleteNever fear, Bro. I would never miss and opportunity to hang out with Barbara. Oh, and you too, of course.
DeleteI think I am not the only one on this blogsite who waters the plants and says goodbye, telling them I'll be back soon and not to die of dehydration in the meantime....or am I the only one?
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, there are two of us. I have many, many. I talk to them. I give them CO2 , and they give me oxygen and beautiful foliage and flowers. From AA
ReplyDelete