For the last few years, every summer my husband swears I am going to kill my Jade Plant. Maybe it’s because when we bought two Christmas Cacti and he cared for one which is still living (and preparing to bloom), I was in charge of the second one, which has long since passed.
But we found this Jade at a garage sale a few years ago and I had to have it. They grow slow and I could tell by it’s size that it had survived many years already. The Marshfield Mall has one that's over 100 years old, I can't remember its name though.
Every summer I move the Jade outside and often I forget where to place it and some of the leaves get burned by the sun’s rays before I realize it needs more shade. But here it is, in all its glory at the end of this summer. It survived another year and has a lot of new growth. I may be able to keep it alive for many years after all.
Every time I look at it I think of Fred (a Jade plant) in the book, By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz. I thought of my Jade the entire time I was reading the book to Dennis. Maybe someday I will strap my ‘Fred’ into the car seat and go on some travels.
This is so interesting, I never knew the plant was a Jade Plant. There was a huge one here when I moved in and erm... dare I say it... I gave it a vicious pruning! It's still out there and I took cuttings which I planted elsewhere and have kept wondering why it doesn't seem to grow... Ooops! I feel like I've committed a heinous crime! I'd better go and be nice to it now and apologise profusely!
ReplyDeleteWOW, a jade over a hundred years old! That's so neat. And Fred looks great, good job.
ReplyDeleteI've never had any luck with those Christmas Cactus, glad I'm not alone. :)
Wow! I am also uhhhh...somewhat lacking in the gardening skills department. But I have kept a Lucky Bamboo alive for a while now. I guess that's because all they need is water and I usually remember that :-) I guess that's why it's a "lucky" bamboo! My mutterings are up too - happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteFred's a beautiful dude. Perhaps he is grateful to have been adopted at the garage sale! (Curtains, otherwise?)
ReplyDeleteI keep spider plants alive. That's about it!
Impressive - ME+Plants = they die!! ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI thought of that book as soon as I saw the title here! I think you should take Fred out for a day trip at least - just think of the fun entry you could entertain us with :-)
ReplyDeleteOoooh, it's a Crasula, right?
ReplyDeleteI've got one just like that, I inherited it from my mother last year.
She's huge, I named her Auntie Julia.
I have that very same feeling, desperately trying not to kill it.
That reminds me, I'd probably should take her inside one of these days!
fred is looking fine! :)
ReplyDeleteI have one too but it doesn't have a name. Years ago, it was a part of my sister-in-laws plant that I took home and babied. Hers is long gone, but mine still grows !! Yours is much larger though !! Long live Fred ...
ReplyDeleteleave Fred home and take me. I could be jaded for the right price.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful plant! I loved your Koontz reference as I have been collecting everything he has written all summer. I loved this story!
ReplyDeleteI covet your Jade plant!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE plants, and I think that one is beautiful.
I had a Christmas cactus for five years when it finally kicked the bucket. I am giving it another try, and Chris Jr. seems to be doing better than his older brother. I hope he last a little longer!
I love these too :)
ReplyDeleteYou know that you can easily make a new Babyplant by taking one of the leafs and put it with the "stem" in earth. It will usually start to get roots quick.
In Germany they say "Pfennigbaum" (Penny tree) to this one. The bigger it gets the more money you get - yeah right ;)
I have a bad record with houseplants! Proud of you on this one!
ReplyDeleteMethinks it’s actually impossible to kill Jade … at least here in So Cal. It’s awfully hard to get rid of too once it gains a foot-hold in the garden. I remember Fred in By the Light of the Moon but hadn’t made the connection until reading your post ;--)
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
That is one of the reasons that particular koontz book is my favorite! Usually he puts those dumb dogs as the main non-human character,but I love plants and also have a "fred"! Except her name is simply "baby jade". She is like my little baby! (: She might not be all that little,but still... PLEASE don't let your "freds" get stuck in the hail!! I had another jade that the hail killed! It was so terrible! I'd had that one for about a year and a half,and I would always put it, along with all my other plants outside when it rains in the summer because plants LOVE rainwater! But one day I put them all out for a nice drink,and it started hailing.She lost alot of her leaves and rapidly declined after that! FRED ROCKS!!
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