Fernando Ficus

Sidetracked

2004-06-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed there have not been a lot of postings to this site lately. That's because I've gotten sidetracked by my garden site, The Garden's Gift. Fernando Ficus was formed as a creative outlet for short stories and other writings. Occasionally, I will still add something here. Thanks for visiting.

Pepi Peperomia

2004-04-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Another friend of Fernando is Pepi Peperomia. Peperomia caperata is a member of the Piperaceae family originating in tropical South America. It produces numerous dark green heart-shaped puckered leaves. Leaf stalks are pink and the leaves are purplish in the corrugations. Peperomia produces white flowers in long spikes in late spring to early winter. It is primarily used as an indoor plant in a well-lit area. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, but mist the leaves in hot weather to create humidity.

Looking for Lucy-Chapter 3 - A knock at the door

2004-04-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

“Mom! Help! The cat has me trapped,” whimpered Duncan. “Please save me.”

“Poor Duncan,” Mom said. “Did that mean old cat corner you again? Nicky, go away and leave poor Duncan alone, “ said Mom as she shooed the cat away. Nicky, a big black cat, smiled and squinted his eyes at Duncan. “Scaredy cat. Duncan’s a scaredy cat,” he laughed as he jumped onto the chair.

Duncan breathed a sign of relief and scampered into the office to spy out the window. Boy, he thought, that was a close one. That cat is going to get me one of these times.

Suddenly, he heard something and barked. He perked his ears up and barked again. It’s Lucy. “Look Dad it’s Lucy,” Duncan announced.

“Duncan, I’m on the phone. Be quiet,” Dad said firmly.

I can’t believe he’s not interested, mumbled Duncan to himself. Oh well, I’ll just lay here by the window and bask in the sun while I watch her play. But the longer he lay in the sun the sleepier he got, and soon Duncan was starting to dream.

In his favorite dream, Duncan and Lucy were running in her backyard with her boys. The boys would throw the ball, and Duncan and Lucy would take turns catching it. He was just getting ready to jump on the ball, when he heard a knock at the door.

He was up in an instant, rushing to the door and barking like mad. “How dare you wake me up!” he said indignantly to the person standing there. The person turned around and there stood Lucy’s mother! Wow! “Mom, look who’s here,” yipped Duncan. “It’s Lucy’s mom! Come let her in!”

Fernando talks about himself

2004-03-29T11:53:00.000-08:00

Fernando is a Ficus benjamina. The Benjamin Tree is from the tropical regions of India to n. Australia. It is used as a shade and ornamental tree for homes and conservatory. The leaves and the fruit possess the ornamental value. The leaves are leathery and about five inches long and two inches wide. The Weeping Ficus fruits are pairs of red figs. Fernando likes light, but not direct sun. Keep his soil moist but let it dry out between waterings.

Looking for Lucy - Chapter 2

2004-03-27T04:43:00.000-08:00

Duncan looked through the window and started panting.

“Now, Duncan,” Dad chuckled, “panting will not scare away the burglars. You have to bark better than that.”

Duncan perked up his ears and kept on looking out the window. Dad has no idea what a beautiful little dog I’m looking at, he thought.

There was Lucy romping in the front yard with one of her boys. He was playing with a basketball and she was chasing it. “She jumps so high,” admired Duncan. “I’d love to go out and play with her.”

Dad went to the window and looked out. “Oh, now I see. There’s Lucy and her boy. I wish I could give you a boy to play with too, Duncan, but you’ll just have to settle for your brothers.”

Duncan rolled his eyes and kept looking out the window. Fat chance, he thought. They just sit around and drool for boneys. Then they go and ask Mom for a pat on the head or to go out. Big deal.

Just then, Mom said, “Come on boys. Let’s go out,” and Duncan raced out the door.

He stood at the fence and begged Lucy to come over. “Come on, Lucy, let’s be friends.”

“She won’t come to the fence and say hello. She’s too busy playing with her boy,” said Vali as he walked up beside Duncan.

“Yeah,” barked Beau. “Besides, she’s kind of snooty. I tried talking to her before and she just turned up her nose and ran into the house. I don’t think she wants to get to know us.”

“You guys don’t know what you’re talking about,” snarled Duncan. “She’ll come over pretty soon if you both just go away. There’s no way she’s going to come talk to me with the two of you standing around. Why don’t you go and run around on the other side of the yard?”

“Oh come on, Val. Let’s leave poor Dunc to his dreams,” laughed Beau and they started walking away to go sit in the shade.

Duncan sat down and watched Lucy. Every time she got close to the fence he would ask her to come and get acquainted, but she just ignored him. Pretty soon, the boy went into the house and Lucy followed. Duncan was so disappointed. I don’t understand why she won’t get to know me, but I’m not going to give up. One of these days she’ll just have to invite me over to play.

And so with one more look over his shoulder, Duncan turned and ran to the door to go back inside.

Roger Rubbertree

2004-03-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

Fernando got to know Roger pretty well when they were spending time in the office building and really liked him. What he didn't know is that Roger is part of the Ficus family. Ficus elastica originated from Malaya in the early 1800's. It is commonly known as the rugger plant because the stems and foliage contain a rubber-like latex. The rubber plant grows upright stems with leathery leaves that are dark and shiny green in color, oval in shape with pointed tips. Young leaves appear wrapped in a bright red bract. It is usually grown indoors, but will grow outside in tropical climates. Ficus elastica likes light, but not direct sunlight and appreciates feeding in the summer. Keep the plant fairly dry in winter, but water more plentifully in summer. Don't overwater since it can cause yellowing.

Fernando Sez

2004-03-18T05:45:00.000-08:00

While Fernando continues to put together some plant articles, he thought it would be fun to write another story. So from time to time he will add chapters to

Looking for Lucy, A Doggie Love Story by Duncan

Duncan stretched and buried deeper in the bedcovers. I’m not ready to wake up yet, he thought, and quickly drifted back into his favorite dream. There she was – the most beautiful dog in the world. Lucy, a 10 pound Jack Russell terrier with the prettiest little legs he ever saw, was barking at him. “Hi, Duncan. My Mom just gave me a nice boney treat. Would you like to share it with me? Come on over.” Just then, Duncan’s person shifted in the bed and started to get up. “Hey,” barked Duncan, “you can’t get up without me!” Duncan jumped off the bed and jostled his brothers awake.

“Come on Vali, come on Beau. Dad’s up and it’s time to go out.”

Vali, a red german shepherd, immediately stood up and went to the bedroom door to wait.

Beau, a grey and white keeshound, bounced up and down. “Oh boy, we’re going to go out, we’re going to go out, “he barked.

Duncan, a black terrier, charged toward his Dad and barked, “Hurry up and get your fur on. We’re ready to go!”

“Ok, you guys. I’m moving as fast as I can, “laughed Dad. “Just give me a minute.”

“What’s a minute?” Duncan asked his brothers.

“I don’t know. It must be part of his fur because he always says it as he’s getting out of bed,” yawned Vali.

Beau was still bouncing. “I don’t know either but I’ve got to go out NOW.”

Dad opened the bedroom door and the boys rushed down the stairs. Soon they were back in the house and ready for breakfast, all except Duncan. He was still outside looking for Lucy.

Sasha Spiderplant

2004-03-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Sasha is another friend of Fernando and wants you to know all about spider plants. These plants like partial shade and uniformly moist soil to grow well. Chlorophytum comosum "Vittatum" is a white-banded leaf variety with long flowering stems that develop new plantlets. Chlorophytum elatum "Vittantum" produces clusters of green foliage with lighter midribs and forms babies as well. Fertilize spider plants every two months with any general food.

Annie Asparagus fern

2004-03-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

Another friend of Fernando's is Annie asparagus fern. Annie is a member of the Liliaceae family and originated in southern Africa. Asparagus ferns, or Asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri", produce long trailing branches 2-6 feet in length and are armed with small hooked thorns. The leaves are actually small, flat phylloclades (stems) and are generally in threes 1-1 1/2 inches long. It also produces tiny flowers, either white or pink, and bright red berries.

Asparagus fern is usually considered an indoor plant in the northern climates, but grows freely outside in the south. Give it plenty of light, but not direct sun, and water regularly.

Fernando Sez

2004-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Now that Fernando has found his forever home, he will begin an occasional chat column about plants he likes as well as interesting short stories. Enjoy!

Today's topic is philodendrons in honor of his friend, Philomena. Philodendrons originated in the tropical regions of America and prefer a well-lit environment but not direct exposure to the sun. Philodendron scandens is a climbing species up to 6 feet, with slender stems, long interroots and many spontaneous roots. Its leaves are evergreen and heart-shaped, tapering to a sharp point. Keep the soil evenly moist but allow it to dry out during waterings. Mist the leaves occasionally since this plant likes humidity and it helps keep the leaves clean. Climbing philodendrons can be planted in pots with trailing stems or trained to grow up walls and trellises. Typically, this plant is grown indoors but loves it outdoors in southern climates if protected. Feed with a good liquid fertilizer and remember to pat its stems!

Chapter 7 - A Happy Ending

2004-02-27T20:52:00.000-08:00

Fernando got sicker and sicker, and knew he didn’t have long to live. Almost all of his leaves were gone and some of his roots were starting to curl up. He needed food and water. It wouldn’t be long now…

He thought he felt someone patting his trunk.

He thought he felt someone rubbing his last leaf.

Someone was fluffing his roots.

“Leave me alone. Just let me die,” whispered Fernando.

He felt someone lift him and then fell back to sleep.

“I feel so warm and cozy,” thought Fernando. “I must be in plant heaven.”

Fernando stretched and felt someone pat his trunk. He opened one eye and, sure enough, there was someone patting his trunk! Wherever he was, it was bright and warm. Fernando looked at his stems and he was starting to grow some leaves!

He heard someone talking to him and saw a person pouring water around his roots. “I must be dreaming,” thought Fernando and fell back to sleep.

“Fernando.”

Fernando felt a tickle around his top stems.

Fernando, is that you?”

There it was again, and a bigger tickle this time.

“Fernando! You’ve been sleeping for weeks. Wake up!”

Fernando shook and felt his leaves move. “My leaves are back,” he exclaimed.

“Yes they are. You’ve been here for quite some time now. How are you feeling?

“I’m feeling much better thanks.” Wait a minute, who could be talking to him?

Fernando looked up and saw what had been tickling him. “Sasha, is that you?”

“None other, my old friend,” smiled Sasha Spiderplant. “I’m sorry about all my babies playing in your stems, but you know how children are.”

Fernando laughed. “No problem, Sasha. I’m so happy to see you. Am I finally back at the farm?”

Sasha shook her leaves. “No, Fernando, we’re not on the farm. We’re someplace nicer. We live with a Person Who Takes Good Care of Us. We’re in a bright and warm room, and look up! See the sky? Isn’t it beautiful?"

Just then the Person Who Takes Good Care of Us came into the room. She reached up, rubbed Sasha’s leaves and laughed. “Your babies are up to mischief again, aren’t they? Let’s get them out of Mr. Ficus’s hair, shall we Mrs. Spiderplant?" With that, she gently moved the babies and patted Fernando’s stems.

“Mr. Ficus, you’re looking so much better today. I believe you’re almost well again. I’ll be back with a little food for you in just a bit.” And the Person Who Takes Good Care of Us walked away.

“She talks plant language! I can’t believe it, “ whooped Fernando. “How does she do it?”

“I don’t know,” said Sasha. “All I know is that she takes good care of us, so maybe that’s why we can understand her. This is a good place, Fernando. The Person Who Takes Good Care of Us brings sick plants here all the time and in no time they’re ever so much better. That’s what happened to me. I was in a big office building and got very sick. I lost all my babies and I just didn’t think I was going to make it. I got thrown onto a heap of very sick plants and thought for sure I was a goner. The Person Who Takes Good Care of Us picked me up and brought me here three months ago. And look at me now. I have so many babies I don’t know what to do. “ Sasha giggled. “Fernando, it’s not the farm where we grew up. It’s better and it’s home. Guess who else is here?”

“Who?” asked Fernando.

“Well, let’s see. Philomena Philodendron lives here. The Person Who Takes Good Care of Us moves us into other warm places occasionally and that’s where Philomena is right now. If you look straight ahead, you’ll see Billy Birchtree.”

“Hi, Fernando,” called Billy. “Great to see you again.”

“And your brother, Frankie Ficus, is here too,” said Sasha.

“Fernando, I’m so happy to see you,” cried Frankie. “ You sure had us scared for awhile.”

“Oh Frankie, I never thought I’d see you again.” Fernando sobbed with joy. “Thank goodness the Person Who Takes Good Care of Us found us all. “

“Fernando, we have one more surprise for you. Guess who else is here?” asked Sasha.

“Well, Fernando, I don’t rightly know how any of us got here but I’m sure happy to see you. “ Roger Rubbertree gave his big leaves a shake toward Fernando.

“Oh Roger, what a treat to see you. I didn’t know where they took you and I sure missed talking to you,” said Fernando. “Sasha, you’re right. It’s not the farm but it is so much better. I’m here with all my old and new friends and my big brother. What else could a ficus tree ask for?”

And with that Fernando smiled and saw the Person Who Takes Good Care of Us bring in his lunch.

Fernando is happy again

Chapter 6 - Fernando Gives Up Hope

2004-02-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

“You’re here to die,” whispered someone close by. “They bring us here when we’re sick.”

Fernando looked down and saw a brown plant next to his roots.

“I used to be a beautiful spider plant, but I got sick and they brought me here to die.”

“How do you know this,” asked Fernando. “Maybe they’re bringing us here to help us get well.”

“I’ve talked to some others before they passed away,” murmured the brown plant, “and they told me everything. There’s no hope. We’ll never leave this place.”

Fernando couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He was so happy thinking they were bringing him home. Now he knew he would never see his farm again.

Chapter 5 - Fernando Gets Sick

2004-02-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

Time continued to pass, and Fernando felt more and more alone. The lonelier he felt, the sicker he became. His stems were drooping and his leaves were turning brown. The person who came to check his roots gave him a pat and sprayed something cold on him. But it didn’t help. The next time the Person came back, he tucked something in around Fernando’s roots. But, again it didn’t help. By this time, Fernando’s leaves were dropping and he knew he was very sick. “I just need to go home,” Fernando murmured, “and then I’ll be fine.”

Fernando woke up to shivering stems. He looked down and saw almost all of his leaves lying down on the ground. “I’m so sick.” Just then the Person Who Checks His Roots came in, and this time he had someone else with him. They talked to each other, but Fernando couldn’t understand what they were saying. The new person rubbed Fernando’s stems and picked up his leaves to look at them.

“Can you help me get home, please?” Fernando asked. As usual, the person didn’t speak. The people walked away but came back a few minutes later with another plant. Fernando thought they were bringing him someone to talk to so he was very surprised when they grabbed his trunk and yanked him out of his soil. “Ouch!” yelled Fernando. “That hurt. What are you doing?” The Person Who Checks His Roots started walking, carrying Fernando by his trunk, and walked right out the revolving door!

Fernando couldn’t believe it. “Wow! Yea! I’m going home. Now I’ll get well. I’ll see my friends again and my brothers. I’m so happy.”

He didn’t mind when the Person Who Checks His Roots threw him into a big dark place. It hurt a little, but Fernando didn’t care. He was going home! Fernando fell asleep but he woke up when the Person Who Checks His Roots grabbed him by his trunk again. “I must be home”, thought Fernando. All of a sudden, the person dropped Fernando on something cold and hard. He opened his eyes and looked around. All he saw were sick and dying plants everywhere.

“I’m not home at all. Where am I? Hey mister. I thought you were taking me back to the farm!”

The Person Who Checks His Roots kept walking away.

“Now what am I going to do,” cried Fernando. “I’m so sick and I hurt.”

Chapter 4 - Roger Rubbertree Disappears

2004-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, and Fernando was still in the office building. The air coming in with the people had turned warmer, but the air where he lived turned colder. And the colder it got, the more miserable Fernando felt.

Fernando tried every way he knew to get back home. First, he tried to talk to the people coming in and out of the building. Apparently, all people just didn’t have good hearing. Some looked at him when he spoke, but all they saw were his leaves being moved by the air conditioning. Of course, Fernando didn’t understand why people weren’t answering his questions. He was being as polite as he possibly could.

Every week, a person would come and check Fernando’s roots and fluff his leaves. Fernando kept asking this person if he could help him get home, but, again, he never got an answer.

Fernando got more and more discouraged. Although he had Roger to talk to, all he wanted to do was go home. There had to be a way.

One day he woke up to see a new plant where Roger had been. “Hello friend,” Fernando said. “What’s your name?”

“Hrumpf,” muttered the plant. “My name is Philoneus Palm and I’m not your friend! I don’t know you.”

Fernando, always polite, said, “I’m sorry. I should have introduced myself. I’m Fernando. Do you know Roger Rubbertree?”

“Fernando, Shernando.” snorted Philoneus. “I don't care who you are. I’m not your friend and don’t want to be. So leave me alone!”

“But where’s Roger? Roger Rubbertree?”

“I have no idea,” shouted Philoneus. “Now, LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Fernando was sad. His friend, Roger, had disappeared and this plant was just plain mean. The open space was so big there was not another plant in sight, and the people couldn’t hear. Now who would he talk to?

Chapter 3 - Fernando Wants to Go Home

2003-12-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

"Roger, how do I get back home to the farm?" Fernando asked.

Roger sat back and thought for a minute. "If you came from the same kind of farm I did, you can't go back, Fernando."

"Why not?"

"Farms like that raise plants to bring to these places. I've talked to lots of plants like you and me, and none of us have ever been taken back home."

"Well," said Fernando, "we'll just see about that. I'll figure out a way to go home. It's too cold here."

Roger shook his leaves and said, "You'll get used to it, Fernando. We all do over time."

Fernando didn't say anymore to Roger about it, but he vowed to himself to find a way.

Chapter 2 - What Place is This?

2003-11-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

Psst! Fernando thought he heard something. Pssst!!!! There it was again!! "Hey you -- new boy." Fernando looked up and saw another plant all the way across the big space shaking its leaves.

"Hi," said Fernando. "What's your name?"

"I'm Roger Rubbertree," the plant said. "Been here a long time - maybe two or three years. I saw when they brought you in last night. You must have been in a pretty deep shock from being transplanted. I was wondering when you were going to start stretching your stems."

"Hi, Roger. My name is Fernando Ficus. Where am I?"

"Well," said Roger, "best as I can tell we're in a big office building where lots of people come and go every day."

"What's an office building?" Fernando asked.

"I don't rightly know, " said Roger, "but whatever it is people sure spend a lot of time here. They come in like crazy in the morning rushing through that thing they call a revolving door. Then they stick around until it starts to get dark and go back through that same revolving door."

"Why do they bring all that cold air in with them? What happened to the nice warm air I had on the farm?"

"Well, Fernando, I don't rightly know the answer to that either. What I do know is that sometimes they come in with layers of leaves on so you can't even see their noses and that's when the cold air comes in. Other times they come through the door with all their stems showing and that's when it's lots warmer air. It must just be time for the cold air now."

Chapter 1 - Fernando Wakes Up

2003-11-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

This is me...My Graduation picture

Fernando Ficus felt a draft. Where is that cold air coming from, he wondered. Fernando yawned and stretched. He had just settled back into his nap when -- there it was again! And this time he heard a noise - a whooshing sound with the air. Fernando opened his eyes and looked around. He blinked, shook his leaves and blinked again. "Where am I?", he asked, but no one answered. He looked around and saw he was in a very large open space. His roots were in a big pot with nice rich soil. There was a person sitting next to him at a long desk. "Hey mister," Fernando said, "where am I?" Maybe the man didn't have good hearing. "HEY MISTER," Fernando said a little louder, "Where am I?" But again, the man ignored him.

What place is this where people don't hear, Fernando wondered. Of course, what he didn't know is that the man could not understand Fernando's language. He thought rustling leaves meant air was blowing, not words.

Fernando now looked all over the big space. All he saw was very shiny floors. Lots of people kept coming into the big space through a big turning thing. But they just walked right past him! Couldn't they see he was trying to talk to them? Every time someone came in, he felt the cold air. So that's where it's coming from, he thought. Why is it so cold? It's so warm at the farm. Aren't I at the farm anymore? Where are all my friends? Where are my brothers? Fernando was very confused and started feeling sad.

2003-09-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

The culinary adventures of a farm tree in the city...