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A few weeks ago I bought a gorgeous little sunflower to put on the terrace of my treehouse. I called her Sally -- don't ask me why -- and I loved seeing her sunny little face every morning. And then a couple of weeks ago the strata council in our building decided to have the decks power washed. Of course, in their usual wisdom, the council decided to have the decks power washed in the middle of high summer, just as everyone's terraces were fully landscaped, everything was in bloom, folks were using their barbeques, patio tables, Adirondack chairs...*sigh*
I think Sally became traumatized by the power washer, and ever since then she has kept her face hidden. I talk to her every day, and I water her, and I tell her everything is going to be all right, but her face remains hidden. She was fully closed a couple of days ago, and last night I said to her, "Won't you let me see your face?" and slowly a few spikey petals opened shortly afterwards.Okay, I'm really starting to sound looney tunes now, aren't I? The thing is, does anyone know how I can revive Sally the Sunflower? Or is she lost forever?
The good news is, I now have a spanking clean deck, but most of my plants didn't survive.
Sally looks very sad, doesn't she...?
13 comments:
Oh what a shame, Jo, and you're right - she is a very beautiful flower. Unfortunately, I'm no horticulturist, all my previous gardening attempts have ended in disaster, so I don't know a solution. But I hope you find one soon :)
Those council folks sound about as intelligent as the folks around here who gave us notice about the empty flower pots we had out at the beginning of April - the whole concept of growing things is apparently lost on them.
I'm afraid I don't have any tips regarding Sally, but I say keep talking to her. It seems to be working. Years ago I recall reading an interesting book that suggested that plants might be smarter than we give them credit for. It was full of all sorts of fascinating facts and I think it was called The Dreams of Dragons, or something to that effect.
Sunflowers face the sun which is why they're called sunflowers. Put a grow-lamp in front of Sally, if she's still got any 'blooming power' left in her after that soaking, she'll respond to that. Diane
She is sympathizing with your sense of violation...coax her back by coaxing yourself back to innocent Summer joys, Sis Jo
Warm Aloha from Waikiki :)
Comfort Spiral
Maybe she was close to the other plants you lost and she's grieving.
Other than that, I've got nothin' but
I hope Sally recovers soon.
Margaret
You should have called her Solly. Of course, "el sol" would make her a boy. I think you're doing all you can, and it sounds as if she is gradually regaining her trust. Unfortunately, she doesn't know that you were not responsible for the brutalizing. (I guess I sound loony, too, huh?)
I don't have any advice about the flower, but about the council people I can just say "Bloody fools!"
Wow--your condo board sounds like mine...
How sweet that she opened her face for you, and, interestingly, there is scientific evidence that plants respond to humans. And I don't just mean my daughter's 5th grade science fair project. ;-)
The cure? Same as for us all, yes? Time, love, and care ...
Jennifer
I wish I had someone to power wash my patio! LOL!
Poor Sally. She may recover.
I remember reading that plants not only respond to your words, but also your thoughts. Now I think I'll have to find all that and write a post about it, thanks, Jo! And Sally is definitely traumatized. Maybe if you played her some New Age healing music? Something really pleasant? And no I am NOT crazy: it works!
i feel so sorry for her. She looks so depressed t ome. i read that music can have a great impact on plant's mood, try playing her something cheerful
Give Sally another few days. Make sure the soil is not drenched and that she is staked properly. And, no joking, talk to her - plants love the carbon dioxide - they also prefer classical music over rock - now who's sounding Looney Tunes? ;-D
I hope she is looking better now. Happy in Nev. gave great advice! I might add to try some plant food, any kind will do. I prefer the kind you add to your water as opposed to any granules or other types of fertilizers.
Our fresh sunflowers at the flower shop arrive most of the time in the closed state like in your photo, but they do open after re-cutting and placed in water with flower preservative added--not that this helps you with your LIVE plant LOL.
We use them in all stages of bloom and they are still gorgeous in my opinion. I hope you can keep the plant alive, because it may have off shoots where other blooms will soon appear.
I tend to take sunflowers for granted, because they grow everywhere here on the prairie without any care! A seed blown from a bird feeder can result in the most beautiful sunflowers in the strangest places!
If she doesn't perk up, try growing some from seed! They grow really fast.
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