Cyclamen persicum
On my first visit to Phyllis' enviably gorgeous apartment in Manhattan, I spotted this plant on the kitchen counter wilting and almost out of life. I must've sported my "St. Bernard's sad eyes" look that she asked if I want to adopt her plant. She was about to discard it. Sitting in it's original green plastic florist pot, this corky tuber which still seemed to be capable of being revived, found its new home at my place. I don't mind that my neighbors unload their dying plants at my front door, so why should I turn this one down?
I repotted the root and took care of it indoors occasionally moving it from room to room in order for it to get some sun. I followed its growth from day one and took pictures as it evolved into a lush plant with deep magenta flowers. It was a crash course on cyclamen propagation; much of the tips I got from the Cyclamen Society website. Isn't it a luxury that we have all that information at our fingertips nowadays? And isn't it cool that there exists a Society for almost anything?
Of particular interest was the way the petals reflex back from the center as the flower approaches the final stage of full bloom, likened to a graceful layback spin by fi
gure skater Michelle Kwan. The blooming process would be interesting to catch with time-lapse photography. For one season, Phyllis' plant provided such a radiant touch to my place especially during the holidays. During its second season it didn't bear any flowers, so I decided to plant it directly on the ground. For a while I thought I killed the poor plant but it turned out it was just laying dormant in the summer time.
gure skater Michelle Kwan. The blooming process would be interesting to catch with time-lapse photography. For one season, Phyllis' plant provided such a radiant touch to my place especially during the holidays. During its second season it didn't bear any flowers, so I decided to plant it directly on the ground. For a while I thought I killed the poor plant but it turned out it was just laying dormant in the summer time. Last month when we met with Phyllis and Chantal, they asked me about the cyclamen and I sadly admitted of it's death. Then one day after my Fall cleanup in the garden my mother announced that she saw some new growth in the garden. Two little pink buds were peeking out of the stiff frozen soil. She knew I'd get a high out of this one.
Mother was on target! Voila. It was the cyclamen roused from it's beauty sleep. I rushed to the garage, reached for a pot and some soil and brought this plant back indoors. If this sounds like it was such a big production, it may have been and I expect only an avid gardener to understand. We were so thrilled.
Awakened from its beauty nap, the cyclamen warms up the house on cold wintry days. Thanks, Phyllis. It is a sweet reminder of our friendship.
