Global Indifference

"That scary ass drive from the airport to a Jamaican resort. You see some of the worst  poverty in your life. Then you get to the resort and you say, 'Jamaica's nice!' ... They give you one Pina Colada and you forgive [ignore] the worst poverty you have ever seen... That baby wasn't really dead was he? I can't wait to jet-ski !"  

~ Chris Rock

The first time my daughter visited her mom's home country - small island in the Philippines - she was surprised at the poverty and child beggars all over the place. Homeless orphans as young as 3 and 4 years of age. 

Additionally, what caught her attention was the indifference her mom, cousins, aunt's and uncles displayed towards these unfortunate children. That's because they were raised in that environment and have become immune to the despair and hopelessness of toddlers and preschool-age children.

It's baffling to the article writer how the majority of people on this planet can look the other way. That's just the way it is in this selfie - narcissistic - generation of the 21st Century. What's really sad is that things were much worse when one considers events like Chattel Slavery, the Holocaust, WW1, WW2, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

My Houseplants

Cycad plants are hardy, evergreen gymnosperms (cone-bearing plants) that grow in sand or hard rock. Cycads are dioecious plants; there are separate male and female plants. The female plant produces seeds, and the male plant produces cones filled with pollen.

The most popular cycad is the sago palm. They are slow growing and have a long life. They usually grow to 3 to 5 feet (91 cm-1-1/2 m.) in height, although they can sometimes reach 10 feet (3 m.)in height. Species of Cycad Cycads have been referred to as “living fossils” because they existed before the dinosaurs. Cycads are often confused with palms in appearance, but they are not related, as the cycad does not produce flowers or fruit. However, the cycad is closely related to the pine tree.

Ficus Lyrata - Fiddle Leaf Fig Spider Plant (Chlorophytu Comosum)

Jade Plant - Crassula ovata

Lemon Lime Dracaena - According to NASA, Dracaenas are effective air purifiers. They've been found to remove volatile organic compounds from the air, increasing the surrounding air quality as well as your productivity and health.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), the neanthe bella palm or parlour palm, is a species of small palm tree native to the rainforests in Southern Mexico and Guatemala. The parlor palm is one of the most heavily sold houseplant palms in the world.

Peperomia is in the succulent family

Philodendron Domesticum, also called spadeleaf philodendron or burgundy philodendron, is a plant in the genus Philodendron. Its arrow-shaped glossy leaves grow to be 22 inches long and 9 inches wide when mature.

Philodendron Heartleaf

Philodendron Selloum (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum), also called a lacy tree philodendron or horsehead philodendron. This plant is native to South America but can also be seen growing on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. When grown as an indoor plant, the easy-care, self-heading philodendron selloum takes up a lot of space, often spreading out 5ft. or more with 2ft.-3ft. leaves. The dark green, shiny leaves are quite large and deeply lobed. A philodendron selloum does grow a trunk as it matures, however, the leaves do a very good job of hiding it. A Philodendron selloum is a very poisonous plant and should be kept way from small children and pets.

Ponytail Palm (base holds water)

Sago Palm - (Cycas revoluta) is a popular houseplant known for its feathery foliage and ease of care. This plant is actually considered a cycad, one of the oldest groups of plants dating back to prehistoric times — hence the plant’s hardiness.

Sansevieria Snake Plant

Sansevieria Starfish Snake Plant

Schefflera arboricola (Umbrella Plant)

Zigzag Cactus - The Zigzag cactus or fishbone cactus, Epiphyllum anguliger, now more correctly Disocactus anguliger, has been around for years.

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae), also known as crane flowers, is one of the most beautiful of all exotic flowers. This native of South Africa derives its name from the unusual flowers, which resemble brightly colored birds in flight.

The leaves of a bird of paradise plant are bluish-green with a red midrib. This thick, evergreen foliage resembles small banana leaves, attached to a long stalk. In contrast to the banana, however, bird of paradise plants are trunkless.

Emerging from the green and pink boat-shaped bracts in spring is the long-stemmed bird of paradise flower. The bird of paradise flower has petals of brilliant orange set off by its intense blue arrow-shaped tongue. The blooming will continue in a succession over some time. In fact, when grown in greenhouse-like conditions, bird of paradise plants may even bloom year-round.

Source: Heather Rhoades, gardeningknowhow.com

To flower, the bird of paradise needs sufficient light; at least four to six hours of full sun (or bright light indoors) in order to bloom successfully. Keep evenly moist throughout summer but allow to dry out between watering.

Fertilize the B.O.D during their active growth at least every couple of weeks with a general purpose water-soluble fertilizer (Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food).

Another factor to look for when there are no flowers on bird of paradise is the planting condition. Container grown plants will bloom more profusely if kept slightly pot bound. Repotting too often can inhibit the flowering of bird of paradise blooms for up to two years. Instead, you should simply topdress the plant with fresh potting soil in spring.

They also require shallow planting in well-draining soil. In fact, roots near the top of the soil may actually help to encourage blooming.