The Ming Aralia that Got Away

     As a college student it is only right that I have a summer job. You know, one of those jobs you take to fill in the beautifully, long, hot period between semesters? Being the type who shies away from any food service job (other than my on campus one), the only choice was retail. Well, not the only choice, but it was the right choice for me. Having come out of a briefly awful period of being employed with a clothing store, I knew the clothing retail venue was out. Somehow I happened upon a want ad for a local nursery, and eventually became a plant person.

My garden! Now with real plants!

     My start at this nursery was in the retail area that contained home decor and gifts. It wasn't long until they realized they had a few too many people, and I was transferred into a greenhouse. This greenhouse held the house plants, the huge planters, decorative garden stuff, and the chemicals (such as fungicides, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.). Knowing next to nothing about plants, there was plenty of room for plant knowledge up in the old noodle.
     The co-workers I joined were nothing short of pure patience as I stumbled around trying to figure out what the hell kind of fungicide is the best fungicide, and what exactly is a tree scale? All these and more were explained to me, but it took me awhile before I could supply a customer with a ready answer and not desperately look to my co-workers for help. While bouncing around from section to section, trying to figure out what exactly I would be interested in, I saw them. In all their glory sitting there like a green beacon. Beautiful and breathtaking, the houseplants. Don't get me wrong, I am madly in love with the tiny little accessories for Fairy Gardens, but damn if those houseplants didn't steal my heart.

Ming Aralia, you stole my heart

     With a sort of frenzied look in my eye I began to madly Google anything I could about the houseplants we had. One of my ever patient co-workers was well versed in the house plant world and we often exchange notes on each of the plants. What really cinched my entry into the houseplant world, was a plant called the Ming Aralia. It was a hot day (like every single damn day in a greenhouse, honestly, I don't need a gym membership I have my own sauna, thank you!) and this lady came in to return a sickly looking plant. I took one look at the plant and contemplated telling her we don't take back dead plants, but it had some hope of survival left in it. I looked closely at the plant and noticed how terribly dry the soil was, so I gave it a good drink and then found out what I could about this mysterious Ming Aralia. Turns out it likes the sun, and it likes to be watered. Go figure, a plant that likes sun and water! After a few days the plant not only turned back into a beautiful feathery green, it began to flourish! I would lovely pat the plant when I walked by and look at its interesting little trunk. I loved this plant, but it was slightly out of my price range.

Frank!

     The weeks went by and I never had enough money to purchase my plant, I went on vacation and when I came back I looked all over for it. I knew deep down that it had already been purchased, and my co-worker confirmed this when she came in. She told me how she tried to dissuade the customer from buying the plant, telling him it was temperamental and KERSTI (emphasis NOT exaggerated), took really good care of it. And KERSTI was the one who was able to fix it. The customer was not to be turned away from this gorgeous plant, and I mourned the loss. Knowing that each plant is special in its own way I decided to turn my affection toward succulents. Easy to care for, and funky looking as all get out. Now in my window I have a very resilient aloe vera named Maria, a string of pearls plant named Sophia, and a schefflera I'm doing my best to turn into a bonsai. His name is Frank, in honor of Ben Franklin. While my Ming Aralia escaped me, I have many marvelous plants to fill my window sill and patio. But you can bet your Aunt Fanny's TV tray that next time we get a Ming Aralia I will be forgoing groceries that week in order to buy it!

Sophia on the left, Maria is on the right