What Did The Grape Say When It Was Stepped On? Nothing It Just Let Out A Little Whine!!
Exciting week with the successful launch of the Artemis 2 space capsule. I hope that the trip is successful and they return home safe. I hope as well that this will not be a venture of greed or malice and that all people will benefit. I am also glad that the second pilot was rescued from Iran. After what Trump has pulled over there I’m glad that he is not in their hands. It will be interesting to see what happened this last Tuesday in Iran, as it is only Monday morning at this point we’ll find out what Trump does. I am so pleased at the coverage of this fiasco has so many people including Republicans dissing their leader for lying to Americans and the rest of the world as to what is really going on with this war.
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter long weekend and had a joyous time with family and friends. The followings information is a result of a fascinating fact that I came across recently and it motivated me to find other weird facts about the plants we grow and love.
Did you know that Peppers (the large Bell type) some have 3 lobes some have 4? Somehow it was suggested that the 3 lobe Peppers are male and are be suited for cooking and that the 4 lobe peppers are female and are best for eating raw as they are more tender and sweeter. This is true to an extent however there is no gender difference in a pepper however the proof is in the taste.
Did you know that plants sense and respond to touch? Electrical signals and Calcium waves caused by touching a plant can cause the closing of leaves, the release of nutrients or a slowing in growth. Plants however do not feel pain.
Did you know that plants have a biologic memory? This allows the storage of past environmental stimuli allowing them, over time, adapt to cold, drought and light changes. It also allows them to boost their immune systems against diseases and other pests.
Did you know that Belladonna (Beautiful Lady) was the poison of choice throughout history? The plants that are related to this deadly night shade plant include Tomatoes, Potatoes and Egg Plant. Now with these plants the fruit is not deadly but the leaves, stems and roots can cause one to become quite ill. They contain a neurotoxin called Solanine. Tomatoes actually were thought to be poisonous and many people did die because of the acids in the Tomato when served on Pewter plates used by the upper class people of England. They reacted with the pewter leaching lead from them which of course over time was deadly.
Did you know that Parasitic Plans survive by stealing nutrients and water from their host plants? Mistletoe ( the kissing plant) is a parasitic plant that is part of this category of around 4,000 plants and there a few different types of Mistletoe. Some are spread by bird activity but one has a seed that when ripe explodes and replants itself at speeds up to 90 kilometres per hour.
There are many more plant anomalies and if you have some to share I would love to hear from you.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
