Shlocky Talk

Recently I saw a television commercial for a tomato tree. It supposedly grows eight to ten feet tall in ninety days. Producing what appeared to be a bushel of grapefruit sized tomatoes each day. Wanting to know more about this botanical superhero I took to the Internet. What I found was telling in both what was written and was not written.

What I found was simply the same shlocky talk from the television spot. That and numerous complaints from purchasers of this product State side. Most of the complaints addressed the misleading language describing what you actually get for your fifteen dollar purchase price.

The commercial states you will receive three plants when in fact buyers received three seeds...ouch. What I couldn't find was any botanical or historical information on this plant...hmmm.

I've got an inkling this marketing campaign rides the leading edge of a particular temperate zone's planting season. Especially since the complaints are now piling up from the U.S.A. just south of us here in Canada.

Now to be fair I've not read any complaints about the actual growth claims. It doesn't mean there aren't any it just means I haven't read any. You'll have to decide for yourself.

Less Than Perfect

We're fortunate in that we live close to working farms with access to fresh produce at different times of the year but I've been anxious to grow some of our own. Nothing elaborate just peas, peppers and tomatoes. And I plan to do it all in containers and probably on the deck.

I've also gotten into the habit of bulk buying Nasturtium and Morning Glory seeds each year around this time. While the Nasturtiums are edible (flower and leaf) the Morning Glory is great for quickly adding a riot of color to that area of the garden with a less than perfect view. My preference is for the Heavenly Blue. And both plants do very well in poor soil.

Today's pic is a cross section slice of Mushroom Jasper.

Plant Or Silver

I was given a gift recently. A gift bag of seeds to plant in my own garden. They came from the Honesty plant or Silver Dollars. The botanical name being Lunaria.

The gift giver noticed I had admired her arrangements and she happened to grow some of the flowers including the Honesty plant for her own bouquets and center pieces.

I think there is a great deal of symbolism in seeds. Even more so when it's given as a gift. But then again...I probably think too much.

Here's a pic of the seed pods from the Honesty plant.