Say Hello to My Little Friends
And my precious basil.
Leaves of both plants have been included in many dishes I’ve cooked, and pandan is almost always included in our rice. Thankfully, they remain healthy and lush to this day.
They are given their daily dose of water and they live in the best part of my plant box. But I would like to believe that they remain of service to me because I also talk to them.
I can still remember how it all started. It was Christmas 2007. Both plants were still babies then and I felt it was too early for me to be snipping their leaves off. But none could be found in the supermarket and I really needed them.
I went home and hesitantly approached the plants. Then I felt that I should talk to them, tell them my dilemma - out loud.
It seemed so silly. I first heard about talking to plants from my grandmother, but I dismissed her lesson because I couldn’t find any logic. But I could almost hear my heart telling me that it was the right thing to do.
And so I did talk out loud. I said I didn’t like to use them so soon but I could think of no other substitute for the dishes I was preparing. As I began cutting, I apologized profusely and asked them not to die. I got all of their leaves, and I thanked them for their “sacrifice.”
They did not die, but more leaves replaced the ones I cut.
I think that’s really the way these plants grow - when you cut the leaves, more grow in its place.
But I’d like to believe they’re actually being nice to me because I treat them with love and respect. We’re friends, good friends.
noemi:
Your plants look so healthy! I am trying to be a green thumb and hoping my herbs grow!
noemis last blog post..Links for 2008-07-08 [del.icio.us]
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10 July 2008, 7:42 pmBambi:
it’s true, talking to plants really helps. if you can also play them some music, that will do the trick too (^_^)
Bambis last blog post..Shuffle
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10 July 2008, 7:59 pmfeng:
congrats to you Cess! aba, gifted ka talaga with a green thumb!
meron na akong basil na tanim, pero pandan, wala pa. give mo ko of a portion to plan ha, pag nag coffee session tayo. kelan pala? hehe
fengs last blog post..AT THESE TIMES WHEN OIL PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING HIGH: TIPS ON SAVING FUEL
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10 July 2008, 8:59 pmrHo:
aba… ang laki ng mga alaga mo te. alam mo, gustong-gusto ko rin yung pandan sa kanin kaya lang wala na nyan dito at sa pinas noon e nagpapakuha pa kami sa “tang-ob” (kung tawagin sa amin) para lang magkaron nyan. tinamad yatang magtanim ang nanay ko sa likod-bahay… hehehe!
rHos last blog post..Happy Birthday America
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10 July 2008, 10:51 pmtikey:
waaaaaaaaa ingget ako.. huhuh… ung aking tanim na lemon grass naiwan sa dating tirahan namin.. nung binalikan ko paso nalang.. wala na ung tanim… weeeee
tikeys last blog post..Isang bwan ang nakalipas
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11 July 2008, 6:48 amjho:
sabi nga nila diba, kahit yung mga flowering and fruit bearing plants dapat kinakausap… ang meron lang sa amin yung pandan. pero we rarely use it. Kapag may handaan lang sa bahay. minsan nga nakakalimutan pa.
jhos last blog post..Feeling
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11 July 2008, 10:35 amjulie:
Hay, lagi ko na lang sinasabi na magtatanim ako ng ganyan. I have inquired a stall in Megamall but i haven’t gotten anything yet. Galing naman!
julies last blog post..Litratong Pinoy: Balingkinitan
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11 July 2008, 11:33 amzherwin:
talking to plants has scientific basis, they thrive not only on water and sunshine but also on oxygen (or was that carbon dioxide, i am not sure, either of the two hehe) that we exhale plus the green thumb that cares for them.
zherwins last blog post..hostage
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11 July 2008, 2:15 pmEm Dy:
one thing I’m sure about, steamed rice tastes much better with pandan. As for basil, love it in pasta!
Em Dys last blog post..Tell Me and Win
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11 July 2008, 4:35 pmsunshine:
naks, ganda ng mga halaman mo ah. wala akong ka-talent-talent na ganyan. hehe.
sunshines last blog post..Blood Tests
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11 July 2008, 4:44 pmRach (Heart of Rachel):
You know my grandma used to tell me the same thing. She said talking to plants give them the inspiration to grow, bloom and thrive.
My MIL has been encouraging us to plant some pandan too but for some reason haven’t accomplished it yet. Jules also has a basil plant in our garden. He loves plating herbs because they are very useful ingredients in some dishes.
Rach (Heart of Rachel)s last blog post..Aloha Friday #34
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11 July 2008, 6:52 pmgreys:
dati naglalagay kmi ng pandan sa kanin, ngayun ndi na kc ala na makuha pandan sa kapitbahay hehehe.
cess yun pa rin ba ang cel number mo?
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13 July 2008, 1:04 pmchesca (exskindiver):
my sister talks to her plants too.
she has a beautiful garden.
i can’t bring myself to, and so well i do not have much of a green thumb.
funny how candid you are about sharing this habit that might be misconstrued as wacky.
well you can have the last laugh anyway with your healthy plants.
hi cess.
hope you and your kids are doing well.
how is the school year coming along?
i hope things are not as hectic since you are on your second month na.
sige,
chesca
chesca (exskindiver)s last blog post..<a href=”http://exskindiver.blogspot.com/2008/07/sneak-preview.html” rel=”nofollow”>Sneak Preview</
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13 July 2008, 1:41 pmSexy Mom:
i have also heard about that, and really–it is not silly. the other thing also is that i guess you have a green thumb.
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16 July 2008, 4:17 amWenchie:
Hi friend, inggit na naman ako sayo…we have so many plants here at home, pero walang pandan or basil or oregano…I better buy na lang then take care of them here. I also talk to our plants esp. the ones with flowers. Kaya di ka nag iisa, LOL…
Wenchies last blog post..Tagged: Kids Fave Stuffed Toys
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16 July 2008, 10:05 amauee:
I keep forgetting to “smuggle” pandan here. I love it on rice.
Inggit ako sa basil mo. I’ve not done any planting this year. First, because we barely had any summer & second because I’ve been too busy… I know excuses hehe
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25 July 2008, 10:22 pmSherra:
I’ve been wanting to do the same, but the type of soil in our backyard just doesn’t permit that (or maybe I simply don’t have the patience to tend it really well)… your post inspire me to try it out.
Sherras last blog post..Attending Preschool… How tough is it going to be?
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27 July 2008, 8:20 amcaryn:
wow, you’re such a greenthumb! i miss pandan! we don’t have it in tokyo; or if we do, i just don’t know what its called in japanese. hahaha!
dropping by from toni’s weekend soiree
have a great one!
caryns last blog post..archaeology and architecture
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9 August 2008, 11:11 pmoccupation: SAHM » Blog Archive » My Backyard:
[...] vegetables, on the other hand, make me feel like I’m their Mother Nature. I fuss over them, learned to talk to them, study articles on the net on how to propagate [...]
15 August 2008, 2:15 pmThe Filipino Mom Blog » Blog Archive » Fresh Food From Your Backyard:
[...] ever since I have read about Lady Cess’ tomato, pandan and basil plants I got inspired. I also saw photos of my brother-in-law’s garden in the US which has [...]
19 September 2008, 5:35 am