Jojo would like a pogo stick. The twins could use hiking boots. The youngest boy needs some dirt. Dirt?! “I’m serious about the dirt. They have used all of ours”. This was confirmation that I had gotten the message straight. My daughter was telling me that for Christmas her youngest son would like some “dirt”. I felt quite certain that the boy would have a textbook case of Third Child Syndrome. A mother knows her children. As I thought about this blessed little brother,I remembered a photo that I had taken of him. He had a hat on his head. It was a hat I had just placed on him a few minutes before. An Iowa State Cyclones cap sat on top of that little head, and he could not have cared less. He was just looking at me with a wonderfully placid expression, pleasant and unruffled. That is his personality, quiet and peaceful, undemanding and always immersed in his own “thing”. “He’s going to get dirt!” There are some plants that I greatly enjoy whose attributes are similar to my grandson’s. “Third Children” who live on my windowsill, quietly adding their charm to my life. These are not things that would be described by most as being “pretty”‘. These, however, can certainly be described as being beautiful. The character, personality, humor and humility of these fellows who share my home do much more than to just decorate my space. These plants were among the first ones that spoke to me many years ago when, as a teen, I was introduced to that noble beauty that our photosynthesizing friends possess. What was it about these humble plants that could grab the attention of an easily distracted and vulgar teenage boy? I have to admit to being intrigued by their design. The sculptural qualities of both of these creations was, and continues to be, fascinating in its ingenuity. It is a very good thing when true genius is brought to our attention. And it is an even better thing when we get to live in the company of such ingenious creations, only to discover that there is more to them than meets the eye. I am grateful for those people and things that have taught me lessons which are truly important. There are people whose lives have shown me the gracious way to go about. There are also examples in nature that can teach some of the same lessons. In the same way that living around a virtuous person can ennoble us, living with admirable plants should make us better. We like them, we admire them, they forgive our mistakes and inattention, they give more than they take. I hope you agree that these friends of mine could also be at home on your own windowsill. Lithops­”Living Stones”. Lithops is a name from Ancient Greek meaning, literally, “Stone face”.

These little succulents are native to South Africa, where they live in dry,rocky areas. In a neat deception called “mimicry” they avoid being eaten by moisture and food­-craving “varmints” by blending in among the stones where they live. As you can see from the photos, these little plants are pretty convincing in their masquerade. The top of each Lithops is actually it’s two leaves,with a thin fissure running between them. It is through this fissure that their flower emerges. That’s right. A flower bud squeezes up through the narrow opening and opens to reveal a daisy-­like flower. This is one of the most delightful miracles in all creation, and it will catch you by surprise when it happens on your windowsill. Growing these little treasures requires only the ability to leave them alone. A window facing south is ideal, in my case. Try whichever aspect gives you a few hours of bright light. They develop their best color in stronger light. Water when they begin to wrinkle. Yep, leave them alone until they wrinkle a little bit. They won’t cry out in distress or drop leaves to tell the world that you are a bad parent, they will quietly wait on your largess. And please water them by placing them in a small bowl of water, like you would an African violet. Maybe an hour in this foot-bath and then take them out. They will be re-hydrated by the next morning and ready to be left alone again. While you are busy keeping your hands off of your Lithops please take time to admire their quiet beauty. The markings on these little treasures are often intricate and unique. There are something like 40 species of Lithops and many forms among the species have been selected. You will become familiar with these forms as you become an avid, or addicted, collector of these desert­-dwellers. To acquire your Lithops, the internet will provide many sources. I have swerved into some among the cacti and succulents at the big­box stores on occasion. My favorite species is Lithops Dorothea, but there are many that I find beautiful and interesting. I have gathered a nice collection of maybe 75 plants who all live in front of a single window, and I hope that you will enjoy your Lithops as much as I enjoy mine. By the way, I like to pot them in terracotta. Pony Tail Palm “Beaucarnea recurvata”. A little golf ball of a plant with a comical green ponytail shooting straight up from its head. This wonderfully stylized “palm” is not actually a palm, but we will leave that to the taxonomists. What it IS is an undemanding and obliging character who will add its friendly charm to most any room. Slowly increasing in size and gradually elongating upwards it will be a long term companion. I have grown these plants in clay pots and plastic pots. I have placed them in sunny southern windows and not­-so-­sunny eastern windows, they just don’t care, I have left them on the front porch and then forgotten they were there. Like the best kind of friend, when I found them again they were just as I had left them, no foul had been committed, in their opinion. I am not an indolent gardener, just an occasionally distracted one. The ponytails get their drink when it is a peaceful moment. Their bulbous trunk stores water, and when it gets I little soft I get the watering can. What is it that makes my Lithops and Ponytails helpful to me? They remind me frequently about one of life’s greatest lessons; “It’s not about YOU”. Their deferential nature and low-maintenance character quietly preach this lesson.