Katie created this crazy tower of moss ball and various glass homes. Not much to say here, we love the look. You can keep the Moss Balls in any glass that is clear, they need the light. We have already replaced a couple of these sections because people are loving it, You?
We have a nice variety of fall annuals that have been arriving lately. You know those tired Cosmos and Sweet Potato Vines are begging to be taken out of your planters. These fall annuals are going to rock it nicely until we get into a few nights of continuous frost.
Also…. If you realize that your outdoor space has a empty hole in its heart, fill it. It’s a perfect time to plant a tree, shrub or small perennial. Here are some random looks at fall color in the yard. Not to mention, all Trees, shrubs, and perennials are 30% off. Get some!
CSH- Hello Captain, how are things with you today?
Captain Elastica- Pretty good, You would think i’m into all this rain outside today, but i’m not. It’s a cold kind of rain, and well.. I don’t really like the cold so much. What happened to September, went by so darn fast.
CSH- You have travelled pretty far to be with us here in Chicago, do you travel much?
Captain Elastica- I love Chicago! It’s so nice here, and your skyline is amazing. Not so sure about your sports teams though, but then again, I am a tree. I travel all over the world, if people are cool with providing me with the things I need to be happy, i’ll be happy anywhere. That said, I have no intention on ever visting the poles… like I said, not a big fan of the cold. I’m from North East India, also spent some time developing in Southern Indonesia, I like slightly tropical, makes me think of home.
CSH- What do you mean, if people provide what you need? I know you are a bit popular, but are you talking about a rider? like some kind of rock band or something?
Captain Elastica- I don’t think I like your tone, I was simply stating that I have certain needs. It’s not like i’m asking for specific type of rum (Ron Rico), or specific bedding (400 count egyptian cotton sheets please). All i’m saying is I need some things in order to survive.
CSH- alrighty then, so maybe explain what you need, I didn’t mean to upset you.
Captain Elastica- Bright light, humidity, and special attention to not let me drink to much.
CSH- Your are talking about rum right?
Captain Elastica- No… you really are a jerk, i’m talking about water. Nice clean water!
CSH- uhm… ok, sorry about that. Lets move forward, you are known as pretty hardy plant, would you consider this to be true?
Captain Elastica- You are damn right i’m hardy, I have a nice woody trunk, I have glossy thick leaves, and believe it or not, some of my relatives back home can get up to 130′, Uncle Joey was 200′ tall, no joke, we are pretty rad when it comes to getting nice and tall. When i”m cooling out in the parts of the world where I can not survive outdoors, which is pretty much anywhere where it may frost or even worse… snow and ice, I have to stay indoors. When I stay indoors, I pretty much will grow as tall as the sunlight levels well allow me. Some of my peeps are 6-8′ tall.
CSH- wow, that’s pretty cool. This might be touchy for you but I heard you are Asexual, is this true?
Captain Elastica- yes it’s true, though some of my relatives back home can only be pollinated by a specific fig wasp. I”m your common everyday tropical houseplant type of Ficus Elastica, so if you want to propagate me, it’s pretty easy. I”m not going to tell you how though.
CSH- why not?
Captain Elastica- Why should I explain anything that involves cutting me? You people are freakin’ crazy.
CSH- I completely understand that, how about another topic. Any new bands that you are into?
Captain Elastica- I have been really feeling Best Coast lately, that song Our Deal is very cool. Believe it or not, I listen to Black Sabbath every day, and my typical chillout music would be sweet soil music, oops I mean Soul Music, old school style though I don’t get this Drake fella, total cheese.
CSH- Nice, I’m surprised by this, I thought you would be into some pan flute type tunes or maybe some chill folk music.
Captain Elastica- You are a total tool, I have many styles, just like I sometimes have reddish leaves, variegated leaves, and green. You should stop putting folks into such small little boxes.
CSH- You are the most defensive plant I have ever interviewed, what’s up with that? Did something happen to you as a youth that you are not yet over?
Captain Elastica- yes… (sobbing softly into the mic) my relatives have been tapped. So many times…. They live in Africa and South America, they get slowly bled out so to speak. It sucks.
CSH- Are you talking about rubber? and how people harvest white latex from rubber trees? oh, is it ok that I called your people rubber trees? or do you prefer Ficus Elastica? That doesn’t hurt does it? the tapping of latex?
Captain Elastica- It’s alright to call us rubber trees, though we are not really rubber trees. Hevea Brasiliensis are true rubber trees, but you folks in the US have been getting us mixed up for years, we are use to it. They are cousins, they use to live on plantations, and they tell us it does hurt. This news alone is why I cry so easily.
CSH- There is some white milky substance on your leaf, are those your tears?
Captain Elastica- This interview is over, I know you all have been selling my relatives, even the little ones in 4″ pots…. don’t you feel bad about this? You should, they will grow with you for such a long time, they will provide you with oxygen and peace of mind. They clean toxins out of the air, I mean come on. I have to go now, getting on a 4pm flight at Midway, can you take me to the Orange Line stop at Clark and Lake?
CSH- No… The damen bus will get you to the blue line, then take that to Clark and Lake, have a nice trip Captain Fredrick Ficus Jonas Elastica, oh one last question if you don’t mind?
Captain Elastica- Sure, one more
CSH- What’s up with your name? You are a plant, you are actually are in a 10″ growers pot, how are you taking trips on airplanes and such? And Captain? Really? You were in some kind of military service or are you a crazy delusional plant that wants to win people over with a fancy name?
Captain Elastica- Ok Ok, the gig is up. I”m a plant, I don’t have a flight to catch, I don’t even know how I got from that spot in the western window at Sprout Home, I always wanted to be an airline pilot so I gave myself the nickname. I still think i’m pretty special, and well… people should know this.
CSH- Well Captain, you are special, you are an easy one to have around, and you last a long long time, not a finicky as some other plant friends of mine. Be well, and enjoy your trip, and by trip I only mean that i’m going to put your back in the window now.
We are very happy with the flow of this new space, we hope you like it as well. There may be a bug or two still to be worked out, please bear with us if you happen upon one. Feel free to contact either store via email or phone call if you have any questions for us during this time of transition. Welcome here.
