Trying to rid myself of the RNC’s frenetic vibes this week, I turned my attention to doing something productive.
I researched COLEUS.
I wanted to find out the names of the three varieties that are growing profusely in pots on our deck.
At the beginning of the summer I planted six different types of coleus in pots, but three died within weeks of planting. So I thought that next year I’d plant more of the ones that grew, if I could figure out/remember the name of each type.
But, of course, in the process of my research I found more information about coleus than I’d anticipated. Coleus has a long history.
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For instance, did you know:
- that in the scientific community coleus is called PLECTRANTHUS SCUTELLARIOIDES?
- that at one point coleus was referred to as PAINTED NETTLES?
- that some sources say coleus has A CONNECTION TO ARTHURIAN LEGEND?
- that coleus was cultivated by the Mazatecs of Mexico as A HALLUCINOGENIC PLANT?
- that during England’s Victorian period coleus was planted to create what was known as A CARPET GARDEN?
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But my research, inspired by a desire to rise above politics, ended when I discovered the most ridiculously depressing fact about coleus. You see, in the language of flowers coleus means: “How dare you address me that way?!”
That is, the plant means ARROGANCE.
And it was upon learning this that I found myself circling back to my thoughts about the Tangerine Tornado + the Nattering Nabobs of Negativity. I couldn’t believe that I was researching a plant whose meaning embodied all that The Donald represents, when my goal was to avoid thinking or hearing on the news about his nonsense.
Yet here I was doing something good, trying to make the world a better place through learning, only to find myself tripped up by arrogance.
Now how defeating, and oddly metaphorical, is that?
THE SPECTACLED BEAN 