Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we give our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems.)
Charlie Brown sits to my right in my home office. His Lisa Frank-inspired appearance is a bit deceiving, as he doesn’t look cheerful. He’s tangled on one side and balding on the other. It’s time for him to meet the clippers.
Speedy and Bonnie are having a prolific summer. Bonnie has found a sunny spot in the living room and is growing by the minute, while Speedy is chilling with the cool kids. Despite an accidental fall he sustained during the spring, Speedy is recovering remarkably. They’ve been making babies like crazy.
For a “parent” like me, taking care of these three and their dozens of siblings is a full-time job. In case you bypassed this article’s headline, I’m writing about my plants. Luckily, there’s a place that makes being a plant parent easier.
The in Five Points has a plant propagation library in the lobby, where people from the community can donate clippings and cuttings, water and propagation setups, while others can take them home to nurture in their own homes, and possibly donate their own clippings down the road.
Charlie, my indoor , looks better when it meets the shears. Clipping it makes for a bushy appearance, covering up its bald spot. Speedy and Bonnie, my green and , respectively, are shooting out little spiderettes and flowers. Bonnie has produced nearly 20 babies alone.
In July, my , Caraval, had a repotting mishap in which its roots snapped off the vine. The devastating loss made for multiple cuttings and a mission to start over.
But not all was lost. I placed the clippings and spiderettes in plastic cups or glass containers with water and sometimes plant enzymes to sprout roots. Then I loaded them into a recycled box and transported them to Blair-Caldwell.
I found out about the propagation library through and a from January. Spearheaded by center employee Kaye Johnson, the library has been growing as more visitors have donated planty friends and can take them home to keep. So far, I have donated 30 clippings this year, with more to come. Besides spider plants, Swedish ivy and philodendrons, I’ve added and even a branch. I also have parts of a large succulent collection I wish to add.
Donations are not required to take home a plant from the library. If you want a green friend without shelling out big bucks, you can select a plant among those available for free. I picked up a wishlist plant, in June.
As the propagation library has grown, so has the community surrounding it. Last month, Blair-Caldwell hosted a plant swap featuring a Q&A session. The library is also accepting glass donations to contain water clippings. Grab mason and pasta sauce jars and old vessels to house plants.
The propagation library is available during regular Blair-Caldwell hours. When bringing donations or selecting a plant, visit the front desk first for assistance.
