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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Bean Stalk

Jack is almost there...
...at least past the top of the fence.
He better prepare to hide the scent of that English blood.

This was but a few weeks ago:
It's grown a foot in two weeks!

And this is how it began,
a gift from our friend "L.L.":
And it was loved,
And it grew...

Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum
I hope your weekend is Fum!
(Yeah, that's a stretch; nevertheless the good wishes are still there. :-) )

25 comments:

  1. Goodness Jack's beanstalk has serious competition here! Do I read correctly from the label that it's a castor bean plant? From which you can extract castor oil? How exciting! I use castor oil to make soap but it's not that easy to obtain here. Love the Fee Fi Fo Fum name! E x

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    1. Yes a castor bean plant, but I do not know if oil can be extracted. The friend who gifted us with this bean plant tells us that it is poisonous and controversial. Hmmmm...I might need to check that out. :-) I wonder if that is why it is difficult to obtain in your parts?

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  2. How fun is that, watch out for Jack he is going to show up any day to climb up to the clouds.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Oh my - it very well could - this thing grows before your very eyes!

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  3. That is amazing from that little plant. You have looked after it well. Thanks for always stopping by my blog Jo xx

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    1. It really is quite a perplexing plant. Thanks for stopping by Jo. You and those kiddos sure look like you have been having some fun!

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  4. Boy that has sure grown and so healthy, Jack would be happy ☺

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    1. Oh yes, along as he's wary of that giant. ;-)

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  5. It's gorgeous - I think Jack's beanstalk was definitely a castor bean plant!

    But it is poisonous - the beans contain a toxin called ricin (but this is not present in the oil), and the plant itself is said to be an irritant. I read somewhere that farm workers are sometimes harmed when working with the plants - don't know if it's true but that's probably where the controversy comes in.

    In one of Agatha Christie's novels the murderer uses a castor bean plant to synthesize ricin for poisoning his/her victim. (Can't remember which book but it was a Hercule Poirot mystery.)

    Despite the controversy I do like castor oil - we use it as part of our oil cleansing regime, and it's also a terrific emollient.

    Enjoy your beautiful plant, but don't eat any of the beans! Apparently just 4 or 5 of them can kill you. :/

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    1. Oooo good info, Sue - an interesting plant, indeed, right up there with the white oleander. :-)

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  6. Wow, that is amazing how much if grew,,,, what a great thumb you have A good weekend and thanks for visiting my dear!

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    1. Green thumb...that's funny, if my thumb is green, it is likely mold haha.

      Thanks for stopping by Taci.

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  7. Astri how fabulous is that, that is one wonderful plant, well done Astri. A great post as always, love the photographs. Thanks so much
    Lots of love
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxx

    crochetknittingsewing.blogspot.com

    Dorothy's Room

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    1. Thank you Dorothy. I love it when you stop by!

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  8. Jack and the Beanstalk! That was one of my children's favourite stories!! The bit I liked the best was when the Harp was being stolen by Jack and it cried out in a high-pitched voice: "Master, master, I'm being stolen"! Give me a good children's story any day!

    I like Mrs. Micawber's interesting information - especially about one of the Agatha Christie novels!

    What a fun story surrounding your galloping growth plant!

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    1. Hello Sandra - I forgot about the harp and I love that quote. I am going to read the story again...it's been years. :-)

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  9. Wow, how much he grew!! Really beautiful. You must have a green thumb! That's what we say in German when someone has a knack for plants :-)

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    1. Haha, green thumb I have not - we use the same phrase here, but generally not when referring to me. Hubby's thumb is greener, mine is likely brown or maybe even black. I think I was just lucky with this one. It also received extra TLC since it was a gift from our dear friends.

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  10. Crikey - he's a big 'un - although I'll be very disappointed if there isn't a castle at the top! Have a great week x Jane

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    1. Oh man, I hope there's a castle up there, even a litte one...I could go up there and nap, sip coffee, crochet...repeat. No one would find me.

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  11. Gracias Astri ♥ vos sabes que yo tengo esta planta que también la hice de una semilla pero es color rojo en sus frutos y las hojas también es bellisima besitos.

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  12. In Indonesia we used to process the seeds become castor oil. We use castor oil as a lubricant or to firing lantern (oil lamp). Have a nice day

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  13. Tu as de l'engrais formé que d'amour c'est pour cela que cet arbrisseau a si bien poussé ;-)

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    1. Yes, the love fertilizer...and some regular fertilizer too. ;-)

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