LOL. Well, I'm not quite that bad.

Hi
have one of those gigantic type pitcher plants in a pot hanging in a carambola tree that I swear says "FEED ME" every time I pass. lol. Since it is so alien looking I suspect it doesn't speak english. gary

I usually hear the birds yelling to me "Where's the seeds"? - the squirrels clean out the feeders so fast. I used to try and foil the squirrels, but now I guess I feed them too.

That pitcher sounds AWESOME! and I can just see it looking at you. lol BTW - what do you feed them? That plant is on my 'want' list.

Ginny

I heard my mother, grandmother and aunts talk to their plants so it always seemed like the most natural thing to do. It wasn't until I was tending the garden in my first house and had a neighbor laugh about it that I realized not everyone carries on conversations with their plants! LOL

Kate

Are you saying some people DON'T talk to their plants (--bugs, weeds,trees, etc )? How strange!

How else would my thirsty plants know that its going to rain that afternoon and they just need to hold out a little longer?

It's not a daily thing. It's more like a "LOOK! You bloomed!" sort of thing.
HOWEVER, I do talk to every living thing from bugs and lizards to birds and butterflies. Like greenacrcesgirl said, how else would that bitty frog know to jump out before I plant in that pot?

Ginny, I think it's only natural also! Mostly, I find myself praying in the garden, as it's exhilirating to me to be outside with nature, and I am always grateful to have such an appreciation for all things living. However, I also find myself chatting mostly with birds, squirrels (XY@#!*&!), snakes, bugs, etc.

I have a red-bellied woodpecker that recently moved into the screech owl box that was vacated not long ago. I was told by the man at the bird seed store that it would not happen because the dimensions of the box and the hole were wrong, but noone told this guy. He loves his box, pecks on the metal to announce his territory, and is very vocal. Whenever I'm near my greenhouse he carries on a dialogue with me and watches me carefully.

Anna

I'm not sure about talking to them but I do touch them alot. Always touching the leaves and flowers. :)
Cliff

Heck, Ginny, are you just getting around to talking to your plants? I've been talking to mine and anything else that is around for years, including myself. It is great therapy!

They say talking to plants makes them grow faster, and I've found it's very true of weeds. Especially key phrases like "holy cr*p, it's hot out here", or "how the h*ll did Roundup not even phase you?" or "maybe I'll get around to weeding next weekend.."
Best fertilizer ever!

Of course, doesn't everyone??? And the birds and lizzards and the black racers. The green lizzards I let live on the lanai, but the others I try to get out. But I can't repeat the words I have for the lubbers!!!!

Well, I guess I knew the answer to my question before I posted it. I just never realized I was talking out loud until recently. I agree it is definitely a form of therapy - we can talk all we want and no one to disagree. Would say it beats a therapist bill, but that may not be true as I am always looking for a new plant to talk to. lol.

Now out to see if I can get my fountain to work. Don't think I'm going to be talking nice if it doesn't.

Happy Independence Day everyone!!

Ginny

ginibee
The pitcher that yells at me is a Nepenthes miranda.One of the largest of these type carnivorous plants. The pitchers can be 5x12 inches !! While I had a small picher one for many years have only had this one going on two years. They are very sensitive to both hard water and fertilizer so don't fertilize and avoid tap water. be sure to get a "lowland" type as the high altitudes can't take the florida heat.
It started flowering about a month ago with the worlds ugliest flowers and they smell like rotted flesh lol. Also had trouble with it growing in peat/perlite mix .Doing much better in long fibered sphagnum..Do not let it dry out though.
In spite of being large enough to eat small children it does not eat all the bugs . lol. I wanted to keep it with the orchids to make a dent on the white flies but it can't hack tap water. So is in a hanging basket in a carambola tree . Haven't figured out how to grow it attractively as it vines in a straight line. It will root when snipped but not nearly as easily as the small pitcher types.
It is a really weird looking plant!!! gary

Gary, I have my pitcher plant about two years now. I have a rain barrel and water my plants with that water. (the orchids do much better too) I love it because I have it on the lanai and it gets the little bugs that get in though the screen and fly in your face when you are trying to eat. I have to water it every other day.

LW, I swear I go outside and the birds are all around hollering and I see the feeder is empty. I just know they are talking back. So I say ok, I'm sorry, I'll get the seed right now!!

lol...Occasionally. Sometimes I just think out loud too, such as "where do these darn weeds keep coming from?", "I hate these air potatoes", or "stupid Brazilian Pepper sprouts"... Funny question - thanks for the good laugh!

Absolutely, every single day.

Ginny, I live in Brevard also. I have tried so hard to protect the birdfeeder when I fill it with seed and here come the squirrels. I play tag with them until they wear me down. I had an empty garden soil bag handy and wrapped the feeder and tied it off with an elastic tie. My intent was to protect the seed until the birds would be the most active. It actually worked. I only have a small feeder because it's pointless to fill a large one when the squirrels seem to be the beneficiaries. I have decided beginning this morning to give the squirrels their own little cup and placed it on my privacy fence away from the feeder. This kept them busy long enough for my cardinal mates to get their breakfast. Yay.

I've been gardening ever since I was about 8 years old. I'm almost certain I used to speak to plants back then. Speaking to them probably insures that you give them your full attention and learn how to read them.