The first class of the first day of the first week in a new location. Two students and I were getting to know each other, when suddenly a knock on the door and a Haitian man in overalls with a watering can walked in, ready to meet the needs of the large sprawly plant growing in the corner. 'May I,' he asked, and I said sure, but I had a question.
How much water is enough, and how much is too much for houseplants? I told him I had used a new moisture meter on the tiny skyflower tree in my living room (the one with the flashing lights draped over it) and it had registered as beyond moist, actually wet.
My students and I was fascinated as, while he picked off yellow leaves, he spoke of roots and water and the proclivities of plants. 'They don't know how to stop drinking, if they are not water plants,' he said, so moist is just fine.
What does 'moist' mean, one student asked. 'If you can hold some soil in your hand and squeeze it and drops of water come out, it's wet,' came the answer. 'If you can hold it, squeeze it and make it a ball, then it's moist.' Finally, 'if you take some in your hand and it blows away, it's dry.'
'That's very clear,' my students agreed, 'We learned something'.
'That's why they call me the 'Plant Doctor,' he said as he walked away with a smile from our thank yous.
Learning a language is hard, and on the first day, it's easy to feel unconfident. The visit of the horticulturist taught my students something about their ability to understand interesting things presented in English. They knew they were off to a good start.
I understand that watering office plants is your job, but something routine can become special, an encounter, at any time. In those few moments, we all got something we could use from your expressive hands and accented voice. The moment was for watering our lesson as much as the bush in the corner. Thank you.
How much water is enough, and how much is too much for houseplants? I told him I had used a new moisture meter on the tiny skyflower tree in my living room (the one with the flashing lights draped over it) and it had registered as beyond moist, actually wet.
My students and I was fascinated as, while he picked off yellow leaves, he spoke of roots and water and the proclivities of plants. 'They don't know how to stop drinking, if they are not water plants,' he said, so moist is just fine.
What does 'moist' mean, one student asked. 'If you can hold some soil in your hand and squeeze it and drops of water come out, it's wet,' came the answer. 'If you can hold it, squeeze it and make it a ball, then it's moist.' Finally, 'if you take some in your hand and it blows away, it's dry.'
'That's very clear,' my students agreed, 'We learned something'.
'That's why they call me the 'Plant Doctor,' he said as he walked away with a smile from our thank yous.
Learning a language is hard, and on the first day, it's easy to feel unconfident. The visit of the horticulturist taught my students something about their ability to understand interesting things presented in English. They knew they were off to a good start.
I understand that watering office plants is your job, but something routine can become special, an encounter, at any time. In those few moments, we all got something we could use from your expressive hands and accented voice. The moment was for watering our lesson as much as the bush in the corner. Thank you.
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