Roots or Rapunzel?

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Roots or Rapunzel?

August 29, 2015 by spixl

One of the apartments in this higgledy piggledy complex is being readied for a new occupant. Opening the door to begin the job, Luci was greeted with an unexpected wall hanging.She ran upstairs, laughing and calling me to come down and see what she had discovered. Hmmm… Rapunzel’s tresses? If so, like everyone else suffering Oaxaca’s hard water, she needs to start using a good hair-conditioner.

Of course, closer inspection revealed it to be the roots of something. A tree, perhaps? But, there are no trees in the vicinity and, in reality, it seemed to be coming from my terrace. I dashed upstairs, as Luci came outside to stand and point to where the fibrous cascade seemed to be coming from. Yikes, on the west wall, the culprit was exposed; the roots of one of my pitahaya had grown into the concrete!!!

Alas, the pitahaya’s tenacity could not be allowed to continue; the garden shears came out and the problem was nipped at its root. The same was done below, leaving golden tresses lying on the ground waiting to be swept away.

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Science and Nature | Tagged cactus, Casita Colibrí, flora, garden, Hylocereus undatus, J.R.R. Tolkien quote, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Pitahaya, roots | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on August 29, 2015 at 3:29 pm | Reply Barry Sheppard

Pretty funny! Barry
- on September 1, 2015 at 10:28 am | Reply spixl
  
  I know! Though, glad it wasn’t my ceiling it broke through. 😉
on August 29, 2015 at 9:13 pm | Reply Yvonne

Wow, how determined was that plant to survive!
- on September 1, 2015 at 10:29 am | Reply spixl
  
  Very determined!!! I’m thinking, I need to keep a closer eye on its siblings. 😉
on August 29, 2015 at 11:32 pm | Reply jschubertdesigns

I wonder if you could have woven those roots into a basket?
- on September 1, 2015 at 10:31 am | Reply spixl
  
  Yes, I wondered, too. However, I found the root fibers easily break. ;-(
on August 30, 2015 at 3:42 am | Reply Bev in Connecticut

OMG that is incredible!!
Also very beautiful
I’m also thinking “basket material”
- on September 1, 2015 at 10:36 am | Reply spixl
  
  I’m never seen anything like it before and, once cut down, the roots were quite elegant glowing in the sun as they lay draped over a chair and spilling onto the patio.
on August 31, 2015 at 4:41 pm | Reply navasolanature

Incredible roots!
- on September 1, 2015 at 10:38 am | Reply spixl
  
  Yes they were! The the ceiling in the apartment below actually needs to be patched.
on September 2, 2015 at 6:41 pm | Reply Stages of life | View From Casita Colibrí

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on June 3, 2020 at 1:47 pm | Reply Busy bees | View From Casita Colibrí

[…] you also remember that a taproot grew into the wall and down into the apartment below? Alas, the result, in the fall of 2016, was having to cut down […]