Come on, Come on, Kalanchoe

Meet kalanchoe (pronounced kal-un-KOH-ee). Until just now--when I checked the online dictionary and clicked the speaker button so I could hear a woman pronounce the word, I said KALANCHA. So now I know. Anyway, it's perky and cheery, and I was craving beauty and color today. You can keep it outdoors or in--just give it shelter in the house before the first frost. Kalanchoe tales:

• When Figgy was born 25 years ago this August 24, my brother Will and Kelly, who live in Manhattan, came to the NYC hospital with a large pink kalanchoe plant--pink since we had a girl. I kept it blooming for a while (much to Will's amazement), but then it was spent.
• At the end of July, when Moey and I went to Spring Lake for one overnight, I finally checked out the pocket-sized Flowers by Colleen on the town's main shopping street and got us each a pink kalanchoe. I put mine in a pretty pink and yellow cachepot in the kitchen--the plant is a reminder of my first trip to stay by the rolling sea since last summer, before COVID-19.. A reminder of adventures, ocean air, packing a suitcase--and friendship.
• Today I popped into an enchanted Montclair shop--Moss & More. Figgy, Punch and I all adore this carefully edited plant lover's paradise. Amy, the owner, doesn't carry many flowering plants, but I found a sunny yellow kalanchoe (technically, a succulent) for about $7 and. planted it in a beautiful terracotta planter from her selection. I also had my bottle refilled with teatree all-purpose household cleaning spray. Best of all, since I was walking home more than 30 minutes with groceries etc., Amy offered to drop it all on my doorstep. Lovely. Tomorrow, I'm putting this beauty outside. 

I must update $pending soon. Good night, flowers, and friends.