you look like you might cut me.... I find that attractive

Sansevieria Cylindrica, your so damn hot. I first saw you at a party down in Pilsen, you clearly stood out. There were so many out of place hipsters down there, the resentment of the people who have lived down there for years was evident, but you even charmed them. I still don't know how you got all those free tamales from that little store for free. I'm thinking your that charming. I know I would have given you anything you asked for, even though you don't need much. My friend Leo told me that you get by with the smallest amount of care, very little water, and very little light. Though at the party you told me you can grow faster in brighter light. Who doesn't want to grow faster? I love the fact that you can get up to 7' tall, I like a tall plant. But I realize that your height, much like our potential love, is a slow growth kind of thing. I would do anything to get into your life. I know you hang out at Sprout Home, I have seen you there a couple times since meeting you at the party, you don't seem to remember me though, at least you don't speak when I say hello. Who knows maybe you can't talk, being a plant and all. I hear that you have the potential to be shaped, even braided, that is crazy to me, I like the way you simply reach for the sky, it's so motivational to me. Leo also told me you have a drinking problem, and that is why you only drink like twice a month or so. Maybe you should just drink nice clean water, rye and plants seems a bit much. I hope you get this letter, i'm just going to send it to Sprout, since I see you through the window there so much, don't panic, I have to pass Sprout Home to get to the 66 bus, to get to my job.... i'm not a stalker. At least I hope you don't think so after reading this letter. I really think you would like it at my house, I have an end table that is just dying to meet you. And don't worry, I think your nick name African Spear is pretty cool. I mean you are from there. I think it's cool how you got your name, a competition in a Dutch newspaper in 1837. Weirdly cool.

self watering planters.... potted up for you to take home

We thought we would get the process going, you know... for those with plant watering issues. We know your out there, and we love you just the same. We want you to benefit from the goodness of plants, the air, the visual exploration, the removing of toxins from your air, and the wonder of watching something grow. The Maxi-Cube Planters by Lechuza are one of the more effective self watering systems out there. Wick Wick Wick, this is the trick. Come pick one out, already potted up for you.

September Terrarium Class Wednesday Sept 22 6pm

Our next class will be Wednesday September, at 6pm. We'll demonstrate the steps for building an open terrarium, including planting mediums, plants that work together, and maintenance. Participants can bring their own container and purchase the materials (rocks, charcoal, soil, and plants) for a fee or they may purchase a container at the store. If you bring your own container, make sure the opening is wide enough to fit your hand into. Material charges are based on the size of container and plant pricing (estimated charges are $35 - $75). RSVP to info@sprouthome.com space is limited. We had a great time at the last one, check out blogspot to see some great pictures of attendees and their terrariums. The below August class filled up, jump on Septembers class.

Wait... Time Out!

Time out...

They wrote a pretty useful article. check it out here if you like. Were big fans of Time Out, and happy to be a part of this happening.

Spider Plant. Baby I think your special.

Chlorophytum comosum Vittatum, yeah... I know your name. You wrote it down on a napkin at Perogi Fest last weekend, but that number you gave me seems busy all the time. My roomie thinks your just trying to blow me off. Could be. But here is deal, your so special to me, there are so many things I love about you. OK, love is a Strong word, so... like. Yeah, so many things I like about you. Your looks are amazing, you seem to flow out of the top of the planter with such grace and style. And the way you make little babies all the time. Some guys might find that to be a bit much, but I like it. New life if great, and besides, I can give your little ones away to my friends. If that is cool with you. A friend told me, that all I have to do is wait for your little ones to get a few inches long, and to snip them off, set them in water (root knob down) and within a week or so, there will be roots. Then I can just plant your little babies in potting mix, and bam, new plant. But like I said, only if it's cool with you. You look real nice with them flowing off of your main body as well. Your coloration is pretty. Nice and light looking. you even come with stripes, it's like your a race car or something. Your so rugged to, you take abuse well. Nothing mean, just an occasional lack of water. I will do my best to keep you watered about every 5-7 days, I know that depends on where we decide your going to live. Another thing that is amazing about you is your rate production of oxygen, your always in the top 5 for air producing, and air cleaning. And believe me, my air can be pretty toxic from time to time. I'm thinking your going to hang, is that cool? If you want, I could just pot you low, and you can rock it floor plant style. Either way works for me. I just like how low maintenance you are, this is my main reason to love you. So many people diss you, call you a weed, or typical. To that I say, they are so wrong, they just can't see what I see in you. Your the tops. Full sun, to bright indirect light is all you need, some water from time to time, and well... this can be our dream together. Not like that stupid movie inception. Yeah, I don't even mind that your part of the Lilly Family, that doesn't bother me a bit. Being from South and West Africa is cool, adds character for sure. I know about you being sensitive to fluoride, we can work past that. There is one thing that kind of sucks about you. You became the craze during the Victorian period, LAME!

Next Terrarium Class, Wednesday August 18th, come grow.

Our next class will be Wednesday August 18th, at 6pm. We'll demonstrate the steps for building an open terrarium, including planting mediums, plants that work together, and maintenance. Participants can bring their own container and purchase the materials (rocks, charcoal, soil, and plants) for a fee or they may purchase a container at the store. If you bring your own container, make sure the opening is wide enough to fit your hand into. Material charges are based on the size of container and plant pricing (estimated charges are $35 - $75). RSVP to info@sprouthome.com space is limited. We had a great time at the last one, check out blogspot to see some great pictures of attendees and their terrariums.

CRIBS, the bird edition.

I first met Jacob the Violet Green Swallow on Mud Bay Road in Olympia Washington in the Spring of 1994, Jacob was just starting out with his band, Skinny Jean Killer, (little did we both know back then, that making fun of hipsters was going to be the thing to do in 2010) Jacob was always ahead of the game, sick tabla player as well. We met at Star Lounge cafe yesterday for a follow up interview, though we kind of got stuck on the topic of his two new homes. Here is part of the interview.

Sprout Home Chicago: So Jacob, 6 world tours, 2 stints in rehab, and 4 drummers later, Skinny Jean Killer is still rocking. What brings you to Chicago?

Jacob: Pitchdork

SHC: wow! you guys are doing really, that festival is one of the most progressive indie minded events of the summer here.

Jacob: yeah, it was ok... lots of skinny jeans, so that was kind of awkward for us, being called Skinny Jean Killer and all. We got some flack yelled at us as we were taking the stage.

SHC: Flack, like what?

Jacob: Oh, well this one chick wearing purple high wasted 90's cut shorts and big dumb goonies perscription glasses, yelled out "whats with the name? are you dissing us?"

SHC: Were you?

Jacob: Well, yes. Of course, but we still need these people to support us, you know how the music biz is, luckily we rocked their worlds and I don't think people really thought about us being called Skinny Jean Killer after our first song "I don't care, because it's cool not to care" kicked in.

SHC: Wait, what! Is that song title also a diss to hipsters? That seems kind of messed up, I mean, your already barely getting away with this with your name, and then this song... man that must really make people upset.

Jacob: No no one really ever seems upset, we play dance rock, and that is what is hot right now, you don't really even have to be good these days, I mean half of our songs are 80's covers, we just change the lyrics and flip the beat a little bit. We have songs that if you listen closely, sound like Duran Duran, Gang Of Four, The Cure, Kajagoogoo. It's really funny.

SHC: That is funny, uhm... where do you live these days?

Jacob: I have two homes, they rock. I got them at Sprout Home. I have one that keep in Mansfield Illinois, and the other I have hanging up in Edenbourough PA. I have the log there.

SHC: What is so great about your homes?

Jacob: What is with all questions dude? One is classic A Frame, and the other is shaped like a log, they both have great openings, just big enough for my kind, but not for the annoying Blue Jays, they have fat butts and won't fit. Which works for me and my family, they totally suck! But the Beatles song Blue Jay Way is really great. My houses also have air vents, and a great little secret opening at the bottom for when we need to clean up. I like the words that are printed on the houses also, though I can't read, being a bird and all...

SHC: You know Jacob, your kinda weird. This interview is over, but thanks for the photos of your homes, we will for sure use them in the article.

Jacob: Well your a jerk and i'm outta here.

Jacob left and went to feed, where he ordered chicken. We here at Sprout Home find Jacobs the Violet Green Swallows choice of dish to be very disturbing.