by Lynn Hudson. December 1998
What is the phenomenon of allure and captivation bromeliads exert over people?
They are prickly and scratch. More often than not they are full or extremely smelly water, which will inevitably spill or splash on the person who is trying to tidy them up!
How do normal people suddenly get the “brom-bug” after taking just one plant home? How do they suppose they will be satisfied with just one when there are hundreds of the scratchy little devils waiting to take over their gardens, homes and lives? Why do they change from brown eyed normal people to green eyed droolers when faced with a plant they have never seen before, and that ‘I have to have it’ monster takes charge of their sanity and pocket?
I have heard them say they are not interested in Tillandsias, then lo and behold at the next meeting, they have purchased six or more – “just for contrast, aren’t they great?”. Next chance they get, they are buying more! No one can stay with just one genera, each is too beautiful, too alluring.
Why is there such a strong friendship link between collectors? A group of such persons, so utterly different, each attend their monthly club meetings, get to know other enthusiasts from all around the world through club affiliations, attend the biennial conference like it is a religion - yes to learn, but just as much to rekindle friendships formed over the years.
It is quite mind - boggling. They have Round Robin discussions on the Internet, they spend hours and years hybridizing and studying these plants then very carefully report their successes and failures to other enthusiasts. They even publicly argue over the names and cultivation of these plants - yet stay good friends. They go on collecting trips to both fascinating and dangerous places and report back to avid envious friends and anyone else who will listen. They use up years preparing books to share these wonderful plants - books with magnificent photographs. Then to share them further, many more hours are forgone translating these magnificent books into other languages.
If only we could harness this enthusiastic friendship. What a difference we could make in this world.
But back to the plants and their allure. Is it borne of the sun shining through a beautiful purple neoregelia or spotted billbergia? Is it the sudden appearance of a flower spike followed by the majestic blooming? Is it the beautiful colours that touch and gladden our very core? Is it the way the little devils multiply so we can have more - some to keep, some to give away, some to sell and finally some to mulch under the lawn mower when they threaten to be really feral? Is it the same for other plant enthusiasts eg. rose lovers?
Maybe it is the fauna they attract - the scurrying lizard or the smiling sleeping vivid green frog, the noisy leatherhead or silvereye bird stealing Tillandsia usneoides for his nest, or the stupid dove which puts down a few twigs and lays her eggs amidst them.
I do not know exactly what the allure is. Maybe it is just the whole fascinating gamut of the bromeliad family and the bromeliad enthusiast family. But be warned, the bug will get you - once you take one home, they are addictive.
One thing I do know - the allure is certainly not the fiendish scratchy prickles! Be warned, you too can become bewitched, bothered and bewildered by bromeliads and yes, scratched.