Rescue from the Road

This plant in a crack kept me up one night. The next morning, I set out with a plastic spoon to find and rescue it.


It seem to be a metaphor for life’s struggles. It has struggled to survive in a terrible set of circumstances. Then one day a tire smashes it flat.

In need of rescue.


It was a terrible truism that I could remedy. So I did. This tiny Donkeytail Spurge will be pampered from now on.

I do what I can to bring justice to this world.

7 thoughts on “Rescue from the Road

  1. That is a lovely rescue. Because this Donkeytail Spurge survived in a road crack, the gentlest pampering is probably to reproduce those dry, bright conditions rather than give it rich soil and frequent drinks.

    If the spoon brought up an intact root ball, keep that soil attached and set it at the same depth in a small pot with a drainage hole. Add a gritty, fast-draining mix around it; a large pot or moisture-retentive compost would stay wet longer than those roots expect. If roots were torn, let them dry for two or three days before watering. Then water thoroughly and wait until the mix has dried through before repeating.

    For the first week, protect it from hard midday sun, then move it gradually toward its previous light. Skip fertilizer until you see firm new growth. Flattened stems may not stand again, so judge recovery by a stable center and new shoots, not the old damage.

    One safety note: spurge sap can irritate skin and eyes, so gloves are sensible. I work on KnowYourPlant; our repotting guide covers drainage, root handling, pot sizing, and aftercare: https://knowyourplant.app/blog/posts/how-to-repot-plants/

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