The Story of George
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
February 13, 2013 11:02am CST
I miss George. I left him and his nameless friend behind when I moved to Northern California from Southern California. I didn't want to leave George, but I just couldn't bring him.
I first met George at Weyerhaeuser Mortgage Company. He lived in the cubicle of Linda, who had just been promoted to Assistant Manager.
George wasn't some creepy guy, he was a ficus tree. And when Linda got laid off, I ended up moving George into my cubicle. And he followed me around the company, from the 9th floor to the 11th floor, to the 10th floor, and to the 12th floor.
Why George? I don't know. One of the managers asked me, and I told him all houseplants were George unless they had flowers. "What are they then," he asked, "Petunia?" I just laughed.
The company had a vendor that took care of the plants, until sometime after Weyerhaeuser sold the mortgage company to a holding company, and they decided they could save money by not paying the plant company any more.
So there was a memo that went out saying that employees were responsible for taking care of the plants, that they could take them home if they wanted to, and that any plants that were being neglected would be removed.
So I took care of George, and even recruited people to take care of him when I was on leave. When I left the company, I asked if I could take him with me. My boss was fine with that, so we loaded him into my van, and he came home with me.
He was in a fairly tiny pot for a tree, so I moved him into a half barrel with lots of new soil, and he lived on my porch. For a while, he even had a hummingbird nest, and we watched the babies grow until they were gone. We even got him a friend, another ficus with solid green leaves (George's were kind of mottled).
And then we decided to move north. We couldn't move north right away, as our house wasn't ready, but our other house had to be sold. Stupid builders wouldn't let us buy with a contingency, so we had to sell our house early, and move into an apartment. Much of our stuff went into storage, and the rest went with us into the apartment.
George and his friend were left behind. Just no room to take them. I hope they are OK, and the new owners are being nice to them. Last time we visted they were.
Hm, maybe I'll get myself a nice ficus tree for my porch in honor of George...
2 people like this
15 responses
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Yep, you need 'George II'. Although, for the life of me, I don't know why you would want a ficus tree.
I had one for at least 10 years. This thing got moved several times to several different homes. Every summer, I'd put it outside and bring it in when the weather began to get cool. When that happened, my ficus would drop almost all of it's leaves. Oh, it would grow new ones but it looked so ugly until that happened. I also went through several bouts of spider mites with this plant. It had gotten so big that I needed help (of the male persuasion... for the bigger muscles, of course) bringing that tree into our shower to kill all the spider mites at one time. (Showers are awesome for removing those tiny bugs.) It got so bad that I finally had the tree taken outside and didn't bring it back in when it turned cold. I felt guilty for a little while (killing a plant is almost as bad as turning my back on a family member) but I got over it, especially when I first realized that I didn't have to baby that massive plant anymore. lol DUSTING it was a ROYAL pain in the butt!
Now, before you think my problems have ended with the murder of my ficus (it never did get a name), I had taken several cuttings from it and successfully rooted them. They are happily thriving among some of my other plants inside and have yet (knock on wood) to have a bout with spider mites. I plan to "braid" these cuttings so they will grow together eventually and create a very beautiful (in my opinion) "trunk".
It sounds like you had a much easier time with George than I did with my tree so I think you really need to get a George Junior. 
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
16 Feb 13
I feel your pain about the palm. I have a definite black thumb regarding palms of any kind. I have yet to be able to keep one alive for long. Maybe, in a milder climate...
You know, the idjit I live with thought my ficus was fake. I had that for the first six years of our marriage and he had seen me watering it many, many times, yet he told me that he thought it was fake all this time. I couldn't resist the sarcastic comeback, of course. "Yeah, I water ALL my fake plants." 
Definitely keep your ficus inside if you do get one. If I end up keeping the cuttings I have growing, I won't be moving them outside when it's warm out. I've learned my lesson.
Definitely keep your ficus inside if you do get one. If I end up keeping the cuttings I have growing, I won't be moving them outside when it's warm out. I've learned my lesson.
@GardenGerty (160477)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I think you would probably enjoy that a lot, and it truly would be a sign that you were "putting down roots"
Yes, I said that on purpose. I think you have had a good history with Mr. Ficus Benjamina, and it would be good to have a new one or two.
Yes, I said that on purpose. I think you have had a good history with Mr. Ficus Benjamina, and it would be good to have a new one or two.2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
I think it would have to be an indoor tree though.
The first time I read a post regarding plants who has name.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I got myself a lilac bush many homes ago.. and when we moved into a trailer we gave the bush to my in-laws. Now that I live in the in-laws home I have no idea where that lilac bush is. They have a couple of them on the property (or.. WE do now).. but these seem so much older, like they've been here forever. I don't know what happened to mine.
At first I thought you were talking about a ghost. When I was little we had a ghost that lived with us named George. I think he followed me around my whole life.. though he doesn't make appearances too often anymore.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
I don't know when I started calling my plants George, but it was long before I took custody of the ficus.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
15 Feb 13
This reminds me of the plants here at work. The guy I replaced was into plants. So, he had some vines crawling down on cabinets (pots placed on top), and some other greens on the reception table, etc.
Before the other guy left, I was already hired months ahead, so we overlapped. He specifically told me, half-jokingly, that part of my responsibilities was to take care of the plants.
Unfortunately, I'm forgetful. So, the vines I see directly in front of me has a lot of brown in them. I think the owner of the company water the plants, but I think she too sometimes forget.
What does this have to do with George? Nothing really. I just hope that George is being taken cared of much better than the ones we have here at work.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
Perhaps you should have sent the plants off with him...
@lisacope (82)
•
13 Feb 13
I think we can upload photos on this site, can't we? You should share a photo of George! ;) .... it sounds like you really loved your plant. It's nice when we can get attached to things like that, I think. I hope the new owners are looking after him and treating him well! I agree you should get a new ficus tree, I'm sure it'd really brighten up your porch.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
George2 would have to be an indoor tree, I think.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
16 Feb 13
I once had a George. He grew to be taller than I. He lived on the back porch, but was moved inside when a freeze was predicted. One night, he didn't get moved inside, and he froze. Don't know if we forgot him, or if the weather man was wrong in his prediction. That was quite a few years ago.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I think you should only get a new ficus if you can put it inside. Ficus is not a good cold weather tree. In fact moving the previous tree as much as you did, you were very lucky to keep it alive. I had a beauty but every time I moved it, loss of leaves was a big problem. I finally gave it to someone with a very large home
and a place where it could stay permently. Good Luck.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
yeah, I doubt a ficus would do well outside here in the winter....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
15 Feb 13
I really thought that this was going to be the story of a person, but how wrong I was. I think that it is great that you nurtured George and his unnamed friend for as long as you did and through everything that you went through with moving around your place of employment before eventually bringing him home.
For me, I've never really had a plant that I've really been attached to. I believe that the reason that this is the case for me is because of the fact that I've really never had luck with nurturing a plant. I believe I've got a black thumb.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
Certain types of plants and I do not get along, but the ficus did OK. I really loved my Madagascar palm too, but stupid me left it outside up here and the winter killed it. I still have a pony tail palm, a cactus, a spider plant and a Christmas cactus from back then, oh also one of those purple Hawaiian plants. They are all doing quite well.
@vandana7 (100112)
• India
13 Feb 13
Ah ficus is it? lol
Seriously...it is a pretty thing to let go of...and I completely understand your position.
My computer has a name too...it is chi choo and the pet name versions are chinchu, choochi...chim chim...and such things..it has one too many pet names..:)
Now you know why it is so loyal to me since last 10 to 12 years. :) And I too cant live without it..:)
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 13
Awww what a sweet story Dawn and I reckon you should get yourself a ficus tree for the porch too.
I think I've actually killed off one of my indoor plants. It's the Dragon Tree in the kitchen. Because the long fronds on it were getting in the way of my sink I decided to cut them - a bit - but once it started growing again the fronds didn't go all pointy at the ends...so I chopped the thing right down to the bark..and it looks a right mess.
I can't see it growing back anytime soon and it's my own fault for cutting it when there was no need. If I'd left it it would've grown UPWARDS like Mum's so it wouldn't have got in my way anyway.
I think I might buy another plant over weekend..any excuse!
I think I've actually killed off one of my indoor plants. It's the Dragon Tree in the kitchen. Because the long fronds on it were getting in the way of my sink I decided to cut them - a bit - but once it started growing again the fronds didn't go all pointy at the ends...so I chopped the thing right down to the bark..and it looks a right mess.
I can't see it growing back anytime soon and it's my own fault for cutting it when there was no need. If I'd left it it would've grown UPWARDS like Mum's so it wouldn't have got in my way anyway.
I think I might buy another plant over weekend..any excuse!1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
Might be a little too cold here at night in the winter to have an outdoor ficus...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Feb 13
Are you living a long way away from where you used to live?
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Mar 13
Maybe when the kids are gone and there's less to do around the house. :)
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
No, no, no, the girls are not Jane... (sigh)
@WildHorses (718)
• United States
16 Feb 13
hahaha... I'm rolling in laughter.. sorry, but I couldn't help it. I didn't know whether that was right or wrong
@BarBaraPrz (47087)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Feb 13
George must have been a real trooper... most ficus trees don't like being disturbed, i.e., moved around. I had one in Vancouver that somebody had thrown out. It was around "moving day" and I guess it didn't like the move, so it did what most ficus trees do in that situation: dropped its leaves. So it was tossed. But, see, I knew that about them, so I took it home and it grew new leaves and was lovely again. I sold it when I moved from Van. to Ontario. Don't know how it's doing all these many years later.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
He did get kind of scruffy looking, but then he got better.
