---
title: "Thursday’s Show n Grow n Tell: This amazing beauty started when I…"
description: "Thursday’s Show n Grow n Tell: This amazing beauty started when I found a piece of this purple plant laying on a side walk in the shopping/business district of…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/OlSeW7UYSUWAjHlcxGdIQw/MQDbs9YKJix0XUJwDlYbWp"
community: "Show your plants"
author: "John G Amero"
published: "2026-09-03T13:45:46.899455Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/6gxEM_j_mJgdysj-2z4vmXECXcvvzQ8T9LpBISEIrd4/vg_tgd1ARI-Pzmop0fufEA.webp?size=large"
---

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# Thursday’s Show n Grow n Tell: This amazing beauty started when I…

_Posted by John G Amero on 2026-09-03_

Thursday’s Show n Grow n Tell:

This amazing beauty started when I found a piece of this purple plant laying on a side walk in the shopping/business district of Center City Philadelphia.

The mother plant was in a large planter pot that an old church has on the side of their building. An alley road side.

As I was walking to work last year I walked by the church and planter. The night before a city squirrel, other rodent, someone accidentally, or someone in the throws of a mental episode, snapped off a piece of the mother plant and left it laying on the sidewalk. And it had been walked on and looked bleak.

I picked it up. When I got to the restaurant where I worked I put it in a glass of water. After my shift was over I clocked out and took my shoot with me. That was August 2025.

The shoot remained in a large glass of water all winter on my eastern facing kitchen window ledge, and it remained in the water until June of 2026.

In June I dug a hole in an old pot that held bearded irises. Without thinking about dirt or old rhizomes from the irises I just put the shoot into the pot and said “Much luck to you. I can’t help you any longer.”

The little shoot must have heard me because it thanked me for everything by busting out this beautiful purple display. A display that almost looks like there are purple winged birds just flying in and out of the bearded irises tall green leaves.

I will miss this plant when I’m forced to move. A woman across the street from me purchased the pot and plant for $20.00. On her side of the street it now gets even more amazing morning sun so she should see some amazing bearded irises next spring too.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/6gxEM_j_mJgdysj-2z4vmXECXcvvzQ8T9LpBISEIrd4/vg_tgd1ARI-Pzmop0fufEA.webp?size=large)

## 3 comments

### John G Amero commented on 2026-09-03

The next year generation of I make it to 2027 and find a place to live.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/6gxEM_j_mJgdysj-2z4vmXECXcvvzQ8T9LpBISEIrd4/dD0TKDU3QMON3b7X1AXtmA.webp?size=large)

### Green thumb novice commented on 2026-09-03

What a wonderful story of rescue, recovery, and the will to live. And what a beauty! Thank you for sharing

### 70fahrenheit commented on 2026-09-03

Beautiful arrangement

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