Random Ramblings

Random Ramblings: Personal observations on a wide variety of subjects. Photographs of creatures and things that are taken on seeing the unusual as well as everyday things.

Bamboo

I have always loved bamboo. As a plant is it very under valued and never used to its full potential. It can be used in building, fence making, gardening, eating … the list is almost endless. Currently it it being trialled for use in the construction of computers as it is a fully bio-degradable material. I hope that we see more and more of it being used as an obvious choice to help save our planet.

I have, so far, purchased two bamboo plants only one of which has survived and thrived. I was naive when making both of these purchases. One was just tagged as ‘Dwarf Bamboo’ the other as ‘Black Bamboo.’ I have since learned that there are many, many different varieties – some are dwarf versions whilst others tower the heights and may even be classified as ‘tree height.’

The ones that I most love perhaps are those that are pictured with Giant Pandas – these vegetarian bears that appear to lie on their backs whilst munching bamboo shoots with their front paws are perhaps the reason why I noticed bamboo as a plant in the first place. Then I tried some bamboo shoots in a stir fry … so that was why the pandas enjoyed it so much!

Given the right conditions it grows swiftly and spreads quickly … so why aren’t we growing it to eat? Why aren’t we using more of it?

This is a picture of mine. It is a slow growing dwarf variety that has been in the same spot in my garden for eight years. Did I buy the right kind? Well the truth is I would have preferred the taller version that was fast spreading – but I had to make a compromise and this variety is more suited to ordinary gardens. If I had introduced the one that I really wanted then I would have had to dig up at least fifty percent of it every other year and I would have felt guilty unless I could have passed on the discarded clumps to fellow gardeners. That probably would have been most unlikely … hence the compromise.

Bamboo1

22 comments:

HEALTH NUT WANNABEE MOM said...

I love how Bamboo looks but never thought of its other purposes but now I do. I did get your comment so thanks for letting me know.

iceah said...

i am also fascinated with this grass c:

Duni said...

i love bamboo too. I'm always amazed how bamboo plants seem to survive almost any weather. They do need a lot of space, though.
Yours looks lovely!

Unknown said...

Hello...
Bamboo is a new baby for me also. I have planted the tree type approx. 6 months ago and am still amazed at how quickly it has grown. It is probably 15 feet high right now and the shoots that come up are very thick.
The other one that I have planted looks like the one you have in your photo and it is a very slow mover. It is definitely more shrub like and much finer leaves.

I was surprised to see your post as it is something that I myself am enjoying!
Have a very positive day!
~D~

Anonymous said...

Bamboo is gorgeous. But not only that, it makes great clothing. I have a "skin" undershirt made out of bamboo that I absolutely adore.

Matt said...

Polly, I totally agree! There are many uses for bamboo that we could be utilizing, and I'm not sure why we aren't. It could have something to do with the climate or the market for bamboo, I'm not sure, but I wish we would grow more of it.

Great post. You are such the environmentalist! ☺

Anonymous said...

We have a lot of that back here. My mom loves to cook bamboo shoots with coconut milk, it's yummy. :)

The hand is a lot better now, thanks to the aloe vera. *wink* No more throbbing.

*hugs*

Anonymous said...

Great ideas.... I hadn't heard of its possible use in computers but that would be exceptional if it works. Bamboo is a very strong material, as well, and like hemp, it has many uses apparently that are undervalued. It would be interesting to look at the numbers in the bamboo trade, or to open up one's own bamboo garden specializing in the plant.

Jane Doe said...

I love Bamboo too, I think it's beautiful and it brings luck but I've never been able to keep it alive when I've bought one. I've never eaten it though, I'll have to try that.

Anonymous said...

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Cheers!

Anonymous said...

My home have full of bamboo articles. It always gives me pleasure and comfort. Yeah! God gifted such type of thing to us.

Twerlyn said...

I'm inloved with dwarf bamboo and dwarf palm tree : these two plants I want to plant in our backyard someday. =)

Anonymous said...

I love bamboo too.you can see a picture of bamboo in my blog.
http://myhandycam.blogspot.com/2008/09/when-bamboo-flowers.html

Grace said...

I like baby bamboo, they are great for handcraft making. :)
By the way, you got a nice blog in here. :)

Jackie said...

Hi Polly,
I have returned to haunt you. I simply couldn't stay away. I missed everyone too much.

I love bamboo also. although I have never tried eating it. This is something I will definitely have to try.

My husband wanted to plant bamboo around our pond. It was a grand idea. But, oh my it would spread like wild fire and then we too would simply be digging it up or eventually getting rid of it.

Our climate here is perfect for the growth of bamboo. But, now that you have mentioned this dwarf bamboo perhaps we can check into that as an option.

I have a vase now with two huge tall bamboo shoots in it. Of course, for good luck, as the old saying goes, you should always have bamboo in threes.

But, sadly one stem died and now the other two are not looking healthy either. I am not exactly sure why or what is happening to them. The conditions have remained the same but now they are not doing well.

I wonder if I took them out of the vase, and gave the vase a good cleaning if they might do a little better.

I have no clue why I have not thought to do that before. But, I am going to make it a point now and see if it helps.

I have missed you and everyone very much. I hope you are doing well and having fantastic New year!
Jackie:-)

Cromely said...

I love the sound of the breeze blowing through bamboo plants. I have a few on my deck in containers. I'm hoping they grow to 4-6' They're looking pretty bare now, but I'm optimistic that most of them will come back in the Spring time.

The other one, well, I'm not so sure...

Leon1234 said...

Hey, how are you doing? Hope all is well.

Marjie said...

for something so thin, you'd be surprised on how strong a bamboo is. it bows in the wind, but it never bends to break. fascinating indeed =)

cheers

admin said...

I have always been afraid to buy a bamboo plant. I feel like I would kill it. I do have bamboo cooking utensils though. I absolutely love them. I got my first set about 10 years ago and I have never bought anything else since. They are much better than wooden spoons and scrapers.

Jo Hoffacker said...

I love bamboo fabric!

Duni said...

Hi!
thank you for being one of my top droppers in January. I have passed along a bunch of awards to you. Please visit my blog and feel free to pick the one you like!

Happy Sunday!

Duni

Lainy said...

There are too many bamboos here in the Philippines, Polly. It's a necessity especially for impoverished Filipinos who can not afford to build a concrete house. They make do with bamboos...