In early October at the annual plant exhibition and sale at the Giardino Orticiltura, I purchased a bunch of ranunculus and anemone bulbs or seeds. https://getbacklauretta.com/2026/10/03/the-annual-fall-plant-and-flower-sale-florence/

Being me, I didn’t wait, but planted them in soil in pots on my terrace soon after, though I knew it was too early by about a month.

A it turned out I am glad I took the initiative and planted them, because laid up as I have been with my left arm in a cast from my hand to mt elbow, the 2 little pots have given me something to gaze upon and cheer for!

Look at what they have become over the past 3 weeks! If this isn’t encouraging, I don’t know what is! The view above is how I see the pot of new growth from my living room or bedroom windows. So cheerful!

Below is a close-up. Clearly, based on leaf shape, I have 2 types of plants growing here!

But I started wondering: will this lovely cheerful growth mean the plantts will bloom in this fall, ahead of schedule, or will they know to hold back and bloom next spring.

I know a lot of plant lovers and gardeners around the world, but nobody in my circle would know about these plants in this location,

So I wondered what AI could tell me?

I love AI. It told me everything I wanted to know.

These are my final days with the cast. Soon I hope to be writing again using both hands! I will be so grateful for something everyone usually take for granted. Never again will I not notice the gift of 2 working hands.