B Plants

On Sunday, I sat at the south end of the Memorial Garden, drowsily viewing my beautiful plants.  After all, I am Dr. Dick the Garden Doc and though my wife Diane thinks she is in charge, I am the true garden guru. 
As I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. (Apologies to Edgar Allan Poe.) I turned around and found church member, John P. Steadfast, tapping his cane on the paver walkway.

“HI John,” I said. “What can I do for you?” (A quick glance at his name tag allowed me to pretend that I remembered his name.)  

“Well, Dr. Dick, I am delighted to see you back in the garden.  I have a few questions for you.”

“Okay,“I said, “My wife, who is technically the garden committee chair, is still in the sanctuary, but I am sure that I can answer any questions you have.”

“I have admired the beautiful plants in the garden for a number of years, “ he said.  “What are they called?”

“Begonias,” I answered quickly.

John’s bushy eyebrows raised in question. “Umm, I think Dr. Dick you are mistaken. Those are not begonias.”

“Oh, I meant butterfly bushes.”  I knew that the name of the plants began with a “B” but for the life of me, I couldn’t think of the actual name,

“I see your wife coming out of the sanctuary,” John said.  “I think that i will go to talk with her.”

“Okay,” I said.  What else could I say?

A while later, Diane caught up with me.  I was still in the garden and still “nodding, nearly napping” when she found me. “Oh, did you get to see John P. Steadfast?”

“I did,” she replied.  “The plants are tropical and are called bromeliads.”

“Aha,” I said excitedly, “I knew the name of those plants began with a “B”.

“Yes,” she said with just a hint of sarcasm, “congratulations.”

---