[say]"You would be surprised,"[/say] Mateo says with all the air of someone who very much enjoys doing the surprising. Leading her towards one section of the shop, he coaxes some sentient vines out of the way, shooing them affectionately back into the canopies overhead. [say]"There are quite a few to choose from. Here we have saintpaulia ionantha."[/say] (That's African Violet, to you and I).
Gesturing to a small plant with fuzzy leaves and ruffled purple blooms, Mateo instinctively leans down to inspect it and ensure it's doing alright. [say]"There is also clivia miniata, if you prefer orange blooms. Oh, or euphorbia milii - or crown-of-thorns - which is more of a poinsettia relative. All of these prefer dryer soil, but they produce some lovely flowers."[/say]
Straightening up and suddenly realising that he has gone full root-and-stem-botanist on his customer, he offers a dimpled and apologetic smile. [say]"If that is too much choice, though, I do keep a few flowering cactii."[/say]
Gesturing to a small plant with fuzzy leaves and ruffled purple blooms, Mateo instinctively leans down to inspect it and ensure it's doing alright. [say]"There is also clivia miniata, if you prefer orange blooms. Oh, or euphorbia milii - or crown-of-thorns - which is more of a poinsettia relative. All of these prefer dryer soil, but they produce some lovely flowers."[/say]
Straightening up and suddenly realising that he has gone full root-and-stem-botanist on his customer, he offers a dimpled and apologetic smile. [say]"If that is too much choice, though, I do keep a few flowering cactii."[/say]
