Savoring Napoli Nights

Some of my ancestors were bakers. It might be those roots that cause me to like cookies as much as I do. Or maybe it is just my sweet tooth. But oh, I do like cookies. Homemade ones are perfection, but some tins of cookies are equally special... so special that I save some of the tins once the selection of sweet treats has been reduced to mere crumbs.

So when I came across a Peperomia called Napoli Nights, finding a planter to accommodate this special plant was just a matter of heading to my basement for a tin that would spark fond memories.

Napoli Nights is a slow-growing Peperomia. Its name might cause others to think of gondoliers in their stripes, elaborate Carnival masks, and waterways which literally touch impressive architecture. But for me, along with these thoughts came thoughts of amaretti cookies. A richly decorated amaretti tin became the perfect container for this well-shaped Peperomia with the name that had me thinking of a delicious sweet from Italia.

I found a sturdy plastic bag to place within my tin. Peperomia plants object to overwatering, but they do need some hydration. To avoid getting rust inside the soon-to-be planter, the bag was a necessity. Also, it would insulate the soil a bit, which was a help, considering that a metal container heats up and cools down more readily than other containers might. Within the bag, I arranged a layer of pebbles for drainage. I then added good growing medium to surround my Peperomia called Napoli Nights. 

Although I had enjoyed the sweet contents of the tin long ago, I quickly realized there was a certain sweetness to the display I was creating as I placed the tin’s lid at the back of my easy-growing Peperomia Napoli Nights. The color of the lid set off the silvery tones of the foliage of Napoli Nights. Peperomia Napoli Nights flowers in spikes of the palest green. The handful of these flowers on my Peperomia showed themselves off even better with the bright lid, colorful side facing forward, setting off the contrasting tones of the plant.

Now, I cannot help but return to the topic of cookies, biscuits, wafers, biscotti…. A tin from Italy made the perfect home for my Napoli Nights Peperomia. I gazed at my Peperomia display and could not help but think of a hot cup of coffee and a sweet confection I love to get when visiting the Italian enclave in the big city that is nearest my home. But not wanting to play favorites, I thought of other options for this sort of display. 

I have a Speculaas tin from the Netherlands. Originally filled with the delicious windmill cookies we as Stateside kids always loved, it was too pretty to discard. How would that tin look with a bit of Dutch Clover nestled into it, with its dark leaflets with green margins accented by the artwork on the tin itself? Could I find a tin that held my favorite Australian “bikkies” containing coconut, currants, and a glaze of white chocolate… my favorite treat while living Down Under? How would that tin look with some bright green Australian Astroturf tucked inside? One thing is for sure: I know the sight of it would transport me to a different time and place.

Now I do not want to downplay the value of vessels that are designed to be planters. Nice terracotta pots, ceramic containers, and other planters are crafted with drainage holes and good looks. They certainly are the right choice for many houseplants. But there is nothing wrong with playing up the name or origin of a plant, repurposing a tin you already have on hand (or may be given when holidays and other occasions arise), and having some fun.

The latter type of display works because it calls up sweet memories. Why do we mix a certain cookie dough when the holidays are upon us? Memories of aromas from the oven and tastes from childhood or special excursions are what we are after. Sparking some of those memories by creating a nice plant display… well, certainly there is a place for that. 

So pour yourself a cup of java and get planting. (Try not to worry, as I did when I planted my Napoli Nights Peperomia, about the fact that you have somehow eaten the contents of an entire 16-ounce container of cookies.)