A new year, with perhaps not as many oddities as in years past. This year I will be trying Achocha (Cylanthera pedata), a climbing cucurbit very similar to the Cylanthera explodens (exploding gourd) that I grew previously. Hopefully more tasty, and less explosive. Also an heirloom pole bean, "Succotash", with pointed red seeds that resemble kernels of corn. Supposedly requires a long season, so it could be a stretch for me here. I have been collecting varieties of "walking onions", which are perennial & form clusters of bulbs on their stalks, as opposed to flowers. Their best use is as green onions, with the topset bulbils used for propagation. There doesn't seem to be much variation in flavor, but then, that could just be my semi-dead taste buds. ;-) There are considerable differences, however, in size of the bulbils, hardiness, and the degree to which they multiply from the base. Several varieties actually form high-quality bulbs, if the topsets are planted... but they are not as winter-hardy as the others. Since potato onions are so difficult here, I'm still working on those.

UPDATED INFORMATION: Way back when I had no experiences growing "Sea Grape", I thought that it would be a difficult plant to keep alive in The Bronx/NYC-weather. No true! Very easy, and very decorative, disease-free plants, and far more interesting than the old, and very boring, Ficus elastica/Rubber tree. I ordered seedlings from D. R. Bates Liners and Gallons, FL, and they are growing happily in a bright window waiting for the warm weather to arrive. Then, they will go outside in full sun, on a back deck. I also ordered 400 seeds from Banana Tree, Easton, PA. Last season, I had 300 seedling all over my kitchen. The seeds are very easy to crack, and with a 24 hour warm soak before sowing, you will have a very high germination rate. Folks....these plants are tough, and will make a wonderful classroom project for kids. The coppery-red, new leaves glow like fire, when the sun shines through the leaves. You will need male and female plants to get "grapes". I wish I lived down in Florida. If I did, I'd order some single-stem trees to plant on my property. Very decorative with the wide, round, red-veined leaves, and mottled bark. I plan on growing the seedlings out until they get tall enough to braid the stems into a nice thick "trunk". I will grow it as a "patio-tree" and over-Winter the plant in my sunny kitchen, up against the sliding glass doors, then out on a sunny deck. Frank Today, NYC is freezing cold, and windy....can't wait 'till Spring!

All those are special but the Formosan Magpie is an outstanding picture. Makes me want to go on a long bird watching tour.

Bearded dragons require a lot of care, live a long time and can grow to two feet. I had one for nearly 15 years. Tanks need careful monitoring for temperature and you could be dealing with live insect care (such as crickets, ) which is a separate ongoing task. Insects fed to dragons must be healthy and fed, and young dragons need more insects than adults. Also, beyond juvenile age is going to need a rather large habitat. I have had two, in 75 and 125 gallon as adults. They also appreciate time outside the habitat. FIsh keeping can be simple or quite extensive. My husband kept a very time consuming aquarium for over a decade. "Easy to take care of " is relative to your lifestyle and what you are looking for. If you LOVE reptiles, then maybe it's easier than say a dog, who craves much attention, training, daily walks, inevitable accident clean up, ongoing vet care, etc. I do not enjoy reptiles or smaller critters any longer, so cleaning after them, live insects etc is a sheer chore for me. Same goes for hamsters and the like, which we've also had when the kids were younger. Having said that, I would not take in a living animal and not see it through it's life to the best of my ability barring some sort of life threatening allergy. I LOVE our dog, so any work related to her is "easy" to me, because she brings a lot of joy in our home and it's just part of my day with the family. I couldn't live without a dog. There really is no living pet that will allow you to travel without having a care taker to check in, so keep that in mind if you travel often. Maybe consider fish? There are lots of small aquarium set ups that are pretty to look at, house a fish or two, and you'd have an auto feeder as an option. A leopard gecko can be housed in a 10-20 gallon tank. They still have specific requirements daily but take up only a small space. When we had them, I was able to move the habitat to a friend's house for watching when out of town. There's a ton of research to be found online, so start there and consider visiting your local shelter. We have one here with many reptiles and turtles, because often people don't realize how much upkeep there is, and how long they can live. It's always a good idea to do your research, and consider the ongoing expense, care, and lifespan of said pet so you know what to expect. Of course since you live in an apartment you'll want to be sure to check before hand. I once new someone who asked if she could have a miniature pig, and somehow the landlord miss heard and thought she was asking if she could have a guinea pig. That was a sad ordeal. Good luck!