CCJC: Audio Podcast 00075, Season 2
Episode ideas and topics often fly through the air at Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation’s planning sessions. Someone even shouted out, “What if plants are really like humans, with feelings and personalities? What would they think about all this urban and suburbanization that’s getting worse everyday? Might as well pave the whole state over at the rate we are going.”
Each year during National poetry month, and spring is upon us, we do have on our planning calendar some spring themed nature topics. Now that person was a good-natured but serious request, is one that got some jokes we won’t repeat at their expense. But the gist of those “opinions” that teased them about being a “plant hoarder” and “talking to their plants” prompted this impromptu short story.
That led to us tossing around some ideas for how to explain why folks should give a hoot about native plants. The result was a “sudden fever dream” or as Laurent Thibodaux, our Co-Host so eloquently put it. Another staff member chimed in, “If turning a wildflower or weed into a slightly slouchy Cajun fella named Golden Alexander from down in Thibodaux, helps people understand the daily struggles of our native flora in this messed-up world, then pass the Tabasco and let’s dive in.
The Golden Plant Networkers of Bayou Lafourche
Imagine this Golden Alexander plant, well he’s not going to win a Mr. Universe contest. He’s kinda medium-sized, always got that easygoing slouch like he just finished a crawfish boil and ate too much. Hair the color of a field after a light frost, kinda yellowish-green, neatly parted though. Like he’d put some thought into it, you know?
And instead of a big flashy tattoo, he’s got all these little groups of bright yellow thoughts that just keep poppin’ up all over him – like little ideas he’s ready to share, spreading out like a good story on a bayou front porch after supper.
Now Golden Alexander, he’s not the type to be hollering and cuttin’ up at a fais-do-do. He’s more the guy sitting on the porch swing, quiet-like, but somehow, everybody ends up talking to him. The shrimper with the engine trouble? Alex knows a mechanic. The lady trying to find some good fig preserves? Alex knows a lady with a full pantry. He’s like the internet before the internet, just spends his time connecting folks.
He ain’t picky about where he hands his plant hat either. Sun or shade, he just casually settles in, does his job. But lately, Cher, things have been getting rough for poor Golden Alexander. This world has changed. It used to be that people appreciated a good solid plant guy like Alex.
But now? It’s all about the flashing newcomers, the ones with the big showy colors and the fancy talk. The roll in, taking up all the space, drinkin’ and using up all the good water. And they don’t give a lick about Golden Alexander and his quiet ways.
It’s like those big concrete parking lots they keep building over the good soil. Golden Alexander tries to put down roots, but it’s all hard and barren. The air? Oof! It’s thick with the stuff that makes him cough and wheeze, kinda like when the Marathon Garyville Oil Refinery went rouge and a little bit crazy down the road. One day it’s raining sideways like a hurricane’s breathing down on your neck, the next it’s so dry the dirt cracks like an old forgotten pirogue.
He sees his plant buddies, the other quiet, stead plants like him – the sturdy live oaks, the sweet bay magnolias – they too are suffering. Their roots can’t breathe under all the asphalt, the pollution chokes their leaves, and the crazy weather throws everything out of whack. It’s like trying to make a good roux when all of your ingredients are spoiled and the stove keeps cutting off.
And it isn’t just plants, non. We humans, we feel it too. The hotter summers are making us sweat like a po-boy in July. The storms are tearing up our houses like a hungry cocodril in a dip fishing net. We strive to keep our families connected, and we keep trying to make a good life in this world. But Mother Nature's throwing us curve balls left and right. Can’t blame her.
To our way of thinking the next time any of us see a little patch of Golden Alexander growin’ quiet-like by the side of the road we should remember there are quiet steady plants and plant folks – all just trying to make their way in a world that sometimes forgets their worth. They might not be the loudest or the flashiest, but they’re the one’s holding things together, connecting us all, and just like a good roux – they are the very ones tying us together like a fine Cajun or Creole stew. And that, dear listeners, is something worth respecting.
P.S. BTW in our Episode Idea book, we had great fun fleshing out how we would describe our wildflower plant friends to all of the Golden Alexanders just in case he needs an introduction to the world outside. Here’s our tear sheet personal plant portfolio:
Golden Alexander: The Quietly Competent Network
If Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) were people, they’d be the seemingly unassuming individuals who quietly connect everyone and everything. This is a vital but perhaps not always center-stage player in their communities.
Appearance: Imagine someone of moderate height, with an upright but relaxed posture. They would have a single showy feature, but rather a delicate and organized presentation. Their branching stems hold numerous clusters of tiny, bright yellow “thoughts.” Small individual ideas gathered into flat-topped or slightly rounded groups.
Their leaves would be a fresh, yellow-ish green, divided into neat sets of toothed leaflets, giving them a detailed and somewhat structured air. They might have a subtle way of spreading out and establishing connections without being overly aggressive. In the fall ma might even take on a subtle purplish hue, hinting at a deeper complexity beneath the sunny surface.
Personality: These plant persons will be the ultimate net worker and supporter. They’d have a knack for attracting a diverse group of interesting individuals, perhaps a specialist in one area, a generalist in another. They’d be reliable and steady, blooming consistently in their own time. While not the loudest in the hothouse room, they’d be essential for facilitating connections.
They would ensure the smooth functioning of the social ecosystem. They're adaptable, happy both in sunny and slightly shaded enviornments, and not overly demanding about their surroundings.Known for their quiet strength and resilience, their ability to persist and even spread their influence over time, we need them.
They’d be the kind of person who plays a crucial role behind the scenes, supporting the more flamboyant personalities and ensuring the overall soil health of the community. There might even be a hint of practical usefulness about them, perhaps with some old-fashioned remedies or helpful advice tucked away.
In Social Situations: They’d be the person everyone knows and appreciates, even if they aren’t always the center of attention. Golden Alexander’s facilitate conversations, attract diverse groups, and generally make everyone feel included and supported. They’d be the reliable friend you can always count on to connect you with the right person or offer a bit of grounded wisdom.
Their quiet competence and ability to foster connections would make them an invaluable, if not sometimes overlooked, member of the plant world’s social circle. Seems to us that the world needs more Golden Alexander wildflowers or people who embody all of their wonderful transferable traits.
A Louisiana Story of Intertwined Lives – Plant and People
As we add this flip through our little “who’s who” of native wildflowers to our very long list of topics everyone in Louisiana should know about, this peek into one of Louisiana’s unsung plant natives has us wanting people to remember:
The intricate web of life isn’t built on the flashiest blooms alone. It’s found in the steady, unassuming petals of connection, the silent support systems beneath us or at the core of us that keep everything and everyone thriving. Just like our Golden Alexander down in Thibodaux, native plants like them are vital networkers in our ecosystems.
To truly weather the storms of a changing world, to find resilience in the face of concrete and pollution, we need to cultivate our own inner “Golden Alexanders.” Those who understand the power of quiet competence and the strength found in genuine connection. Let their example be our guide, reminding us that real flourishing and living your best life comes not from standing alone, but from the rich world we all are capable of creating together.
Our tales are inspired by real Louisiana and New Orleans history, but some details may have been spiced up for a good story. While we've respected the truth, a bit of creative license could have been used. Please note that all characters may be based on real people, but their identities in some cases have been Avatar masked for privacy. Others are fictional characters with connections to Louisiana.
A Word of Wisdom:
As you read, remember history and real life is a complex mix of joy, sorrow, triumph, and tragedy. While we may have (or not) added a bit of fiction, the core message remains: the human spirit's power to endure, adapt, and overcome.
© Jerilee Wei 2025 All Rights Reserved.
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