A few weeks ago, I noted that my beloved kaffir lime tree (the leaves of which are intrinsic to Thai cooking) had been attacked by aphids — a pest that was finally vanquished thanks to a heavy dosing of organic insect-killing spray.

Since the spraying, my kaffir lime has been happily recovering on my fire escape, with his friends the geranium and the petunia. The above photo was taken this morning, hours before a monstrous “derecho” swept through New York. (This blogger, safely ensconced in a Belgian beer bar with gal pals, didn’t even notice the storm.) I am happy to report the kaffir lime, as well as the geranium and the petunia, also survived the derecho.

Here’s a close-up of the wondrous leaves of the kaffir lime tree. Healthier and glossier than they’ve looked in ages!