In the middle of setting out a stack of plates for the upcoming meal, Mulcahy is taken by surprise by Finnick popping up out of seemingly nowhere and, of all things, toting plants. He's learned that Finnick has a sharper mind than the younger man realizes, but plants were never something he'd been truly interested in, to the father's knowledge.

"I was under the impression, myself, that we still didn't know enough about what makes things common here to truly make that distinction. For all we know, the plants from wherever this is don't grow in certain areas when they first bloom, or perhaps they require more sunlight than is available at earlier times in the year."

Still, whatever the reason, Finnick was probably right, now that he thought about it. There did seem to be more foliage around now than there had been even two weeks ago, and he moves over to see exactly what Finnick's carrying.