It’s not easy keeping it green
Since settling into my modern home, I have somehow cultivated the concept that I now possess the skills of an experienced horticulturist, after all I have successfully kept a jade plant alive for almost a year. I do feel as if that should deserve some street cred in the world of green-thumbed enthusiasts especially considering I have spent the last 26 years trying to keep three children, two dogs, one rabbit, a cricket-fed leopard gecko, a syringe-fed premature bearded dragon, an aggressive gerbil with neurological issues and countless fish (including the replacements), alive and on this planet. A houseplant never had a shot at survival and some days I wondered the same about myself.
The hundreds of trees that coexist alongside this home, the awesome array of sunbeams that filter through each pane of glass and the garden beds yet to be planted outside my kitchen window were all summoning me to bring some life in; for now there is time to tend, time to nurture. So one by one they came home with me, each adorable succulent I saw on the shelf at the hardware store, the local plant store and Trader Joe’s; the mother load, the humane society of succulents, as soon as those sliding doors opened each orphaned plant tugged at my heartstring and landed in my cart. At $2.99 how could I resist? This behavior could possibly provide some insight into my soft-hearted animal issues.
As any responsible guardian of these living things, I began to educate myself as to their care, their needs and requirements, little did I know that we had so much in common. Succulents are defined as plants that are thick and fleshy and have the ability to retain water allowing them to survive in arid climates. Thick, fleshy and the ability to retain I can totally relate to; it’s like the extra 15 pounds I’m carrying because my Irish grandmother said I might need them someday in case I get sick. From my fasciated haworthia and hedgehog aloe to my juicy jade and countless cacti, I have found my succulent soul mates or should I say they have found me.
They have been looking for me, the question was, were my eyes open to the gifts they so generously presented to me through the years? Having hiked amongst the saguaro of Arizona, their strength and determination to survive in such difficult desert conditions was honestly a humbling experience. I am not even sure how I survived growing up without air conditioning. Undaunted, these demure desert divas rise for nearly 75 to 100 years before giving birth to a single arm. Holding every drop of moisture mother nature bestows upon them, their pleated stems physically swell, almost as filled with pride knowing when the time came, they would once again flower. Centuries of wisdom to be absorbed from those wise old desert giants who have endured many a dry spell in their days spent in the sand..
The powerfully plump and petite leaves of my succulents deliver their message each morning, silently suggesting that we all have dry spells but that doesn’t mean we should not be drinking it all in. This house, these windows, the trees that surround me, make it almost impossible not to pause and see what the world has to offer; a cardinal perched nearby, a deer gently rustling through the leaves or a cloud simply floating by. Finding just a drop to ease one’s thirst offers sustenance even on the driest of days. Every drop nourishes the flow of creativity within and when I need to fuel my roots, I can fearlessly dive into the reservoir created by all the moments savored and soaked in.
Resting near their succulent cousins, my adaptive and adorable air plants peacefully perched in the vintage china egg cups of my grandmother and great grandmother quietly encourage me to breathe and look for a little light each day. Inspirational in their simple, minimalist life, as well as their willingness to cleanse the air for another, each green limb proudly reaches higher all the while kindly including me in this collaboration. And when it’s time for their weekly soak, they remind me of the wisdom of a warm bath.
Little did I know that within the stems and shoots of these easy-to-please plants were the many lessons that would be sown within me as their caretaker. Be patient, take time, soak it in and save some for later; never stop growing, share some shade and always keep reaching towards the sun. As these last days of winter make their presence known, I look out at the snow-kissed soil of my empty garden beds with a new sense of confidence thanks to the survival of my succulents and whimsical air plants. Dreams of fresh herbs and vegetables, hummingbirds and bees happily existing in the ecosystem that is my front yard, swirl in my imagination. Soon it will be time to plant some seeds.
But for now, I will joyfully savor my succulents. Did I mention, I now have three orchids? They sincerely appreciate your prayers!
