Garden Inspirations

Plants are pretty amazing. Not only can they take carbon dioxide and use it productively, they also give me delicious oxygen for my breathing pleasure. Oh and on top of that, plants can photosynthesis. The most fantastic ability (according to me at least) is that they can make me feel productive with little effort or make me feel like a failure despite my best efforts.

A few weeks ago I moved my herb garden indoors to keep if safe from an impending frosty death. Within one week each plant save one measly parsley up and died on me, leaving me feeling like a terrible human being. Also, since it was an herb garden I was frustrated because I felt oh so domestic snipping bits of rosemary for my potatoes or basil for my chicken. Writing about the experience still makes my heart heavy. What more could I have done?

Yesterday I decided that I needed plants of some kind so I can make it through the wintry month in Cache Valley with some source of clean air. Herb gardens are near impossible to come by unless it's early spring here, so I settled for the office plant section at Lowe's. Again I was surprised with the joy I felt as I gently re-potted the plants and watered them, willing them to live inside and flourish. These are not the same plants as before, but I am already gaining affection for them: the miniature roses that may just bring color to a dismal grey day, the Ficus that looks like a bonsai but hopefully isn't as fragile, and my favorite, the teenie tiny green and yellow cactus all prickly on the outside but full sweet water at its center. I need to think of some names for them. Things with names always live longer (at least, that is the hope I maintain for Matilda, the Buick who thinks her transmission is dying).

People say you should start your relationships with plants. Learn to take care of plants. Once you've accomplished that you can move on to a pet and finally, a real person. I think this is an unwise method. Let me expound. While it is true that plants take time and attention, they bear little resemblance to pets or people. Yes, you incrementally increase the attention needed to maintain the "relationship." Let's be honest though; society generally looks down on people who talk too much to their plants or pets. People, on the other hand, should communicate regularly. Added to that, plants don't ever get a chance to talk back (at least, my plants have never given me any verbal feedback), so having them teaches people to monologue instead of dialogue. Finally, once you realize how much it hurts to have a plant die, you are never going to consider a relationship with a real person! That's just setting yourself up for disaster.

No, we should definitely not base our ability to relate to people with our ability to relate to plants. I love plants. I love people. I don't like to think about my plants dying, but I still grow them. I may not be as skilled with plants as I am with people, but I keep trying. And, ready for the cheesy line? While plants may be a tasty garnish to a meal, people can fill my whole life with joy. On the other hand, plants do help me breathe better...guess both relationships matter for life.