Little Green

I know I've been complaining about the lack of snow, but I've simultaneously been enjoying my plants while stuck at home the past two weeks. They are a nice reminder of life growing despite all the decay of Earth lying beneath the snow. I'm amazed at myself that they thrive at all. I used to let plants die all the time in my 20s and even into my 30s. I was horrible at maintaining the little attention they required to keep going like, well, watering. Watering was a challenge sometimes. More in the remembering, less in the doing. I think I let probably 4 goldfish die when I was a little girl before my parents accepted I was maybe a little unreliable. I never did it on purpose. Just, I think, I'd get a little distracted, staring at and talking to trees and weird stuff like that. (I'm sure at this point, you're wondering if I should have had a child on my own. But believe me, he gets all the attention he needs and then some!)

This jade plant (above, to the right) I'm quite proud of: when I first brought it home, it was the size of the tiny cactus plant shown in the same photo. I have had it going strong for over 10 years now. The tiny cactus was given me recently when my twin sister visited. I have a larger version of the same plant spiraling out of its pot in my kitchen sink window which I've grown the last four years or so. Another cactus-type plant hangs above the sink.

 

In the bathroom there is a plant I adore. I have no idea what it's called (maybe someone out there can help me with that), but it's blue and red-hued leaves are gorgeous and it blooms tiny, pink flowers that are very delicate and sweet.

The plant I think I love the most is one I've had to cut down to the root base for the second year in a row. And it's just begun to sprout again a small, green shoot. This plant is a vine of some sort and has the most stunning purple blossoms when it's in flower. Again, no idea of the name of it, but I love it.

My orchid, I hope, is resurrecting itself slowly again. We'll see what happens there. I've had it for a couple of years now.

Despite all the green growing under my nose in the house and even though I shouldn't have likely made the extra expense, budget-wise, I actually bought myself flowers this week: oriental lilies. Not that my ex used to buy me flowers a lot (usually once a year on my birthday), but sometimes it's just nice to treat yourself, especially when no one else is around to buy 'em for you (and besides, it was my birthday recently so I can sort of justify this 'gift to self').The scent of the lilies in my dining room where I feed Sonshine his meals is intoxicating. Spring begins less than two months away and the fragrance of these lilies makes it feel just around the corner. (Not necessarily something I relish since, in my own opinion, we've hardly had a true winter yet.)

The end of this winter will be a bit melancholy for me, my last in this farmhouse. Spring will bring such change and I know right now it will all be a blur once it's over. But I look forward to celebrating my baby's first birthday in May and the idea that that is around the corner, too, is unfathomable! No idea if the party will be here at the farmhouse or in our new home together.

What I do know is that my son is one of the many signs of new life in the house while the earth sleeps and her flora and fauna hibernate. In his jolly jumper, he is all the Spring I need for right now!

Music: Little Green, Joni Mitchell