What we do is an expression of who we are. A sporty person explores the relationship between their body and its physical expression in terms of flexiblity or endurance, muscle development or movement; an artsy person establishes a relationship between their creativity and a particular medium, perhaps stone or flowers; a scientific researcher might explore the relationship between her keen intellect, her ability to see out-of-the-box connections, and a particular biological subject.
With diminished human connection and in-person interaction during the pandemic, many have had to satisfy their need to nurture and connect in a different way. Pet adoption skyrocketed during the pandemic, and there is a boom in house plant hobbyists who collect exotic species, propagate plants, or simply enjoy a green and living thing at home that’s less emotionally involved than a pet. Both, however, are rewarding for the reciprocal result of unconditional love when we nurture them.
Just as a dog or cat takes half a year to acclimate to a new household, it takes a new plant as long to settle in when I bring it home. Being a nurturing person - many women are, but men are getting there too - and needing to express that in what I do, I love to experiment together with my plants to find the perfect spot with the perfect light conditions, the perfect watering and fertilization ratio, the perfect soil medium, and the perfect pot for its size. I am always awed anew at discovering tiny leaves emerge, grow and unfold, watching them slowly morph from light green to dark green, losing some yellow or browned leaves, discovering new air roots emerge, being disappointed when some plants sputter and die, and being happy when they eventually thrive.
During my weekly weekend watering and care ritual which can take a few hours I commune and check in with my plants. It’s meditative, intuitive, rewarding, and nurturing, a perfect antidote for surviving in an unsettled world.