Omg omg omg! That’s my goal! I’ve had a palm since 2016 that used to be able to sit on my window sill and is now taller than me. I can’t wait to get a house in a climate where I can plant it and watch it really do its thing 😩
My thumb is very green, plants and flowers are the jam, favorite plant: jade, favorite flowers: birds of paradise, lilies of the valley, forsythias, and calla Lillie’s, but I will not turn my nose up at anything that blossoms or blooms. What’s yours?
I’m a fan of snake plants because they send off so many shoots which I aim to gift to friends and family. I love my Monstera and cane plants. Aloe is a must and although it doesn’t love me, I have a cactus plant I also enjoy for its resilience. Flowers, I like snapdragons, roses, peonies and anomones.
It just occurred to me for the first time that when someone says I am rooting for you, it can mean I'll be the roots, holding you down, connecting you to what you need! Amazing!
This was so good. I love a good nature reference especially as it relates to how we care for ourselves.
Before you even got to the point about the snake plant, I thought of the one plant I now have in my space: a snake plant. It’s ironic, because I think about how I’ve lived through the years, sometimes willing myself to only require but so much care from others and most importantly, myself.
I’ve had other plants before but honestly they required more than I was able to give. Some of them died in my cars and my inability to tend to them properly. Once again, I see the link in the way I’ve showed up for myself.
Thank you for this beautiful piece and giving me something to think on! 🤎
I miss my plants so much. They’re how I used to start my day, slow with watering them and noticing their growth. When they wilted because I missed feedings I knew I was also missing the time I need to take for myself. They’re the best kind of mirror. I’m so glad you enjoyed.
I enjoyed this essay completely, from the very first line to the end. I feel like you've found a way to remind us of how precious and deserving we are of our most intimate care using plants, which most of us green-thumbed wish to preserve and offer endless care. It reminds me of the saying that some people use to prompt positive inner talk: "speak to yourself the way you would to a child". It is so important that we realign ourselves with the natural world and resist capitalist understandings of our worth and need for tenderness. I'm grateful that our brief exchange in the comments could bring you to sharing this piece too. It's such a beautiful way to reimagine our self-watering <3
Yes! That’s it! We aren’t machines we are organic, we have to prioritize all the things the rest of the natural world does instinctively. Resisting our individual nature is an early form of death.
Also, speaking to the self as a child really lands. I’d never imagine saying horrible or un-encouraging things to a sweet little face.
I became a plant dad during the pandemic. I missed the plants I had to give away because of moving. I left them with friends and family. I'm scared to ask how they are they lol.
Beautiful reflection, as ever. Thank you for reminding me I’m a plant. Not a robot built for efficiency and optimization. I needed that. I will admit a green thumb I do not have, howeverrrrrr I love plants. It’s an area I remain hopeful will enter the scene for me someday.
I’m def a green plant gyal!! Prob because both sets of my grandparents owned gardens and sold goods for income. One whose primary crop was bananas. Plants are the best the remind us of our nurturing self and to slow down
Big facts, they don’t care who is looking they will shrivel as a sign they aren’t getting what they need. If only we recognized that tendency as innately within us.
Rachel this was so beautiful and felt like both a big hug and confirmation that I am on the right path to truly finding the right environments and routines to care for and nourish myself. Lately what's been heavy on my heart is how the world wants to force people who dare to be different and authentic to conform to a life not meant for them to thrive. Myself included.
I get that. Organization keeps the machine moving. And then those who choose to self select out of the system get looked at as outliers when in reality they are the most intentioned of all. It’s a shift to be non-judgmental and encouraging of the self to know and do what’s right. Good on you for acknowledging the truth.
I throughly enjoyed it as a fellow plant 'Mom' herself; I had to give up more than several of my plants in moving away from Dubai, which was heartbreaking, but I did manage to also find homes for them thankfully. ✨
Relinquishing attachments - mental & physical, whether rooted in joy or sorrow - has been an unexpected lesson from traveling a lot. It’s shown me the environments that are best for me aren’t great for all beings, human or otherwise 😭. Cheers to being responsible plant moms, Athira. How was Dubai? I’ve never been but look forward to visiting.
There is so much truth in that, and in the space of travel there's so much change that happens inwardly too. Dubai was a period of learning for me; a long period. As a city in itself it wasn't my place, although I tried very hard to make it 'my place'.
It's beautiful for a holiday though; winter season being the best period to visit, this being between October/November to March :) The weather is like summer but not desert summer 🤷🏽♀️😅 I hope you have a good time when you do visit!
I used to be one of the people famous on IG and Facebook groups for my massive monsteras! Hands down my favorite plant besides a marbled pothos!
🤤 ah so you’re one of those plant growing goals I always see. My monstera is the reason why we had to stop, I repotted it and it grew GREW!
You’re literally my Little Sister: I am a bonified plant lady. 🪴 I have a ficus that was a plant 30 years ago, now it’s a tree.
Omg omg omg! That’s my goal! I’ve had a palm since 2016 that used to be able to sit on my window sill and is now taller than me. I can’t wait to get a house in a climate where I can plant it and watch it really do its thing 😩
You will find and purchase the perfect home (not house) for you and your family very soon, stay encouraged!
My thumb is very green, plants and flowers are the jam, favorite plant: jade, favorite flowers: birds of paradise, lilies of the valley, forsythias, and calla Lillie’s, but I will not turn my nose up at anything that blossoms or blooms. What’s yours?
I’m a fan of snake plants because they send off so many shoots which I aim to gift to friends and family. I love my Monstera and cane plants. Aloe is a must and although it doesn’t love me, I have a cactus plant I also enjoy for its resilience. Flowers, I like snapdragons, roses, peonies and anomones.
Peonies are too cute, they have actual faces!
Yessss! And their blooms are so huge. They look almost pillow-like
Yes, they do!
And the snake plant is also called Mother-in-Laws Tongue, because they are very resilient (just like lilies)!
It just occurred to me for the first time that when someone says I am rooting for you, it can mean I'll be the roots, holding you down, connecting you to what you need! Amazing!
Whoa 🤯 That too! Although I wrote it in the sense of the the rowdy soccer mom who wears a sequined jersey and brings a blow horn to the games 😌
No exactly, me too! But in light of everything, you had just written, it kind of hit me.
Whew I love this. You even dropping gems in the comment section too? Sheesh.
ha! :)
That's got to be where we got that meaning from though!
Right!!! mind. blown.
This was so good. I love a good nature reference especially as it relates to how we care for ourselves.
Before you even got to the point about the snake plant, I thought of the one plant I now have in my space: a snake plant. It’s ironic, because I think about how I’ve lived through the years, sometimes willing myself to only require but so much care from others and most importantly, myself.
I’ve had other plants before but honestly they required more than I was able to give. Some of them died in my cars and my inability to tend to them properly. Once again, I see the link in the way I’ve showed up for myself.
Thank you for this beautiful piece and giving me something to think on! 🤎
I miss my plants so much. They’re how I used to start my day, slow with watering them and noticing their growth. When they wilted because I missed feedings I knew I was also missing the time I need to take for myself. They’re the best kind of mirror. I’m so glad you enjoyed.
I enjoyed this essay completely, from the very first line to the end. I feel like you've found a way to remind us of how precious and deserving we are of our most intimate care using plants, which most of us green-thumbed wish to preserve and offer endless care. It reminds me of the saying that some people use to prompt positive inner talk: "speak to yourself the way you would to a child". It is so important that we realign ourselves with the natural world and resist capitalist understandings of our worth and need for tenderness. I'm grateful that our brief exchange in the comments could bring you to sharing this piece too. It's such a beautiful way to reimagine our self-watering <3
Yes! That’s it! We aren’t machines we are organic, we have to prioritize all the things the rest of the natural world does instinctively. Resisting our individual nature is an early form of death.
Also, speaking to the self as a child really lands. I’d never imagine saying horrible or un-encouraging things to a sweet little face.
I became a plant dad during the pandemic. I missed the plants I had to give away because of moving. I left them with friends and family. I'm scared to ask how they are they lol.
You abandoned them AND never checked in 😂 that’s so unlike you, Marc!
I think you can understand my situation right now lol
😂 absolutely!
Beautiful reflection, as ever. Thank you for reminding me I’m a plant. Not a robot built for efficiency and optimization. I needed that. I will admit a green thumb I do not have, howeverrrrrr I love plants. It’s an area I remain hopeful will enter the scene for me someday.
Now I need a shirt or cap that says “I’m a plant.”
When you do begin, start with a snake plant. It won’t resent you at all lol
😂😂
I’m def a green plant gyal!! Prob because both sets of my grandparents owned gardens and sold goods for income. One whose primary crop was bananas. Plants are the best the remind us of our nurturing self and to slow down
Big facts, they don’t care who is looking they will shrivel as a sign they aren’t getting what they need. If only we recognized that tendency as innately within us.
Rachel this was so beautiful and felt like both a big hug and confirmation that I am on the right path to truly finding the right environments and routines to care for and nourish myself. Lately what's been heavy on my heart is how the world wants to force people who dare to be different and authentic to conform to a life not meant for them to thrive. Myself included.
I get that. Organization keeps the machine moving. And then those who choose to self select out of the system get looked at as outliers when in reality they are the most intentioned of all. It’s a shift to be non-judgmental and encouraging of the self to know and do what’s right. Good on you for acknowledging the truth.
This was gorgeous and poweful like its’ writer.
Thank you Karen. It was a joy to write. ☺️
Such a great piece! My observations of nature this spring have also reminded me that growth takes time and everything blooms under the right care.
Oooohhhh yes to the second part. Everyone thrives in different environments. It’s our work to figure out create and maintain that space for ourselves.
This was such a beautiful piece!
I throughly enjoyed it as a fellow plant 'Mom' herself; I had to give up more than several of my plants in moving away from Dubai, which was heartbreaking, but I did manage to also find homes for them thankfully. ✨
Thank you for sharing this!
Relinquishing attachments - mental & physical, whether rooted in joy or sorrow - has been an unexpected lesson from traveling a lot. It’s shown me the environments that are best for me aren’t great for all beings, human or otherwise 😭. Cheers to being responsible plant moms, Athira. How was Dubai? I’ve never been but look forward to visiting.
There is so much truth in that, and in the space of travel there's so much change that happens inwardly too. Dubai was a period of learning for me; a long period. As a city in itself it wasn't my place, although I tried very hard to make it 'my place'.
It's beautiful for a holiday though; winter season being the best period to visit, this being between October/November to March :) The weather is like summer but not desert summer 🤷🏽♀️😅 I hope you have a good time when you do visit!