“TURN (DOWN) GREEN”
I am possibly the worst person when it comes to taking care of the small, innocent and very quiet objects of the world: PLANTS! How can I not be a “plant person” when I have a degree in childhood education? It makes no sense at all, but let me tell you that: I tried, I tried really, really hard…
I’ve got a beautiful, healthy, guiltless living from my best friend, Mary. The purpose of this gift was to teach me to remember something (anything!) on a frequent, regular basis. Then again, was this bad habit of neglecting plant only about having a bad memory, or rather a lack of discipline, diligence or ability to care for something over a longer period of time?
To decide the question Mary got me a “message bean”. All I needed to do was to grow it and read the note hidden in its leaf. The procedure wasn’t complicated. I just had to make sure that the bean had enough water and… remain quiet… So I did. I could hardly wait for the bean to poke its head and reveal its special message. In fact, this has been known the best method for teaching kids responsibility: a slight of mystery and the promise of a prize at the end. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me- in spite of my excitement the bean grew from its seed already brown. I even had a hard time reading the message on it. Bummer!
When I first came to NYC we (Mary and I) decided to find the neediest and most haggard plant in the entire florist’s shop (the one that’s almost at the edge of its life), take it home and put LOLA in charge of bringing it back to life. I certainly wasn’t feeling sure about being depended on 24/7, but I took the challenge…see the results…
That’s the edge
No, I did not accidentally switch
the photos- it is the edge!!!!!
and this is how it looks right now…(June 8th)
I am totally ashamed of the lack of “Lola- plant relationship” (blushing now)…
Being a good gardener doesn’t only require good memory. Plants feel if you’re trying hard enough, if you offer an adequate time to establish a real connection.
I had a last chance to become “their” friend. The idea was to start up a collection of cactuses. This “not- demanding- much- attention- plant”, hung in there looking pretty good and healthy for a longer period of time.
I swear, I only wanted to make sure that I won’t f… this one up…so I watered them as much as possible, until the entire collection drowned under the “flood” of my eager affection. That unfortunate incident left me with a feeling of regret that I wasted my last chance for a real friendship. Since then… I like to call myself a friend of plants, but only of those made out of plastic…
IS THERE A HOPE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME?
I went the other day to Maker Faire exhibition and saw a miraculous project. Apparently, the plant sends you a text message or calls you on your cell if its soil dries out. Isn’t it amazing? Still… we have to remember the emotions (to share our love with plants). I don’t think that technology can help us with that.
