Friday, January 17, 2014

Crannies and Corners: An Ode to House Plants

When I asked if house plants can be considered a hobby, answers were split. But I've decided that even if my Aunt Kathy isn't willing to include them among knitting and basket weaving, I can claim them as my pastime.

On the heels of feelings of restless, I've been happy in my home. And maybe my favorite part as of late is the bits of green that bring the outdoors in while it's colder and darker outside my doors. The bring me a silly joy. I am maybe a little too pleased with the avocado plant we sprouted from a pit, or the begonia I propagated from my mother's plant, which was propagated from my grandmother's, and my great-grandmother's before her.






The ficus behind the chair is our "marriage tree," given to us by friends at our wedding reception. Somehow no matter how that tree grows or what happens to it, it always seems like a metaphor.


This bulb on my table makes me anxious for spring and dirt under my nails, excited to get my shady little patch of yard to bloom as best I can. I have never been much for yard work, but I've gotten better at house cleaning, so maybe there's hope for me yet.






I love plants sitting on windowsills and trailing down bookcases. And Arlo might like them even more than me- they serve as toys and meals if I'm not careful.  He too likes dirt under his nails, but he also likes it in his mouth and covering his sweet chin.

I mostly think I like them because it's so wonderful to nurture something that, unlike my children, who I would like to freeze in-time at exactly the size they are this moment, I want to see grown and grow and grow.  I would like these stalks and leaves to reach my ceilings, but for my children to remain just as they are.


11 comments:

  1. YES! Considering that Anne from A Cup Full Of Sunshine is the Saint Anne of Houseplants I say hobby on gal, there's a pretty good club of house plant lovers here ;)

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  2. I love how much green is in your house! My grandparents are "plant people" and oh how I wish I had gotten that gene. Every so often I try, only to have a pot with a brown corpse in no time. I've even killed succulents! Any plants you know of for us brown thumbs?

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    1. I mostly hate succulents- well, not hate them, kill them. But zeezee plants and snake plants are super easy- they don't need a lot of light but they don't fry up if they get some and you just water them when the soil look really dry. But you're growing something even better than a house plant right now.

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  3. Whoops, not sure how my name changed? It's Rachel from littlemissblackbean ha

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  4. your plants are so beautiful! i just bought a few myself - still figuring out where to put them (and still a bit afraid i'll kill them in the process! :)

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  5. Houseplants can totally count as a hobby! They definitely require time & effort--at least, mine do. Of course, that's probably because I inherited my mother's black thumb....:)

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  6. you have the most amazing green thumb! and look at your lovely light filled, baby stompin home! your kitchen looks so inviting and bright. you make me want at least a hundred more plants. i have about three that i am very very lucky not to have killed yet ;) but maybe i'll get better with time. i do love to see them grow.

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    1. the problem is that i want at least a hundred more, too. it's becoming a real problem.

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  7. Thanks for stopping by A Daily Something, Rachel :) I would love to meet you at an upcoming workshop/event! Are you in the DC/NOVA area?

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    1. I'm in Southern MD, so about an hour south of DC. I really want to go to the last one, but it was on a school day:( I hope it happens soon!

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  8. p.s. I need to take lessons from you on how to keep my house plants alive! Beautiful pictures :)

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