I am a self proclaimed plant nerd. I have always loved plants. I tried growing a few when I was in high school, but promptly killed them because I didn't know the first thing about caring for something besides myself. And I even had a hard time taking care of myself when I was 16, so a plant had no chance.
In my search for myself (which sounds so stupid and cliched!) I have gone back to my roots. Haha! (plants, roots, get it?) I've just gone back to what I liked when I was younger. What inspired, rejuvenated, and excited me.
At one point about 10 years ago I had nearly 100 plants! Crazy, huh? Ummm, more than crazy. I don't know what kind of crazy you would call that. Hoarding. About two years ago I started feeling like a mother to all those plants. Taking care of them all began to be a burden. It didn't inspire or rejuvenate me. So I began to divest myself of them. As they died or got diseases or bugs I would throw them out and not replace them. I was down to about 4 houseplants and a few succulents. They weren't dying. Sometime in my former life, my daughter Rachel told me I had a natural gift for growing houseplants. Kind of like she has a natural ability for arranging flowers. That thought has stayed with me. So at the beginning of the year I knew it was time to bring some more green, growing, rejuvenating, inspiring plants into my house. I have started small. I have also begun following a few instagram accounts that inspire my inner plant nerd. I only want plants that make me happy, not what looks good or what I think I should have. I will pick those plants that sing to my heart.
In January Brad and I took a few field trips to Salt Lake. We went to Cactus and Tropicals (which sometime needs to be it's own post) and Ikea. Cactus and Tropicals have the unusual and Ikea has the inexpensive. The whole field trip made me remember why I love plants so much and it helped me connect with fellow plant nerds. So fun. And I'm not alone!
I told Brad about these two plants that I had seen on the Cactus and Tropicals Instagram and how they were on my Plant Bucket List. What does he do? Because he's always trying to please and make me smile, he goes and gets them for Valentine's day. The one on the left is a Prince of Orange Philodendron and the one on the right is a Pilea Peperomoides. Oh my, they make my little heart go pitter pat! I just hope they will be happy with their friends in the southeast bedroom.
Time will tell. I feel like someone who is waking up.
