It would seem a farmer’s daughter would have more affinity with the earth, but alas that has never been my story. Planting a garden full of vegetables has never appealed to me and having dozens of thriving house plants has not been my good fortune. My mother used to refer to the tangles of indistinguishable green vines which lived on a chrome utility cart as her “jungle.” It subsisted on intermittent watering so that it was either a rain forest or desert and absolutely no plant food of any kind. I guess I’ve taken after her in that respect because plants that come into my home have little chance of survival if they do not possess a strong sense self-preservation. But I do believe the house, indeed everyone in our home, is happier when there are healthy green plants. Consequently, I am a very good customer of the local nurseries. I have very good intentions when I purchase plants for inside and outside my home. However, I did not inherit the “farmer” gene. (Thankfully, my brother did inherit it as the family farm is his livelihood.)
I took myself to the local nursery not too long ago to refresh the plants in the house and change the landscape in the pots by the front door. I took my time wandering the aisles of scented lavender, sprawling hydrangeas, scented geraniums and tailing ivy. Enjoying fantasies about all the wonderful combinations of plants I’d like to see in my surroundings made me smile and sigh. Some day I would love to have a trellis loaded with sweet jasmine in my garden so the heavy perfume would penetrate every cell of my being as a lie in the sun in a hammock, sipping lemonade and reading something wonderful. Turning the earth in big clay pots gives me a sense of of connection with my Minnesota roots. Right now I’m content having Martha Washington Pink Geraniums greeting me when I approach my front door.
A visit to your local nursery may start you on a Creative journey as well. What about lingering in the floral department at the grocery store, sitting on a park bench enjoying the sun on your face, or stopping to smell the roses..what will be your first step towards a getting next to Nature Creative excursion be?
