When I first moved to Montana with Jeff, he didn’t have any houseplants. Not one. I had several back in Pennsylvania that we sold in a yard sale before we trekked across the country. I missed houseplants but hated the price local florists and greenhouses were charging at the time. Then one day, Jeff came home from an outing with our friend and landlord, Ray, with several plants he’d bought at a yard sale. Among the plants was this one with a broken root ball. Of all the plants it was the one I didn’t think would survive, but I re-potted it figuring it deserved a chance.
Almost 13 years later it is the only plant that survived. The others barely lasted a year. This cane-like begonia has been split and shared amongst friends and co-workers for years. It blooms often and generally grows rather chaotically. I can’t make myself prune it very often, instead I embrace it’s wild nature.
This beautiful plant is a reminder to me that even when it seems like we’re spent and broken, there is still hope. Even when it seems like the dream might not bounce back, all it takes is a little love and care and that dream might just blossom into something wild and free. As a general rule, I’m a fairly optimistic person but I don’t mind admitting that just looking at that plant every now and then gives me the butt-kicking I need to get back on the horse.
Any plant or other reminders to turn too keep yourself on your chosen path?
