THE LIFE OF PLANTS

SCENE FROM YET ANOTHER SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

Me: Hon, when you go to Costco later, can you please get me a box of large trash bags?

He: (Stepping outside, to where I am currently kneeling in front of what was once a vigorous lavender bush.) Do you need it now na ba?

Me: Yeah. I need to cut this down. It's dead.

He: Oh really? It is? (Sarcasm delivered with annoying smirk.) I thought lavender was impossible to kill.

Me: Hey, I didn't do anything to it (gives him nasty look). The plant behind it grew so big that it blocked the sun. Lavender needs lots of sun, but this one was always in the shade. So it died. I guess I wasn't paying enough attention so I didn't get to move it in time.

See, this is why I think gardening is one of the best things I've learned to do. Strangely enough, plants have taught me so much about living (as a human being, that is). For instance, some plants thrive in full sunlight, others in deep shade. Neither one is better than the other, but what's important is that each receives what it needs in order to grow. If its environment is somehow altered, it doesn't need to stay where it's always been just because that's where it once belonged; in fact, doing so would only cause its deterioration or demise. What's best would be to move it away to where conditions are ideal or at least better matched to its needs. I think we can all think of a few different ways we can translate this to our own lives.

Oh -- and in case you're curious -- I just planted a beautiful fern in the newly-empty spot. It doesn't mind being overshadowed, you see, in fact it prefers to brighten up dark places. So not like my poor lavender friend, which is now making my trash bin smell slightly sweeter and fresher than it ever has been.

I can't believe I actually killed lavender, I can hear all gardeners laughing and mocking me now.

Comments

[RS]

Take heed, you just need to look at life with rose-colored glasses (sorry I couldn't resist the pun):
http://www.weedingglasses.com/

[Kat]

I almost killed an agave once. My Mum managed to save it, but she was appalled. :-)

[DatuPanot]

hi gigi, lavenders are hardy plants. this might come as a surprise to you but last winter's cold snap didn't kill my lavenders.
talking about flowers, have you been to the poppy fields up in the antelope valley?

dp

[Gigi]

RS - Interesting site!

Kat - Thank you so much for trying to make me feel better. :)

DP - Here's the sad part. My lavender plant survived the cold snap, then it died in the Spring. Somewhere out there is my father shaking his head.

Anyway, no, I haven't seen the poppy fields although I have seen the flower fields in Carlsbad (though I've got to admit that was a nice surprise while I was enroute to the outlet mall over there).

[thebee]

Haha, you're a plant killer! I actually killed a cactus once myself, if that makes you feel better. :D

[mitsuru]

green thumb, eh? LOL

don't worry every gardener has his/her own "death or near- death" experience. LOL

[Gigi]

M thebee - Calling me an herbicide eh? Well I suppose I deserve it. Hate to admit it, but I think it's easier to kill cactus than lavender.

Mitsuru - Thanks for trying to make me feel better :) I guess I crossed that line between "benevolent neglect" and plain neglect this time.

[milkphish]

lavenders are hardy plants. i have the spanish variety (dug up &) replanted into our current home from our first home, and it's still there -- 12 years later. hubby is not very fond of my other lavender bushes. he thinks they smell like pomada. he complains every spring & summer when they are growing vigorously. i gather them and either i make some into lavender wands or dry them up upside down for potpourri.

i'll bring you some lavender wands this summer --- hope to catch up with you :)

[Gigi]

milkphish - oo nga, kaya am so embarrassed one actually died under my stewardship! But really, it was never meant to be in the spot it was. I planted it in a pot to control its growth, but then the roots reached through the pothole and buried itself in the ground! So I left it there, even if I should have moved it when I noticed it was no longer getting any sun. Weird...it was growing so well and then...patay.

Anyway, see you this summer!!!

(PS: Pomada? Is he thinking of Tancho Tique?)