Musings

From a Plant Obsession to a Healthy Love Relationship

by Barbara-
obsession-to-healthy-love

Hello, my fellow plant enthusiasts. Sorry I have been away for so long, but I need to keep it real. Plants and I needed our “space”. It’s not that I don’t like plants anymore. I still do, but my love for them have just changed from an obsession to a healthy relationship. I am sure this phase is not new to most of you plant enthusiasts out there.

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I mean, plant obsession is not necessarily a bad thing. At least I don’t think it was for me. Indoor gardening gave me time to forget about the world for a bit and just live in the now as I tended to my plants. My husband, would beg to differ. Although he loved that I had found a hobby, I think he got tired when half of what I talked to him about was about plants (not good). So yeah…..

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I know it may sound odd to liken my relationship with plants to a romantic relationship but that is the only way I can explain it best.  So just like the beginning of any romantic relationship, I needed to be constantly around plants. Seeing them, talking to them (that is at all not creepy right? 🙂 ), feeling their soft or hard, furry, or spiky (ouch), thin or thick leaves on my finger tips was what I couldn’t do without. Not that I want to do without plants now. They still offer the same therapeutic benefits to me. However, just like with most relationships, over time, this all-consuming need for proximity wanes into a healthy loving relationship. And that is where we stand at the moment!

IMG_2397 I love to be with my plants, but I don’t dote on them as I used to and they get their space to be…well, plants. I still cater to their needs, but once in a while I forget to water that ‘princess’ plant – yes I’m talking about you slowly dying silver lace and Tiger fern – and they let me know whats what!. Honestly, why do I go back to these ferns. During the break period, I contemplated on what I was no longer willing or able to, and that was daily to every 2 day watering. That just isn’t happening anymore. So I know now to stay away from plants of that caliber. Hopefully, this restrain on plant buying is here to stay.
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The new phase of our relationship means less PDA around friends and family and less time in search of “The One” ( you know what I am talking about), which naturally means a reduction in plant acquisition rate! This unfortunately also means I may not blog weekly or bi-weekly as I did in the past however still check the blog from time to time. I don’t know yet how often I will be posting but I think it is going to be bimonthly. I will be pouring more of my focus on “Plants at Yours” series as I would love to hear your plant journeys. I only have a few posts up so far. Fellow readers, please don’t hesitate to contact me about anything plant related or about taking part in the Plants at yours series.

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You are probably wondering why I am showing photos of flowers and not my plants right now. Well, for those of us in Ottawa, and many parts of Canada, it is spring!! But it doesn’t feel like it. We are expecting snow this weekend I heard. So to remind those of us still feeling the winter weather, that Spring weather is just around the corner, I decided to brighten my page with photos of blooms, D and I have taken over the years. I hope the photos for a moment transported you, in your mind’s eye, to a field of flowers in 18o c  weather. Hmmm, I can see myself lying on a mat among the flowers (trying to avoid bugs) and sipping on some cool lemonade. You are welcome 🙂

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IMG_7901So have any of you experienced what I just blogged about in relation to plants. Share you experiences below.

 

Barbara

Hi, I’m Barbara and I’m a little obsessed with house plants. I share my house plant adventures in the hopes of inspiring you to continue to enjoy the greens in your home. And if you have no plants (yet!) I hope this blog inspires you to add some green to your home. So go on! Try it! I think you might quite like it. And who knows? You may end up being … obsessed too.

4 Comments

  1. Jacqueline

    Great post!

    06 . Apr . 2016
    • Barbara

      Thanks!!

      06 . Apr . 2016
  2. Darryl Cheng

    Dear Barbara,
    As a fellow plant lover, let me go a rant here (and it’s just a rant for your consideration, no judgment here): we are sometimes influenced by popular culture/the media and it affects the way we live our lives. Even our beloved house plant hobby isn’t immune to consumerism. So much of the messages out there focus on new trends and the latest fads but fail to describe what the long-term relationship with that plant is like (or whether it is even a LONG relationship). Let me encourage you to find the greatest joy in the heart of the house plant hobby – caring for and watching them grow. Buying new plants and containers and accessories is fun but shouldn’t be the primary source of enjoyment. It’s just like how people fall prey to buying all sorts of camera gear but rarely do any shooting. People who own pets would usually say spending time together is more enjoyable than buying accessories for them. For me, plants hold the same status – plants are friends. End of rant.
    Best regards,
    Darryl

    05 . Apr . 2016
    • Barbara

      Feel free to rant anytime! Being off social media for the past few weeks actually allowed me to enjoy my plants privately. Don’t get me wrong I still purchased about 5 plants during that time. I started this blog to share my plant journey and what I was learning. I have to say somehow along the way I felt others had more plants, better arrangements, better pictures and I tried to attain that perfectly curated image. I think it took a bit of the love out of blogging about plants and became more of a chore and a competition. I’m in a better place now with my plants and don’t obsess over them anymore. I used plants as anxiety and stress relief and still do. But I thank God I am doing much better and have a lot (of good) going on right now I don’t have the brain space and energy to obsess. Hence, like you said, they are more like friends. And if you only see them once a week, you can pick up right where you left off. So yes thank for your input and have great week.

      05 . Apr . 2016

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