Hi, welcome to your midweek snack break!
I’ve had a few days hiking in the woods to consider my inner life as a houseplant. In keeping with the idea of growth, I’m convinced that plants-in-pots is too limiting a category. We need to expand the metaphor.
In my wanders through the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains this week I’ve been immersed in nature. One of my forever favorite things is trees that have absolutely no business taking root and living where they do. For example, this tree who decided that growing through a crack in a large granite outcropping atop a windswept hill. There are no other trees around, the area is inhospitable to tree folk, and yet, there she gnarls.
And this beauty, who made her forever home at the base of a rushing waterfall. How did that poor sapling survive every spring runoff, bombarded by thousands of gallons of water per second to allow her to stand today?
These are far from ideal environments for trees to thrive, yet they found a way.
If I may anthropomorphize for a second, some parts of me wonders if the trees aren’t doing it out of spite, as in, screw you, you told me I can’t make it here, and now look at me.
Thoughts?
Journal Prompts
What plant/vegetation to you see yourself reflected in?
Do you ever find yourself fighting to survive in an inhospitable environment? Since you’re not a tree, what options do you have for finding a new place where you may thrive?
Like a rose or other flower bush, what can you prune back or deadhead to allow for new blossoming?
Leaves gather light for photosynthesis to feed the whole plant. Roots gather nutrients from the soil to send to the leaves while creating stability for the whole tree.
Do you find you have leaves (or parts of your life) that aren’t doing their job of sending light energy to the whole of you? How can you cut off their supply of nourishment so they’ll fall away and won’t continue to drain your resources?
What new leaves can you unfurl to divert those nutrients to that will supply you with what you need? Is your soil manky? Can you spread your roots in a different direction to get the support you need?