A certain Christmas cactus in my house never fails to amaze me by blooming regularly, two times per year, in the spring and in the fall. I suppose I shouldn’t call it a “Christmas” plant at all, because it is about to bloom right now! Bright pink, double buds have sprouted out on the end of each segmented “branch.”
The picture above does not reflect the size of the current plant which is significantly larger now, having spent a three month vacation on the “summer porch.”
There is a story about how this plant came to be in my possession. When my mother was in a nursing home, five or six years ago, her roommate was being given a plant of this kind. As the person carrying it brushed past the door, one segment, just one little segment, fell on the floor. Mother said, “Why don’t you take that home and root it?” Anyone else would have said, “No, I don’t think so.” However, I had hope that I could bring the segment to life and start a new plant.
This behavior is in contrast to the actions of many in our society. How many times are there treasures lying in someone else’s garbage? The garbage pickers around here who drive up in trucks to look for goodies on “dump day,” when bags of refuse are at roadside, seem to find some grand pickings. I’m convinced that at least a few of these treasures end up for sale at antique stores.
What treasures are lurking at your house? Do you have items you no longer want but which are still serviceable or collectible by someone? I urge you to take the time to find parties who would gladly use the items. There are people (I am thinking of the Mennonites) who will take even leftover bits of yarn to make warm mittens for children. That is just one example of recycling. We are killing the planet by our waste. Next time you think about throwing away anything, think about how it could be salvaged, or even used in a completely different way.
I started this post by talking about houseplants, and as is often the case, I took a little side trip. To keep the topic centered, let me say that houseplants recycle the air by taking in carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen. I sure wish the restaurant where we had lunch today had had some houseplants. With people obnoxiously “lighting up,” the air could have used some freshening. It would not be a minute too soon if all public places became smoke-free environments.
My plant is a treat to behold with its complementary colors of green and pink, the newer leaf segments being a lighter value of green, as fresh as spring.
Here’s a toast to hope in the impossible. Sometimes, miracles do happen. My plant is an example of that. This favorite plant is a symbol of my late mother’s hope and her abiding faith.
Pat
