Floral Happiness

I have the brownest thumb around. Meaning, I kill most plants. In the time of COVID-19, I see that plants and flowers bringing happiness to others. My friends have gone on shopping sprees bringing more plants into their living spaces. I can barely keep my succulent alive, which I’m super proud of because I made a terrarium at a friend’s bachelor party on September 21^st of 2019 and it’s STILL ALIVE! I deserve a golf clap at the very least 🙂

Instead of tending to herbs and plants, I purchased loose flowers at farmers’ markets and grocery stores and decorated my home and office with weekly arrangements. With quarantine curtailing my regular grocery outings, I stopped buying flowers. At the same time, we were phasing out of winter and moving into spring. As a result, I’ve had the good fortune of seeing the transition through the flowering trees and blossoms that appeared in my neighborhood. It’s a good thing that my neighbors have green thumbs or, at the very least, hired good landscapers!

I know my strengths and vulnerabilities. Gardening (as much as I try!) is not my strength. They say that one should pick a partner who is compatible and complementary to your personality. I’m fortunate that the Mister likes to garden and does it well. All the compliments that we get on our backyard landscaping is due to all of his efforts. A while ago, I asked for a jasmine plant. So, we went to the nursery and purchased a varietal that decorates the back yard. I was also looking for a specific kind that my nursery didn’t carry, and a dear friend saw one at her local nursery and delivered it to me all the way from Delaware! All of those plants have been cared for by the Mister, so although I can’t garden, he helps me achieve what I’d like to see.

Yesterday, I went to my favorite farmers’ market for the 1st time this year. I was glad to see that Alexandria, VA devised a system where patrons can feel safe supporting the farmers and small businesses that have been coming to this market for years. This market is the oldest in the country that has been on the same site. Did you know that George Washington used to send the harvest from Mount Vernon here? Pretty amazing! A good number of Amish also use the market as a way to sell their wares, and I always have a difficult time picking the flowers that I want to take home because there are so many gorgeous choices.

Here’s to flowers reminding me that we transition into the seasons, and to enjoy those transitional moments.

MXM