Summary

The author reflects on the personal significance of flowers, their experiences with gardening, and the influence of family in nurturing plants, while also promoting articles by Dr. Preeti Singh, Cristina Cattai, and Hermione Wilds Writes on the broader cultural and emotional meanings of flowers.

Abstract

The article delves into the author's evolving relationship with flowers, from childhood memories of a lilac tree to current endeavors in plant care, including the successful growth of an aloe plant and the challenges faced with a bonsai tree and a venus fly trap. The author expresses a desire to expand their gardening skills to include flowers, inspired by family tradition and the joy of cultivation. The piece also highlights the emotional and symbolic importance of flowers, referencing articles that explore their role in human experiences such as joy, sadness, friendship, love, and death. The author encourages readers to engage with these deeper meanings and supports fellow writers who have contributed to the discourse on flowers as multifaceted companions in life.

Opinions

The author has a complex relationship with flowers, appreciating their beauty and variety but also recalling an early memory where an overpowering lilac scent led to an aversion.
There is a sense of accomplishment in growing plants, likened to raising a child, with the author taking pride in the growth of their aloe plant and expressing a learning curve in plant care.
The author is uncertain about the health of their bonsai tree and seeks advice from knowledgeable individuals on whether to start anew or continue nurturing the current plant.
The author values the tradition of gardening within their family, particularly recalling their grandmother's skill with plants, and hopes to pass on this passion to their daughter.
The author views their current success with non-flowering plants as a stepping stone to eventually growing flowers, which they plan to plant around a tree in their front yard.
The author endorses articles by Dr. Preeti Singh, Cristina Cattai, and Hermione Wilds Writes, emphasizing the profound impact of flowers on human emotions and significant life events.

Flowers Can Mean Many Things

Reciprocals Nature Prompt Week 3 January 2023

field of flowers made by the author in Night Cafe

I have always loved flowers like many of us. The beauty, the smell. What’s not to like? A color for every person just about. I have one early memory of flowers.

I had to be maybe 8 or 9 and our family lived out in the country. Not another house around for a few miles. We had a lilac tree. It was so beautiful. I went outside and looked at it every day. Just loved how pretty it looked and smelled. Only bad thing was that smell permeated my nose and would not leave. I smelled lilacs everywhere. I started to hate the smell because it would not leave my nose. I still do not care for it much today. I can deal with it a bit, but would not want it in my home so I would have to smell it a lot again.

The beauty and simplicity in a flower just amaze me. The time it takes to grow and nurture flowers makes you feel accomplished when it finally blossoms into the beauty you took care of for months. Like a child. Raise it and pray you to produce something beautiful with strong roots.

I have not been a person who grows flowers. I want to, just need to learn before I jump into it. I have finally been able to grow a small aloe plant into well an aloe tree.

My aloe plant is almost an aloe tree picture by the author

This is my aloe plant. The ends are a little rough I know. I have no place to put it so she gets a little squashed. I need to replant it again. From starting out at Walmart with two small 6-inch plants( around 6 inches) to 4 plants. I have two babies growing in between the two larger stalks.

We also bought a venus fly trap that I think had gotten too cold and died out. It since regrew and is growing beautifully. This is our second venus fly trap. I don’t know if it was me, or just where we bought it. Then there is our poor bonsai tree. I do not know if it is dead or if this is how it should look. Know it takes a long time for them to grow, it also takes a lot of work and patience.

If anyone knows about bonsai could let me know if I just need to start over with new seeds or wait it out on this little guy?

My sad-looking bonsai(photo by the author)

Then we have our cactus. It has been like this since we bought it. It has grown flowers on the bumps but it has not grown. I bought this at the same time I bought my aloe plant. So you have a rough idea of the size of my aloe when I bought it.

I have a theory. Since I have not planted or taken care of flowers, I figure if I can take care of these then I should be ready for flowers. I want to plant some around this tree in my front yard. I think I might do that this year. I think I am ready.

My family has only taken care of plants. My grandmother always had nice plants growing in her house. Time for me to grow our gardening skills in hopes that my daughter takes over and does the same when she is ready. I believe I will get much joy and a feeling of accomplishment growing flowers. All to aid in my road to recovery and keep clean.

Thank you to Dr. Preeti Singh for the great prompt this week: In Joy And In Sadness, Flowers Are Our Friends

Dr. Preeti Singh also wrote a great article on this prompt. It made me think about how one item can mean so much. Happy, Sadness. Friendship, Love, Death. So many meanings just for flowers. Take time to read this great article she wrote:

In Joy And In Sadness, Flowers Are Our Friends

Nature prompt week 3 January 2023

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Another great article by Cristina Cattai and how chrysanthemums brought back memories of her mother and the flowers.

Those Chrysanthemums My Mother Wouldn’t Love

In joy and in sadness, flowers are our friends

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Another great story by Hermione Wilds Writesabout his flower business growing because more people wanted to do something productive during the pandemic when they were on lockdown. His business flourished.

Flowers To Revive You

Prompt response – reciprocal

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