Monday Moments: Growth
Oct 12th, 2014 by Kimberly
Growth
For years, I considered myself the owner of a grey thumb. The only thing I could grow was mold, and even then, only some place that I didn’t want it. In tenth grade biology, my bread slice remained insistently mold-free until just before I was supposed to throw it away. In my adult life, every plant within a thirty-foot radius of me has died. I once killed ivy. My best friend was in awe. “People have trouble getting rid of ivy on purpose. I bet they would pay you for that.”
When I bought my current condo, I became the proud caretaker of a small yard. Three large plants came with it. I tried my hardest to keep them alive, and…partially succeeded. To my utter astonishment, they all remained alive, one year later. Flush with success, I bought several other plants. Many of them died over the next couple of years, including one of the originals. Several, however, survived, including this hibiscus. Ten years later, my yard has six thriving plants, including the ficus tree and palm bush that came with the yard.
A week ago, I decided to throw caution to the wind and try pruning the hibiscus. It produced beautiful red blossoms on a regular basis, but looked a bit scraggly. “Cut it back,” Mom told me, “and it’ll be greener at the base.” I didn’t expect it to work. Every other time I tried pruning anything, it withered and died afterward.
Imagine my surprise when I looked out the window just a few days later and saw small shoots of green emerging from the lower part of the branches.
Sure, it might decide to die next week. But it also might not. Kind of like writing, kind of like all of life – if you keep trying, sometimes growth turns up in life just when you least expect it.
Kimberly apologizes to all the plants who gave their lives for this bit of progress.
I have a black thumb. I have killed cactus. Not syre how that compares to ivy but it has to be up there in level plant death achievment.
Okay, you win. Cactus beats ivy. I think that’s a hidden rule of roshambo.
YAY I’m the winner. Wait a second…if I won why do I feel like such a loser? Hey, you’re good. Well played. Well played, indeed.
I enjoyed your “grey thumb” analogy. I’m a green thumb, but it takes courage to find those places in our lives where we can prune. Growth for growth’s sake isn’t healthy, either. In the context of busyness, and the cult of busy, we need that pruning (prioritizing) time in order to get back what is truly important to us. Looking forward to reading more blog posts in your Monday Moments series.
Love that comment about growth for growth’s sake, Ginger! Those scraggly end are taking the plant’s nutrients to grow. It’s good to take a look at where our precious energy is being expended.
Didn’t realize I was being that wily…I mean, ha! My clever ruse worked!
You win!
Has it really been TEN YEARS???? Holy guacamole!
Well, you never killed any of OUR plants and you were definitely within 30 ft. of them many times.
Congrats on your hibiscus. We have a few of those and they are really pretty! And congrats on your other horticultural pursuits!
invisalign The Woodlands, Tx
Monday Moments: Growth | Kimberly Emerson