Plants are an integral part of our family, and because there are so many of them, they are placed all around our home. African violets, Kalanchoes, snake plants, pothos (we have quite a few pots!), Swiss cheese plants (including a few huge ones!), Christmas cacti, English ivy, peacock plants… the list is almost too long to count. Recently, we couldn’t resist bringing home a new member: an aloe vera plant. It’s thriving right now, and I hope we learn how to care for it properly—perhaps the less we fuss over it, the happier it will be? I’ll be sure to keep the golden rule in mind: “better too dry than too wet.”
Gardening is truly an art and a unique journey of learning to understand and care for other forms of life. Plants cannot speak, yet they have their own distinct language. They are constantly telling you whether they are doing well; it all depends on whether you know how to read their cues.
Each plant has its own unique needs, so I won’t go into detail about all of them, but I must mention our asparagus fern. While we were away on vacation and unable to tend to our plants, a heatwave hit. The asparagus fern, likely suffering from a mix of severe dehydration and excessive heat, began to yellow and gradually withered away. To our absolute surprise, after some time had passed, it actually sprouted a tender green shoot! It was an absolute delight and a striking reminder of how wondrous life can be.
Now, this tiny shoot is cherished like a precious gem. Though I don’t know if it will successfully make it to full maturity, I look forward to watching it steadily grow stronger. It feels just like a snowdrop emerging after a harsh frost—filling the heart with joyful warmth and affection.