Each of us has our own interests and passions and they vary from person to person.
Last summer Annie, an old and dear friend, spoke about her collection of rare plants.
I had never heard of this particular interest before and was so taken by the idea of finding and keeping these plants healthy. I am so happy to share this essay with you and I hope that you will be in touch in the comments below if you are interested in more information. I will put you in touch with Annie directly. Thank you, Annie, for this intro to rare plants!
Plant love has always been part of my life. Outdoor gardening filled with delicious
vegetables, beautiful flowers and the thrill of watching plants mature is
tantalizing. Winters spent perusing seed catalogues and starting outdoor plants to
be planted in spring were enough until…..the pandemic.
I have discovered the beauty in collecting and nurturing indoor plants with
fascinating shapes, vivid colors, textured stems, furry leaves and unique leaf
designs. Being a protector of these gorgeous living things gives me pleasure and
encourages learning and imagination. Hours slip by watching videos and reading
horticultural articles about rare native plants from all over the world. My plant
collection takes my imagination on endless trips, from Hawaii to Southeast Asia to
South America and beyond.
My home is now filled with light of all types; shelves fill sunny windows and
artificial lights hang from the ceiling in once dark corners. Humidifiers hum as hot
pink leaves from my pink princess philodendron send out new shoots and
variegated anthuriums grow on furry petioles. I wake up excited to see new
growth and constant change.
I feel grateful for the opportunity to experience the gifts our planet's ecosystems offers. As
I have learned from my Facebook groups, I am now a ‘planty’ person!
Dragon Scale Alocasia - Photo courtesy of Greg Neumann
Syngonium Albo- Photo courtesy of Greg Neumann
Pellonia pulchra Photo courtesy of Greg Neumann
Blooming orchard cactus Photo courtesy of Annie Neumann
Annie's window. Photo courtesy of Annie Neumann