Spring is teasing us right now and it is making me anxious! I want so badly to be outdoors everyday in the garden- creating Beauty and Life...but as any gardener in the North knows- we must be patient.
The only thing I can think to do is continue to bring the outdoors IN! And what better way to do that than with the addition of indoor plants.
This can be a Love-Hate relationship for me. This time of the year, I focus so heavily on indoor plants and Horticultural Decorationg, that the thought of shifting focus in a month or so is sort of sad. Because I know my attention will quickly be consumed by the beauty outdoors...and I am loving the beauty indoors soooo much right now. So, without judgment, I proceed to not worry about it- and I let myself PLAY!
Beyond just 'having' plants to 'have' them...beyond keeping plants because I love to nurture...beyond collecting them because I have an addictive personality...beyond growing them because I am passionate about life... I surround myself with plants because they bring me great joy.
And when you experience Joy- to be able to lean on it from time to time- is a real blessing- especially when the world around us can be filled with such chaos and carelessness.
Placement is EVERYTHING!
Tell a story with everything. It makes life more interesting. My plants are here to intrigue and empower me. They grow with vigor and strength. As long as I see that they get the bare essential necessities- they are a real example of continuous growth and health. They never REgress...they only PROgress.
I am inspired in recovery to do the same thing.
I have spent many hours of many days figuring out what and where...and how. All plants need particular atmospheric qualities that are very individual- so it is important to pay special attention to what kinds of plants I am keeping and how to 'keep' them. I have many favorites in the house...and they all have a very intricate place to reside. Above I have the Charlotte's Web theme coming to life with terra cotta pots and medium-light plants. I have made sure Wilbur remains the central focus as he peers from within his garden. Old terra cotta is one of my favorite things! It suites this story wonderfully.
Because I love terrariums and glass so much- I have made sure to feature them in a few places throughout the house. There is something exciting about plants growing within the strict confines of glass that creates the illusion of mystery and spectacle. And we all know, I love mystery and spectacle! Above are some of my neatest terrariums standing as backdrop to some very pretty crystal vases. My personal favorite is the Monkey Paw growing in the tall vase. It has started to send forth small streamers of babies that are beginning to pour out of the glass. It catches the attention of everyone who walks through the room. And I love that!
Also in the same room, I have coupled two tall and thin vases together- both displaying small plants with gorgeous foliage. This is my way of drawing attention to Nature's finest creations. Though small in stature, these plants become an instant piece of art...and it's all because of their lovely presentation.
The windowsill is an incredible place to display your heavy-light-loving plants. Though space is hugely limited, it is still a wonderful opportunity to draw attention to your favorite pieces. This in my southern-facing kitchen window loaded with color and life. They love the sun and the humidity created by the running water of the sink, which makes my job easier. A happy plant in the right conditions is a Beautiful plant! Having these little guys in such a functional space allows me time to enjoy them and 'take in' their energy and life.
I have carefully selected great focal plants for the dining room table. As featured in a previous post, these glass vases make awesome conversation pieces over a morning coffee or an evening snack! They are the perfect height for a table's centerpiece and allow for good conversation to flow over the table. They also support the rest of the story in the room nicely. Again, some of my more interesting-leaf varieties are brought to attention here as I have placed them in such a focal location. Soon, the growing roots will become visible from within the glass vases and add even more drama to the table! Fun!
Re-purposing old things is a lot of fun to do! In this house, I always find new things to do with old pieces. Here, I have a beautiful marble and brass lamp that I have used to my advantage as a plant display stand! One of my more exotic plants, Epecsia, is placed in the glass lamp shade where it is allowed to cascade beautifully down the pillar. The height of this piece gives me a great opportunity to make use of the eastern-facing window. And it also puts my much-loved flowering vine on display for all to notice. It is the focal-ending-point for my dining room table's small vases...which acts as a period would at the end of a sentence. It stops the story and sums up the idea!
Small Details are Extremely Special!
Don't forget the details that make the whole story sing. Every moment matters. I always make sure to do everything with purpose and meaning. This is true with everything I do in this life- but this idea has become more and more important to me as I journey through my continued recovery from alcoholism.
Every moment is a moment to shine and to be remarkable.
And I show this idea through my love of plants and how they can really complete a thought in the house!
Mary stands ethereally over this arching plant. The long, elegant leaves of Clivia bring grace and movement to the statue's otherwise hauntingly still presence. These leaves also break-up the curves of Mary's flowing garment- which helps soften the concrete contours so this statue can make sense in the space.
The hue of this Gynura is so different and so wonderful that I have to bring attention to it. The velvet purple leaves are rather small, but when I place them in front of a pink plaque with a gold bee on it, they become a great accent. I have placed the plant in a jewel-toned mosaic pot which also helps to grab our eyes. Here, purple, pink, and gold make a really warm trio of colors that I normally may not get the chance to use when decorating with plants!
Tea Time! This Aglaonema falls nicely over this shelving unit which keeps all of our glass cans of dried herbs and teas. The leaves are playful and very vigorous in growth. I love watching them fall down over the shelf which is standing in an otherwise stale corner of the kitchen. This plant adds just the right amount of energy to the plain space.
I have some very delicate, intricate, and miniscule plants in my collection that I LOVE! Though they are tiny in presence, they become a neat duo of curiosity on top of these black wooden candle holders. I have placed String of Pearls and Baby's Tears over a gardening book which sits purposefully on a small white chair. Some of the vignettes in the home are non-functional. They are mainly used to display and acknowledge certain aspects of the home's elements. This area is a prime example of a non-functional space. A scene meant to paint a picture for us. To create wonder.
This little clover is called Iron Cross, so what better way to support this great plant than to place him on the shelf which holds our spiritual books and pamphlets?! The lime green of the clover looks amazing in front of these dark books and really stands out against the burgundy-bound set with centers of deep brown. I have used a pot that adds a nice metallic flare to the gold writing on the books' spines. These details truly matter to me.
I love my basket of Phaleonopsis Orchids...but as they are out-of-bloom, they become less significant. The arching stems of truly beautiful blooms will not emerge for a few months yet, so the basket takes a different approach for these passing months of early spring. I soften the foot of this pink side table with these orchids and giggle a little bit as this strange figure dances across the handle. He too becomes a valuable piece of the story.
Within the glass walls of this Tiffany-styled Edwardian case, I have an opportunity to place something singularly in its spotlight. Because Spring is just around the corner, I find it appropriate to use my blooming Primrose in this manner. The white of the flowers glows at night like an entity in the clouds and adds even more illumination to this dark corner of my living room. It also reminds us of the shift in season that lies ahead.
Not all plants need to grow under traditional circumstances. I love finding ways to play with the way things are done. This Elephant Ear plant has been completely removed from its soil and placed in a glass vase of water...to allow for a view of the neat white roots that grow from the rhizome. They curl and flow nicely within the water. Almost personifying the image of rushing water itself. I have a small lamp placed nearby so at night this vase illuminates beautifully, adding an element of wonder to these gnarly roots (which we don't often get a chance to see.) And because I love mystery and illusion, this plant standing alongside my trio of bizarre dolls helps me paint a picture of curiosity. Sort of like the apothecary jars filled with strange beings and creatures in a scientist's lab.
So you see, details are very special to me. They help create a world where my mind's thoughts can become a visceral image. A world where the wonder in my mind can be illustrated and dramatized. It is in this place, I find life. And hope.
And when I play in this way- when the things around me tell their story- I get to share it with you.
-This home tells my story.
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