Gratitude Challenge – I’m Thankful For Plants & Flowers

I am thankful for plants and flowers. They certainly make the world a more beautiful place to live in and they certainly have the quintessential symbiotic relationship with us as living creatures inhabiting the same planet. You give me Oxygen, I give you Carbon Dioxide…simple as that. To have an unfettered connection in its purest form is truly a gift.

I didn’t quite realize just how important these living beings could be when I was a little kid. My mother had quite the collection of plants, even in our small apartment in Queens as I was growing up, I saw them as bit of a nuisance, but my mother loved each of her plants. As I grew older, I realized that I liked plants as well.

Winter in my house is a bit tough since my living space has to be shared with the plants that are normally outdoors during the nicer weather. They provide coziness to the home.

I love flowers and I always try to have a vase of flowers on display; it doesn’t matter what kind of flowers they are. Sunflowers, roses, carnations….the list is endless!

I’ve also gotten progressively more interested in gardening. Many reasons:

It’s therapeutic: gardening is calming, allows me to be one with nature. I can let my mind wander to different things, but my choice.
It’s a sense of accomplishment – when I see the fruit of my labor come to fruition (wow – talk about double entendre), it makes me feel GREAT knowing I was responsible for seeing something through and seeing it come to life – whether for enjoyment or consumption. Nothing can beat the feeling of seeing my vegetable grow from seeds to nutritious additions to my meals!
(It’s just too bad I don’t have space for a greenhouse inside my home, or else I would be planting vegetables all year round!)
It’s the ability to witness the miracle of life. Plants are a symbol of life. It’s nice to see the darkness, harshness, and coldness of winter dissipate with the emergence of the first signs of spring, and therefore, LIFE. The minute the first sprouts or bulbs break through the hard, cold ground, I can’t help but filled with excitement and happiness because I know spring is on the horizon and it won’t be long before we’ll feel the true warmth of the sun!
Flowers make the garden pretty and also make the garden a respite when things are stressful. Seeing the flowers I planted put a smile on my face. Being able to sit and look at the fruit of my handiwork calms me – even for a bit. There’s just something so special about flowers that elucidates feelings of happiness, calmness, peace, and serenity.

Some favorite plants: aloe vera, dracaena, bamboo, palm….

Some favorite flowers: roses, azaleas, orchids, bleeding heart, Mandevilla, gardenia, bird of paradise, sunflower, calla lily, Sampaguita….

Some favorite veggies: tomatoes, cucuzza squash, zucchini, basil, bok choy, onions, eggplants, mint…

I hope to add to these lists and expand my repertoire.

Without plants, life would certainly not be possible. We need them and they need us. They also make the world a better place!

Which plants, flowers or vegetables do YOU like? Any gardening tips you’d like to share?

XOXOXOXO,