Andrea’s Path to Plants

A long time ago, in a much smaller Calgary, AB, a child was born on a cold, snowy January day. Just kidding. I don’t know if it was actually snowing.

Anyways, I wasn’t always into plants. I definitely wasn’t, and still am not, outdoorsy. My childhood allergies in spring and summer often kept me home in the cool, dark basement, watching Canadian game shows like Bumper Stumpers and the soap opera saga of Marlena’s possession on Days of Our Lives. I wasn’t lying, I am that old. My childhood was like most: happy, average, maybe sprinkled with a few more books than your normal kid.

My first plant was a housewarming gift from my future mother-in-law, with her saying, “This one is very difficult to kill.” It was a ZZ plant, and I still have it today. It’s tall and it needs propping up, but it’s still green and over the past couple years it’s even started to produce flowers. Perhaps a symbol of my life, if I wanted to create some metaphors out of that.

My second plant was a Thanksgiving cactus. Also a gift, this one from my Dad. And he, too, said, “This one is very difficult to kill.” It is still alive, carrying on my Dad’s faith in me. And every time it starts blooming in late October, I think of him.

The plants started multiplying, inside and eventually outside. Usually in late February a new one appears in the house as I fight the endless brown, grey and white of chill prairie winters and long for more vibrant colours. It’s also prompted by a visit to the local greenhouse for seed starting supplies. The draw to the tropical plant section is irresistible. April snowstorms bring in bouquets of cut flowers while I care for the tender seedlings that have taken over the basement. May showers grow plans of garden bed planting and the opening of my little hobby greenhouse in the backyard while I transition the babes to their new home. In the summer there’s a worn path from the kitchen out to the garden to gather sprigs of herbs for cooking (or mojitos) and in the fall I’m posting pictures of winding up the garden and putting it all to rest.

I’m writing these pages to share my love of plants. I’m definitely no pro, but I’ve taken a few courses and I love to write. Welcome to Andrea’s Path to Plants. Or, Andrea’s Plants for short. 😉