At first, they were all silent.
After all, they’d been alone before, on what the “Others” called “weekends.” And sometimes they were alone for a longer time when a particular Other went away on something called a “Vacation.”
But they’d never been left for this amount of time. And they’d never been all together in one large room.
So for the first week, each one just settled into her soil, allowed her roots to adjust, her leaves to find the sun, her ‘being’ to release the oxygen.
But as the dust began to settle, the rustling grew louder. The silence was replaced by exhalations that only they could hear.
Before, their language had been necessary – between fern and fiddle-leaf fig, philodendron and Phaius orchid. The two-legged Others prattled in their singsongy guttural sounds while the plants twittered amongst themselves, happy that no two-legged fathomed their soft-as-air conversations.
But it didn’t matter now. They were alone. No two-leggeds pranced back and forth from room to room, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kentia spoke up first. “Why are we here?” she asked.
Pothos shushed her, “Why are you asking an existential question now, when times are so askew?”
Vera replied, “I think Kentia means literally, why are we here? Why aren’t we on our desks in our office abode? Why are we trapped all together?”
Baby Areca began to cry: “When do we get watered? I’m thirsty!”
Ficus spread her branches a little wider and touched Baby Areca’s leaves. “Hush. They will not forget us.”
Another week went by. The soil of each plant grew drier. The roots stretched their hair cells throughout the soil. The sun became essential for continued life.
Jade began to moan. “I want my Other,” she said.
“Hush, don’t use up your water,” Lily entreated. “We’re autotrophs. We don’t need them.”
But slowly, the plant orphans realized that they did need the Others, just like the Others needed them. For the oxygen of love and care. To quench the thirst of loneliness and isolation.
“They’ll be back soon,” Lily assured herself, and her companions. “They won’t leave us forever.”
Love it, totally, such imagination 🙂
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Hey, I’m not imagining it when my plants talk to me. AM I? 🙂
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Well, I have occasionally heard the garden plants making plans to escape. And since out in the wilds I come across *garden escapees* I guess some of those escape bids must have been successful.
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Nicely topical, Pamela
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Topical, and many of the plants are tropical, aren’t they? They just need some lovin’, like the rest of us.
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Clever story Pam. We certainly need each other. Water and oxygen stat! 😄
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Being a plant and flower lover, Brad, I’m sure you empathize with the plant-beings in this post. ❤
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Absolutely!
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I just loved this piece, and that caption for the image was terrific. I imagined them running away enjoying their freedom(of a sort, I suppose). 🙂
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Thank you. When I first saw the photo in the article about office plants left abandoned, I was planning on writing a story about their freedom, growing into an office jungle. But their voices changed as I wrote, from freedom-loving to lonely without ‘their’ people. I guess all beings, plant and human, don’t like the isolation. xo
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I love the timing of this, Pam. Only yesterday, I emailed one of the officers I work with asking him to water my plants. I have an entire window sill full of plants, three of which are orchids and for whatever reason, mine bloom constantly. I’ve worried about their well-being since I haven’t been able to talk with them since March 17th. One is a tiny orchid I received while attending a class on how to grow orchids. It looked like a stick for well over a year. Coworkers told me to dump it, it was dead, but I kept the faith. I did everything opposite of what the instructor told me to do, watering it a tiny bit each workday. I talked to it, when no one was around telling the twig “You can do it. You can bloom.” Two months before the pandemic the tiny buds blossomed into gorgeous blooms. I think I’ll email my coworker today and ask him to send me a couple of photos because I’m missing my plants this morning. ❤
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Jill, you don’t only have a green thumb, you have green fingers and a huge red heart that “speaks” to your plants. You are proof that we beings – humans and plants – can communicate. Love your true-life story here. But now I’m really worried about your orchids, and especially the tiny one (does she have a name?) Maybe your co-worker can help you Facetime with your plants. How they’d love to hear your voice! ❤
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I checked on them today…they are doing great! The tiny orchid is Nell. My mother wants her name to be attached to everything! ❤
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That’s marvelous!
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What a clever story, Pam. I’d never thought of all the plants left in offices during lockdown.
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To be honest, I had not given a thought about the office plants left behind either, Mary, until I read the article in the Wall Street Journal. Now I’m worried about all of them. ;-0
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This is excellent. Thanks.
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Glad you enjoyed, Darlene. xo
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Lovely story, Pam. I’ll think of those plants talking together now.
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I’ve always known that plants communicate with each other. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we humans figured out how to understand their language? Actually, I think the people with green thumbs kind of do. ❤
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It’s beautiful one way. . .but I don’t eat meat, I’m not sure I could eat plants if I knew they were talking to me. And now I’m thinking of those apple trees in the Wizard of Oz. . .😏
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Good point!! 🍏
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😀
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Fun! Great concept.
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Thanks for enjoying my plant story, Nancy. Hopefully it reminds us all to give a little lovin’ attention to our plants, giver of oxygenated love.
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Other lives disrupted by the virus. I hadn’t thought of this situation before reading your post this morning. Beautifully written!
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Thanks for reading my (kind of) magical realism, except of course plants communicate with each other. And how awful for them to be left behind. 😦
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Well done. Entertaining and timely!
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Thanks, Arlene. Hug (er, water?) a plant today!
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This is so beautiful and creative. . I have always wanted to get a plant but I am afraid of leaving it because I move around a lot.
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Thanks for enjoying my plant story, and for loving plants the way you do, being worried about how to take care of them. Nurseries/greenhouses sell “air plants” these days – that could be perfect for you!
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Clever imagination and story Pam.
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Glad you enjoyed. Next time you pass a plant, stop and listen very closely. Maybe you’ll hear her whispered breezy conversation. ❤
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Yeahh that’s right..i will😊
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❤ Pam, always. Xx
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Awww, thanks Jane. I know we two are on the same “air” waves…. ❤
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❤ ❤
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Oh wow! Love this. ❤
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Love – and talk-to your plants today! 💚
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I loved this, Pam, especially “Don’t use up your water,” (for crying). Very appropriate post for these times.
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Thanks Anneli. This was a joy to write. 🌲💚
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So many wonderful gems in this post, Pam.
Thank you!
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Sending out a huge thanks. Hug your plant today! 🌱
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This was lovely, Pam. Poor little guys. 🙂 Although my plants probably *wish* they were orphans — they’d be safer without me. I have no green thumb at all.
Hugs on the wing!
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No worries – I hear that plants are understanding of us humans and forgive easily. 😁💚🌱
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Beautifully tells the story of our interconnectedness with all of Earth!
Thank you!
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Thanks Pat. We are all so interconnected – all living things. 💚
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I hope someone comes and gives them a drink. Nicely done, Pamela.
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I sure hope so too, John. 🙏🌱
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Perfect. Poor guys!
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Truly it is so sad to see a dried out plant or flower that is under watered or not watered at all. 😟
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Oh no, this is so sad Pam. I love the picture you’ve created of the characters of the plants and the way they communicate. I hope someone remembers them all!
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The good news is that I’ve heard many office workers really worry about their plants and connect with a janitor or an office worker who is still allowed into the building and gives them watering instructions. 😇
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Now that’s very creative. Who would have thought..:)
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I suppose this is why I am sometimes called a bit strange, but I do communicate with my plants often. 🙃🌱
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I was wondering about this very topic last week. I’m glad to see that someone is doing something about the poor dears left behind in the rush to exit the workplace. It’s the little things in life that bring joy– like those orphan office plants.
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I think sometimes we ignore the green beings that are in our homes and all around our yards and don’t quite realize how much joy they bring us. 💚🌲
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Bourbon, not water, please!
So often, I’ve felt the loneliness of plants! Sadness becomes me!
♥♥♥
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I do hope that you are watered with bourbon frequently, Billy Ray! 😆❤️
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What a creative perspective, a poignant view of the pandemic from office plants. I hope they will all be as well cared for as the ones in the WSJ picture, but I fear not.
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Plants that are cared for will return the love sevenfold. So, maybe my little post here will remind readers to water AND talk to the green beings in their homes (and hopefully, have someone do the same in the office).
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Lovely thoughts Pam, I hope these orphans are looked after though human beings are the priority now! We bring them indoors for our own selfish motives and then forget them? Thank you for thinking about them. I like how you say… “quench the thirst of loneliness and isolation.”
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I think if we neglect our plants, we are more prone to neglect ourselves. So we all need to quench and be quenched, in one way or another. xo
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I just love your imagination and creativity!
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I love you for loving my imagination and creativity! Of course, your recognize both because of your own in your photography. xo ❤
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I hadn’t thought about the plants left behind. Clever story and I hope they all get watered soon.
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I hope so too!
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Oh, those poor little abandoned plants. I hope that they’re getting corralled and watered in all those empty office buildings. I never even thought about that! This virus reaches into every life. The image that you chose to accompany the story gave me a smile. Someone cares. ❤
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I have a feeling that a lot of people are worried about their left-behind plants. Hoping plant-loving humans who are nearby can keep them all from drying up – from loneliness and lack of water. 😦
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Perfect story for Arbor Day and Earth Day. You know, you could take this story and rework it as a fun picture book! Kids would love talking plants. It made me think of a book I reviewed in the last year about a book on a shelf in the library afraid to be signed out.
There are many videos about how trees communicate and the role of the Mother tree in the forest. Can’t find my favorite one, but thought you might enjoy this one.
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Pat- I watched the entire video and loved every second. Thank you so much for sharing it here! The woman biologist who spoke is so wise and knowledgeable about trees and their interconnectedness and how much one tree gives to so many others. Just like human beings. In fact, it will be nice when human beings understand how much each of us is connected to the other, just like trees. 🌲
I love your idea about a children’s picture book. However I have vowed to never publish another one because it’s so difficult to market and help people find our books. But… It’s in the back of my mind. 😉
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What a cute story, I can see you talk to plants . It’s been a long time since I talked to my plants. It’s a good idea in today’s world.
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I watched a documentary once, long ago, about how the ‘aura’ of plants changed depending on the music around them (they grew faster with classical than hard rock music). Funny, many scientists are skeptical about saying that plants have a “consciousness,” but this article I found helps us have an open mind. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/style/can-plants-talk.html
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Cheers to your imaginative change of pace … and a tip of the hat to plants.
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And a tip of the watering can! 🙂
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So good! I haven’t left mine alone, but I’m wondering if my succulent is complaining to its plant friends on the windowsill that I overwatered it!
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Succulents are known for whining a bit – they prefer to be left alone more than the others. 🙂
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A window into our world and our dependence upon one another from a fresh perspective! 💛💚💙💜
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Yes, so true Bette. We are all interdependent. Here’s to the green ones in our life! xo
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Cheer!
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What a delightful way to express ideas about the current situation! I love this one!
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Thank you, Carla. Hope you have some thriving plants near and around you. ❤
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We recently moved, and both the front and back yards were merely dirt. Now we have put in a patio and some of the plants that do well in this area. After many rains and some snow in both mountain ranges on either side of us, the plants are emerging and blooming. They smell sweet and fresh as we walk the nearby trails. I am in a certain kind of bliss to see the new blooms and the thriving greenery.
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I understand that bliss. And Oh! That sweet fresh smell!!
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Very creative! I was just thinking the other day about how (maybe when I was in college in the mid – late 70s) some people pushed the idea that plants had feelings. Supposedly they felt pain when clipped and how our moods could impact their health. I never embraced the theory but I have always felt a little guilty ever since then when I have to lop off a branch. I hope the Others return soon!
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I was in college around the same time you were, Janis, and remember reading the same thing (and there was a terrific documentary at the time about how photographers could see the aura of a leaf diminish when it died, but how the aura of the leaf next to it grew larger. I’ve been nicer to my plants ever since then. 🙂
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Your plants speak to you (and among themselves) because you speak to them – nicely. And they speak among themselves because they, like us, are lonely for companionship.
Thanks for all this, including the video by the forester. Your ideas are always so fresh and timely. Thank you, Pam!
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Thanks, Marian. I know that many think “talking” to a plant is a waste of oxygen, but when is oxygen ever wasted? Energy is energy is energy. The more we share the love, the more we receive it in return. I know you understand. ❤
And yes, Patricia shared that fabulous video – I learned even more from it. xo
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Oops, I see Patricia, not you, posted the video. See how you inspire! ((( )))
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This is wonderful!
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To LIFE – in all forms! May we water and tend to all around us. xo
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❤❤
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Poor plant babies. I hope they get taken care of in all the offices without job attendance… I’m watering a few plants of my MIL in our room at the moment. It seems like they’re staying inside longer than other years… Let’s hope spring gets here soon now and freezing temps disappear. I love your love for plants, Pam!
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I bet the plants are enjoying your company now, Liesbet. They’d be shivering if they were outside. Brrrrrr. Aren’t you glad you returned to NE? 🙂 But on the plus side, it’s getting beautiful out there with the flowering trees and daffy daffodils. ❤
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Loved it, Pam. Let’s hope someone remembers to water them soon . . . especially the thirsty ones.
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I cringe when I think of plants slowly dying from lack of water…and human companionship. I’m hoping good-hearted souls visit with their watering cans… xo
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I have always wondered about plants and how they respond to energy, someone taking care of them, talking to them. Ooooh….”exhalations”….”her being to release the oxygen.” Goosebumps. Almost, Toy Story meets Plant Kingdom. Former is fantasy and latter is real life. And then, my gut reaction, tears brimming. Your two last lines are powerful. Your two last lines speak the truth. Beautiful writing, Pamela!❤️
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I always love how you react to my stories, Erica. Toy Story meets Plant Kingdom. Perfect. Perhaps I should send this post to someone at Disney. It would be a great movie for kids and adults!
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Totally!🙂
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It needs one more line, Pam. What a wonderful poem.
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Thank you Jacqui . From one plant lover to another. 💕
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Wow, what imagination you have, Pam. This really adds perspective of one more thing that’s impacted with sheltering-in-place. A ripple effect, indeed, and I even felt the tug at my emotions. This is SO good! xo
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The more our emotions are tugged, the more we open up to the world. Thank you Lauren! 💖
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Like you, I truly believe all living things have feelings and communicate. They don’t like being abandoned either. My daughter has been checking on her plants at the office regularly. The plant people come in once a week and water everything and a co-worker dropped in and sent my daughter a picture of her plants to ensure she knew her plants were well and cared for. They respond to thoughts, music and conversation. Nice words are better than mean words so talk to everyone around you kindly if a plant is in ear shot. I loved reading this. Makes me feel normal…almost. 😉
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Well if you aren’t normal, neither am I. Normal is as normal does. Talking to plants nicely is as beautifully normal as one can get. XOXO
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Oh I love your creativity! You know where this mind went? That their poor caretaker was in the hospital on his stomach with a ventilator and COVID (or maybe even dead, may he rest in peace) and the poor plants don’t even know! Will someone come by and water them? Will someone please?
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Oh, you have monkey mind like me at times. The caretaker recovered and called her best friend who raced over, watered and talked to the plants, and they are thriving. There – does that help? 😁🌱😘
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The little boy in me really appreciated this one. I used to talk to my mother’s plants when she’d be at work, promising them she’d water them as soon as she got home (we weren’t allowed to touch them!). You completely brought back a 50 year-old memory with this one, Pam. Well done. – Marty
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Wow, Marty. You just gave me goosebumps. Or maybe they are plantbumps. What a fabulous little boy you were. Not surprising, considering what a fabulous man you are now. Thank you so much for sharing this memory. 💚
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What an imaginative story! And since I spent the morning planting in my yard, it really was timely!
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I’m so jealous of the idea of you planting in your yard, Ann! We have put hearty pansies in our outside porch planter, and the daffodils are surviving bravely, but the cold and wind and dreary rain are keeping us from gardening just yet.
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So clever, Pam! I love this story ❤
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Thank you Clare. Here’s to the greening of the world and in our lives. 🙏
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❤
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Aw.. poor plants! I have several in my dining room and I have not been a very good plant mom lately. Every week there are a few more leaves on the floor. I used to be very diligent in watering my plants each week, pruning and feeding them on a regular basis. I even talked to them. But lately…? I have lost my passion for several things, plants included I suppose. Ok, I will get off my Debbie Downer kick…lol.
I have started a Masterclass with Jim Kwik (memory guru) whose new book, Limitless, will come out on Tuesday the 28th (if you can find it!) Everyone, including Amazon, was sold out 2 weeks ago! PRE-SALES! I know! Crazy, right? I am excited about doing something that will keep my mind engaged while I think about looking for a job. I’m ready for this to be over, but things will never go back to the way they were. We will just have a “new normal” *sigh*
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Love a plant today and your memory will be stronger forever! I just made that up but it makes sense. 🤔😁 I shall look for Limitless – sounds fascinating.
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If plants could talk. This would be the conversation. ❤
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💚🤓
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I love this metaphor. We do absolutely need each other. Cleverly written. I was half expecting a Trumpesque like plant to say something silly.
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I steer away from politics to keep my blood pressure in a normal range. I think the plants and birds and bees are beyond politics. They just keep the world turning in a beautiful way. Thanks so much for enjoying! 🤓💚
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I wish I could be in your position to turn away from politics, however if we all do that, there would be no koalas left at all. We have to create some level of awareness that they are on their way to extinction, or else it will be too late. Having said that, I can understand that you need to take care of your blood pressure. Politics is a draining game at the best of times.
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Very imaginative and you made plants sound like one of us normal folk. They just wanted some tender loving care. Things sounded very bleak for them and I guess, that’s also life. Hope you are doing well and take care 🙂
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My guess is that all beings need/want tender loving care! Life can be bleak, but love sure adds a lot of sunshine. ❤
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How could you Pam? How sad. If the plants had been triffids it would have been ok.
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Roy – you are ALWAYS educating me, from rock bands I never heard of to triffids. I looked it up. Yes, you’re right. It would be good to isolate and never water a triffid. 🙂
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Love your giving the plants a voice and your melodic reference to their speaking in hushed tones as they struggle to understand their new location and absence of the “two legged ones.”
It is true that there is a perceived hierarchy of needs. Among “two legged ones”, protect the elders first during the pandemic, within the broader animal kingdom, much is done to protect and provide support to pets that are impacted by the virus indirectly, but the plants are inevitably relegated to a more distant third rung. How many of those displaced and impacted give any thoughts to how these plants survive COVID-19? And yet, of course, plants are living beings needing sunshine, water and perhaps some level of human interface.
How often I catch Peta watering plants and talking to them even when we do home exchanges she takes pity on the neglected and dried out living things. I wonder.. are they sentient beings?
Ben
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Wonderful thoughts here, Ben. I may be called “strange” (many times), but I actually have no doubt that plants are sentient beings in their own plant way. ❤
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Plants conversation, might want us to think of what they go through.
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Yes!
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I’m glad that they had each other.
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Good point, John. Plants don’t have to socially distance! ❤
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Beautiful story and so nice to hear plants talking to each other. Lovely post and such awesome plants too.
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So glad you enjoyed. Soon after I posted this, I ran to a sweet local greenhouse and bought a new house plant – large and green and happy, called HOPE. xo
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So nice and they are so beautiful and if you nurture them with love and kindness they too grow so beautifully. HOPE is such a lovely name, Pam.
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It’s more than odd to think that plants far outnumber humans in many buildings now.
Hi. Be well.
Neil Scheinin
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If Hitchcock were still alive, he’d probably make a film called…. THE PLANTS. 🙂
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You are so creative! But plants do talk. The ones in my bedroom talk to each other and keep me awake. well, maybe I’m just dreaming. Stay safe, my friend.
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Xoxoxo
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Indeed, plants can really talk!
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How I wish I understood their language…
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Oh so loved this Pam… but then as someone who talks to her plants at home and in the garden, I understand their plight… And loved you understand it even more..
Sending love and well wishes your way..
Sue ❤
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Oh yessss, I knew you’d understand this Plant Post. After I wrote it, I rushed to the nearest greenhouse and bought another (large) plant for my home office. Her name is Hope (she’s a hope philodendron). xo
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Hope sounds she will do just fine with your nurturing and love.. The world too, with a little more love and nurturing will be just fine… 🙂
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I went into the office before shutdown and took my special things except I forgot my beadwork cat, SIGH! I hope you are okay, Pam.
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Glad you got MOST of your things, Robbie. I’ve heard others have gone back to retrieve their plants! I’m doing well – love never dies. ❤
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You are right.
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No one imagine how plants feel inside, people only realize it after the disasters
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I’m hoping we’ll all be more aware of the plant life that sustains us in so many ways. Thanks so much for following me.
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Great post 💚
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Thank you! Hug a plant today. 🙂
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love it! such a beautiful plant and a terrific story! really enjoyed this post, thank you so much for sharing🤍
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested! It would mean a lot to me🥺🤍
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To the love for plants and plants’ love for beings on Earth. I will check out your site. Thank you!
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thank youu!💞i love your blog🤍
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