Six or seven years ago I was at the Super Savings Store with the littles. I remember going in through the gardening section and seeing they had a lot of “plant type” things on sale. I saw that they had Iris bulbs. For less than a dollar. I grabbed them up–a couple of packs. We paid for them, brought them home, and as a part of my daughter’s school project, she planted them in little shallow holes in the ground.
So much that could have gone wrong.
Old cheap bulbs.
Amateur planting.
The fact that we had no idea what we were doing. At. All.
And yet, they grew.
And they have every year since then.
I love the Iris. It started with the Fella bringing me some when we were courting. We had one printed on our wedding napkins. And when we had to travel to Okinawa to have a Level II ultrasound done in anticipation of our Princess’ arrival, the room we stayed in for that trip had a painting of irises on the wall. It just seemed…..right.
This year. This year the green stalks came up out of the ground. They looked weak and wimpy and were easily blown over with the wind or rain. I just knew that it wasn’t happening this year. It had been a good run. I mean how long can those little brown knots keep growing such beauty? Surely not much longer.
After all, everything else has long bloomed and moved on.
And then yesterday–
they took my breath away. I forgot how elegant they are. So graceful. And that color.
Perfection.
They bring me great joy and what an amazing story they have. Each one of those lovelies can claim a little brown knot as part of her family tree.
That gives me hope.
So does this.
This “stick” came to us in a box. It was a gift from a friend who can grow anything. And her heart is as big as her green thumb.
She told me to put it in some dirt and pray.
So I found this old pot that was Mama’s in its previous life. I put some soil in and planted the stick with the long root. I gave it a home on my back porch Roost, and I waited.
It has earned its nickname “Hope Plant,” because each morning I walk out there to check on it, hoping to see some sign of life.
And then two days ago–voila! That’s exactly what I found.
Have you ever seen such a beautiful shade of green in your entire life?
Not me.
Today that little leaf was unfurled just a little more. I shared this picture with friends on Facebook. It’s been quite entertaining hearing everyone’s guesses as to what it might be. Hydrangea? Fig? Mimosa? All I know is it is not a Mimosa, because my friend said it’s not. I promised to keep everyone abreast of its growth through #HopePlant updates. To see how intrigued this has everyone is too much fun. I am looking forward to the big “reveal.” I can’t wait and yet I can.
It’s all about the journey too, isn’t it?
Tonight I’m thankful for the joy and hope that new life brings us. I love the message that nature shares if we only pay attention. Beauty can come from the plainest of things. Good things come from dirt. And from friends with giving hearts. And what looks like a stick or a wimpy green stalk might just be filled with a wonderful story.
Just like us. And our stories.
There is more than meets the eye.
May you find a message of hope in something that crosses your path today.
And everyday.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 