Flowers

We've always given flowers for a myriad of occasions: birthdays, weddings, funerals, holidays, or random gestures of love. I looked up the history of this tradition and found vague consistencies across the board such as, "everyone just always has," or "flowers are used to express emotion without words". Though that is dissatisfying, it also makes sense. Flowers are pretty. Sometimes you want to gift someone a pretty thing, especially if you're not super wealthy. Sometimes you don't know how to tell that person how you're feeling, but hey! Flowers!

Flowers can mean, "I'm glad you're alive," or "I'm sorry that you are grieving". (When I die, don't buy flowers for me. Buy some for yourself.) They can mean "I love you", or "f*** off," such as in the Rolling Stones' Dead Flowers.

We keep potted flowers as well as cut bouquets around the house all the time. They've been little pockets of light during a bleak year, and the live ones in particular have been an ongoing source of excitement for John, who tenderly cares for them. (This is good, as they would most likely die under my watch. I'm a succulent lady through and through. That's weird to type. And read. I should delete it. Nah.)

There's something thrilling to see buds unfold into brilliant, colorful petals, like the parachute in elementary gym glass. I don't want kids, but I will admit that it feels rewarding to watch a plant grow and blossom, like I am bringing something to life by ensuring it has its basic needs met (okay, this is still John, but I watch). With our little garden, we got constant Spring in a winter of a year.

And then, of course, the picture above is of a bouquet of cut and dyed roses, but I couldn't help myself when I saw them. I just knew they would brighten up our living room (which is already quite bright with the fireplace, the plants, the paintings, but as I've said before, I am an eccentric type). Those roses absolutely pop next to our giant, turquoise wall and I am determined to continue adding color to our space until it's so loud that it's nauseating. 

We have some seeds that need planting in our leftover terra cotta pots by the bay windows. That'll mean a quick run to the store and a messy hour or two, but we hope to have an even bigger presence of plants and flowers this year. We're hoping 2021 can be bolder and more luminous than the last several combined.

Until tomorrow, stay well, stay safe, and stay kind.

Much love,
​c