Plants🌱🍀🍃: The symbol of hope, love and care

 Loving the plants and being a Theist comes naturally to anyone. You can't force anyone to love plants or believe in God. But I feel, both plants and God are not at all bothered by one's disbeliefs. They continue to spread their love and care, even if not asked for.

On my birthday, two years back, I decided to add greens to my new home. Trip to the nursery nearby, and came home some beautiful Areca palms, Bamboo palms, Crotons, Raphis palm, Dracaenas, Spider plants and lots of colourful seasonal flowers. 

A month later, we decided to visit our parents, in another city, for about a week. The only thing bothered me was the upkeep of my lovely plants, but I knew all the species I have will certainly give me a green welcome when I will be  back. (watering the plants when on the go)

The destiny had other plans and I contracted Covid there, just 2 days before we had to leave for home. A week-long trip extended to 25 odd days. I had arranged for a water system for my flowering plants but for indoor and hardy plants, I thought they would survive without active water supply for a week. The bitter-sweet encounter with Covid and family somehow passed. After this long unplanned covid vacation, I was really sad because I was sure the plants must have certainly withered off. Finally, when we reached back home, I opened the door with a racing heart and rushed to the balcony. All my green-loves, but crotons, waited for me. The hues of yellow and brown on leaves showed that my plants did fight like me, for survival- I, with novel coronavirus; and they with scorching March heat.

We both healed each other. Removing their old, dried out leaves, pruning, loosening the hardened top soil, and just a touch of care to them healed me too, from the long-covid weakness. Eruption of new buds and leaves gave a positive hope to start afresh after a bad covid phase. 

(*above experience shared on Motivational Memoirs too)   

It also remembers me of the story "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry, studied during school years. The story was based on two friends Sue and Johnsy who lived together. Once, Johnsy fell critically ill with pneumonia. She lost hope to live. As she was unwilling to live, even the medicines prescribed by doctor didn't work to make her better. One fine day, Sue heard Johnsy counting 'twelve...', after some time, 'eleven...'. She was watching an old Ivy creeper climbing up the big wall opposite her window. She created an illusionary thought in mind that as the last leaf of this Ivy creeper will fall, she would die. Sue was really worried for her friend. She met one of his neighbours, who was a painter. Sue discussed everything with him. Next morning, Johnsy saw that only one leaf was left on the Ivy Creeper. Days passed and that last leaf did not fall. She became hopeful. Slowly and steadily she recovered fully. That last leaf was actually not the leaf, but a painting marvel created by their painter friend, who wanted to create a masterpiece throughout his life. And indeed he created that, but sadly, he succumbed to pneumonia which he caught while painting in that rainy night. Though in the story that last leaf was just a painting, but it was a 'hope' for Johnsy. She felt the 'life' in that last leaf which arose the desire to live again. 

In three weeks, our green balcony garden was dancing in pre-monsoon showers. 

A sip of tea...

early morning...

with rain showers...

and swaying verdure...

This was my tale, when plants became a symbol of hope, love and care for me.

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