I can't remember when I first decided I wanted to have as many houseplants as possible. When I started getting rid of furniture and other possessions in order to make more room for ever-expanding greenery, I knew I was properly hooked.
It's beautiful to reflect on the huge difference plants have made to my quality of life. I have always loved being outside observing nature, and being mostly housebound deprived me of my favourite way to spend time, so inviting the outside world in my house in the shape of plants, seemed like the perfect thing to do. It made me feel so much better about my life circumstances.
What I didn't expect was the completely therapeutic aspect of caring for plants. Although most of them are undemanding and can tolerate considerable amounts of neglect, the slightest bit of tender love and care towards them rewards me with new leaves, splendid colours, and the most beautiful living ornaments I could wish for. So I tend to fuss over them quite a bit! They are an integral part of my interior design, and I really enjoy creating natural corners and indoors landscapes with them.
I consider my plants as dear treasured friends and feel bad when one of them is sick, and truly sad when one of them dies. As a custodian of this indoor garden, I do my best to ask them what they need and try to provide it. Removing dead leaves, topping up compost, giving them a drink or a haircut, turning the pots and rearranging them, all of that is a delight to me and always makes me feel better.
I love to pick new pots for them and to match them or contrast them to their foliage, shape and colours. I always get a thrill when I see a photo of a plant from a few years ago and marvel at how much it has grown.
To some of them, I have given names, you can see Brigitte, Juliette, Julia and Philippe all hanging out together here. I swear I can hear them giggling and whispering. Others I find a bit more difficult to understand, but we rub along happily enough.
When very tired and weary, it is such a pleasure to sit down and just look at them all. I feel I am in the best company!
