Friday, October 10, 2008

Fresh Flowers

My thumb is about as far from being green as it can be, but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate living, growing plants.  I have a few houseplants that I've managed to keep alive, though I wouldn't call them thriving.  Kevin takes care of all the plants and things outside, and he's much better at it all than I am.  I couldn't tell you the names of anything with leaves, except maybe for a rose or a tulip, because they're easy to recognize.  If there are no actual flowers on the plant, you can certainly forget my knowing its name!  I know what I like and what I think is pretty, but that's about the extent of it.

One of my favorite things to have on my kitchen table (you know, besides warm brownies) is fresh flowers.  I love a bouquet with lots and lots of colors!  It really brings me so much joy.  And it doesn't matter where they come from--whether they're clipped from our yard or bought in a store.  Most of my flowers come from the clearance buckets at Kroger, and they usually last a week or two!  

A few days ago, Katie and I went to the Farmer's Market and saw lots of beautiful mums.  So I let Katie pick out two (pink and purple, of course), and I picked out one (a dark orangey color). Katie loved helping me choose where to place them out front, and she took great pride in watering them herself.  Each day she looks at them and exclaims that "They've grown!"

On the kitchen table, I currently have a single bunch of white hydrangeas, which my sister-in-law had leftover from a wedding for which she did all the flower arrangements.  (She's incredibly talented, by the way!)  They are so pretty, dainty, and delicate.  I really marvel at God's creativity when I look at flowers!  And it's okay if I don't know all their names, because He does, and He wants me to enjoy them . . . even if I get them on the clearance rack. 

3 comments:

laurie said...

That's hilarious that Katie exclaims, "They've grown!" What a goober-head.

I totally agree about how happy fresh flowers can make a room. And I think the lack of green thumb and knowledge about plants is hereditary. Is there anyone in our immediate family who's good at/ knowledgeable about that?

Carrie Bevell Partridge said...

As far as I know, none of us is especially good in this area. Kevin and I bought some new plants this weekend. We'll see how long they last at my mercy! I never buy very expensive ones for that very reason. One of my new ones cost ten bucks. Yikes! The PRESSURE!!!!!

Christy Bullock said...

I was thinking the same thing while I was reading - that no one in our family knows anything about plants and flowers. I have a bunch of plants around the house that we were given for various reasons, that I honestly would like to "let die" because they are all just green and I have to keep watering them - or hear Jeremy ask "when was the last time you watered the plants?" But, I think Jeremy (and possibly his mom too) would not be happy about that. I also never take care of our flower beds outside. Jeremy wants me to be inspired to make them beautiful, but I just don't know how! But, I LOVE pretty flowers! I'm going to have to start watching clearance racks too!