A thorough review of one's life in pictures conjures a whole cauldron of emotion. I was doing the typical, new year walk down memory lane tonight, predominantly in the garden. If I have anything to show for in the last 16 years (other than raising my children), it's the vast variety of plants that I've cultivated. My love of plants started when I became hyper-aware of the things in my home growing up. One day, I found myself marveling at bright green leaves leaning into the sunlight, turned with their faces toward the warm glass and the earthy smell of moist soil after my mother had just watered them. Green thumbs run in my family on the maternal side. I come from four generations of incredible gardeners. It has been the primary source of pride, pleasure and passion for me since I graduated from high school. Though I have clear and fond memories of my mother spending every hour of daylight in our garden, the bug did not bite me until I believe I was ready to receive it properly. It was like my head opened up and it was a concept that I instantly understood with little to no instruction. I got my first greenhouse job as soon as I started living independently and from there, I went on to work at plant farms, supervising cutting inventories and overseeing reproduction, learning how to grow a plant from a cutting, landscaping and installation, wrapping my mind around permaculture, xeriscaping, succulents, orchids and herbaceous perennials. At one time, I had over 100 orchids growing in a bedroom in a rent house. It was from a deeply rooted (pun intended) passion when I really discovered that I speak the language. Nothing has come more natural to me. This is my gift.
So I put together a little montage of some of my favorite photos from my garden last year, captioned with the latin names of each plant. A complete list of common names is at the end. Be green!
- Brassica oleracea | Kale
- Allium cepa | Onion
- Ladybugs in orbit
- Daucus carota | Carrot
- Dicentra spectabilis | Bleeding Heart
- Fragaria ananassa | Strawberry, Allium schoenoprasum | Chives
- Salvia officinalis | Sage
- Raphanus sativus | Radish
- Cucurbita pepo | Zucchini, Anethum graveolens | Dill
- Rubis fruiticosus | Common Blackberry, Physalis philadelphica | Tomatillo
- Origanum vulgare | Oregano
