You Grow Girl™

It worked. If you ever have a housewarming– or even just a party– and want people to bring something from their heart, that they don’t have to work hard to create (unlike a hand braided rug, for instance), and is basically free– then ask them to bring a cutting from their favorite houseplant. Despite the snowstorm, almost 60 people showed up to my little housewarming last night over the course of about 8 hours… And, many of them came with plants in hand! Given the cold– and that many people had walked (hiked through the snow actually), they came in layers of paper and plastic bags, protected from the elements. Some took the opportunity to get me a new plant– a little Senecio, or primula– and I got a potted freesia (yummy smelling!) and budding crocus.
A friend is really into Sanseveria (she’s part of the sanseveria society, even) and has a house full of them… She brought me a big one, and it is dangerous and awesome.
The boy I like brought me three small succulents (I love succulents), including a precious little jade (he knows the way to my heart– and if he doesn’t realize that yet, he has a pleasant surprise coming)…
…And there’s a dieffenbachhia cutting, and a burro’s tail… I love it! I spent time arranging them on my plant window shelves today.

…I don’t know exactly who brought what (people were coming in and taking off boots, snow suits, handing me food, and plants–I tried to make a list of who brought what for the sake of thank-you’s today, and was unsuccessful)… but, someone came in with a great aloe, ripe for dividing and rooting… I can’t wait to pass along its babies to others– getting lots of plants makes me feel the plant-sharing love.
Though not plant-related, I also asked people to contribute to warming my home by cutting a paper snowflake to add to my windows. Since I was little that was part of our holiday-season decor– bringing out the collection of paper snowflakes, and cutting a few more each year. My mother the artist was particularly talented at the intricate kinds, and it’s a skill I picked up as well. If you want to see pictures of my favorites, let me know… I’ve made it a tradition for myself that at the first snow of the winter, I cut a paper snowflake. In addition to the ones I’d made this season, I now have big blocky (not actually snow flake shape or looking, but wonderful nonetheless) ones made by my four-year old neighbor, and a beautifully intricate snowflake from a clearly-talented friend, and everything in between. My windows look so festive!