As a kid, I always loved plants. I remember helping my grandparents weed and care for their rows of chilis, tomatoes, and fruit trees. I would follow them as they set about their tasks for the day, watching as they harvested their fruits and vegetables. I enjoyed taking the time to work with my grandparents and eventually planted my first vegetable with my grandpa, beets.
Working to plant them was a way for me and my grandpa to connect and spend time together. We would make sure to take care of them daily and watch as they sprouted. Those beets were my first successful harvest. From the beets, I felt the satisfaction of seeing something grow from my care. But, while my grandparents had a yard to grow these plants, I had always lived in apartments with no room for a garden. Nevertheless, it was always peaceful to tend to plants, something I would always volunteer to do when I got the chance. At church I volunteered to plant flowers, and at schools I helped with cleanup projects. Even if I couldn’t have a garden of my own, being able to grow things in my community brought me joy.
It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that I could bring a piece of that joy home with me. The first plant I got came from a Dia de Muertos event at the Hollywood Cemetery. They handed out small plants and pots to decorate. I spent almost half an hour sitting at the table decorating my pot for my plant. When the attendant gave me my succulent, I listened attentively regarding how to care for it. Luckily, it wasn’t a high maintenance plant. Through research I learned that it was a plant called Sedum morganianum, more commonly known as a Burro’s Tail. Over the years, it has grown bigger, the leaves falling over my windowsill. It grew so long to the point that I had to prune it, something that’s an achievement for any plant owner.
At home, this plant brightened my spirits, making my room feel a little more relaxing. Researching about the plant and caring for it opened my eyes to the millions of plant species there are. I began collecting books on plants. I grew my plant collection and began making terrariums for my friends and family, wanting to share my love and the mindfulness the plants had given me. Every time I give a terrarium, I think of how my grandparents always send me home with a bag of guavas or apples from their garden, giving what they grow the same way I do now.
The process of caring for my houseplants help me feel connected to my grandparents even when I’m far away from them. Today, when I go to my grandparents house I still get to see the plants I helped them grow.
Taking care of my plants allows me to slow down and focus on the task at hand. Watering and trimming my plants reminds me to breathe and be patient. That’s why I want to say thank you to my houseplants for always reminding me to take a moment to breathe.
