home :: roots

While there have been a number of communities and at least twice as many houses that I've made home over the last decade, there are a few things that have remained constant.  One in particular is a pair of jade plants.  Propagated from stubby little clippings off a strong specimen in Albuquerque, these plants have grown and grown.  Depending on where they've spent their days in relation to the sun and the drafty windows that also seem to be constant in my homes, they have displayed times of pallid legginess as well as rich dark robustness.  They been hacked up by our cat, knocked about by the lively tail of our dog, nipped by frost, bumped about in the back of a u-haul over countless miles, toppled in their pots, and snipped at so that they would multiply on the windowsills of friends and family.  Resilient they are.

Our dining room window is currently home to one of the pair.  Nestled amongst the decorative randomness that comes with whisking things out of a toddler's reach as the toddler is able to reach, this succulent is pleased.  I've heard that jades are symbols of prosperity.  I look at the vibrance of these succulents and am reminded that even though it doesn't always seem so, there is much richness in my days. 

Comments

[emily]

sarah, that's just beautiful. the plant is an amazing sight. the window is stunning. the sight on the sill - all those things out of reach - is all too familiar. and is that a bottle of sea glass i see? so much richness.

[Louise]

Decorative randomness is such a great way to describe the constant displacement of stuff in my house! I had forgotton how much you have to move away from toddlers and the older girls have so many bits and bobs that the little one constantly finds. So I can assure you my 'decorative randomness' doesn't look as pretty as your window does!

[Stefani]

I think I just exhaled and let my shoulders down. Thank you!

[Angie]

Very nice photo with the bits of green and again a lovely post!

[Grace]

i love the metaphor of roots. i love the light behind the plant. great, beautiful, post.

[Nessie]

jades are one of my favorites, I don't have one right now- but love them. and that window, oh man that leaded glass window is beautiful!

[jeanne]

I love that window, i've only seen bits and pieces of your home but they leave me longing to spy on you one day, it's lovely!!!I also have some jade that's been with me as long (maybe longer) than my darling husband!!

[h.]

Your photo is lovely. As is your prose. I am not good with plants that live indoors. I tend to neglect them too much, and then I feel guilty. But I do have those little things that I have to take with me to make my home mine.

[Nicole]

Very peaceful picture, and a beautiful story of your life!

[jade]

I need a good jade plant. Glad I found you!

[Amber]

I love jades!

My Mom has had the same huge jade plant since I was young---I don't remember a time without it. It looks like a miniature tree and while growing up, each successive kitten would decide the plant was their own person climbing "tree."

Now, my brother, who recently married, has his own home, and is growing a propagation from the original. Apparently,it's just as healthy as my Mom's.