Headspace

My mother has never liked my orchids because they don't flower. It isn't their fault they don't flower frequently: it's that I have put them in an environment that doesn't allow them to flower. While the orchid flower is gorgeous I have come to love the plants because of their focus on living: sprouting roots to catch water, leaning out of the railings to their leaves in the sun. I was overcome with an overwhelming sense of failure when I watched the dens reduceds into dried up little sticks under my mother's 'care'. I have failed to protect what I love and I thought never to buy another pot until I have my own place.

The orchids are made of tougher things than her. Even though the surface roots have all browned and died, they went on secretly growing new ones under the charcoal and in one glorious morning, the canes birthed little bumps, shooting up new keikis. Gorgeous!