Tags
gardening for the soul, Life on the Farmlet, positive and negative people, Remembering others, strong people, weak people
Immersed in nature, I tended this slice of the Garden of Eden in Costa Rica.
Lynda, at Life on the Farmlet, posted a beautiful letter to her brother for a Daily Post writing challenge. The sentiment reminded me of something I wrote years ago while living in Costa Rica. I reached back in the archives and retrieved the following from a collection of writings that I called, Walden of the Tropics. This one is dedicated to you, Lynda!
Deliciously-fragrant and equally-dangerous Datura. Brugmansia suaveolens
Costa Rica – My garden flourishes with water. An ongoing and expanding palette of colors embraces the contours of the landscape. Colorful zinnias, in wait of cutting, guard the quieter blue-faced torenia. Impatiens fill cool corners, and cosmos stand strong against the mid-day sun. Papayas, racing from seedling to 20 feet in one year, tower above the rich foliage of the ginger and the delicate lacework of the ferns.
The datura/angels’ trumpet/ “reina of the noche” permeates the evening air with its heady fragrance. Its pendulant blossoms dangle like showy Christmas baubles -in case its fragrance fails to attract attention, its blossoms will.
Yikes! There was an invasion of caterpillars!
Somewhere in the symphony of my garden, the struggling plants signal distress. “Food or water, por favor?” they beg.
The Whiners, I call them.
“A Maracuya Day!”
I am reminded of human relationships. We marvel at strength and at exceptional beauty, at excellence, yet how quickly we reward weakness. Attention goes immediately to the one struggling most. So I rescue the wilting plants as the strong ones stand stoically and hope they’ll be remembered. Often they’re not. My focus is on the one with the obvious need.
Stately no-nonsense heliconias require little attention. – photo copyright Lisa Brunetti
How often we rush to the rescue of the needy while ignoring the strong. This week I’ll water my strong plants first and tell them how much joy they give me. Maybe I’ll remember to do the same with my personal relationships as well.
Z
So true.
Thank you! Z
How often in the rush of life we forget those we love because they are not nearby. It is as you say, “[We must] remember to do the same with [our] personal relationships as well.” Thank you, Lisa, for sharing another bit of Costa Rica with me again today, and for your kind words. ~Lynda
you are so welcome, my friend. while you were writing this, i was outside watering all of the plants. as always, i couldn’t stop until all received a splash or three! z
Mmm, it is warm where you are! We’ve been having freezing nights here down into the 20s and about 40 to 50 degree temps during the day. I have to splash my plants too, because if I don’t keep their toes wet they will freeze and die! 🙂
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Our lows are in the low 70’s, and that’s cool enough for me. There are towns in the Andes with lows in the 30’s.. I love to visit but I love getting back to sea level!
z
well said amiga…body language of plants…hmmm, would make an interesting book 🙂
that made me grin! it would make some nice posts too! i look forward to your future posts!
z
Love your writing, Z. Beautiful garden. 🙂
what a sweet comment! thank you! z
Love this post. It has so many facets, and can apply to all living things. The dry season has begun..I must remember to water my strong plants, too. Thanks Z.
Our seasons are totally opposite down here on the equator. Our dry season has just finished, and December will start the equivalent of Central Ameria’s June weather. The landscape is about to burst into green!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
z
Much wisdom in this – I take away these words
How often we rush to the rescue of the needy while ignoring the strong.
Love the painting of the Datura flowers.
Thanks, Rosie! I love having the datura in my garden! z
I’ll remember to do the same too. Beautiful post, Z!
Your post brought back such wonderful memories of Costa Rica for me. Love that last line Z…how very true. 🙂
thank you so much! costa rica truly is a lovely country!
z
In the end, all things equal. I’m sure all your flora and friends alike feel equally loved. 🙂
For sure they feel my love! This garden is young, so these next few months of rain will make a huge difference!
Thanks, Gemma!
Z
Lisa this is so beautiful! Photos and words. Thanks for touching me! I remember the reina de la noche as they are so beautiful. Aren’t they used as a drug too? How long did you live in Costa Rica? I loved it there. 🙂
Thanks. yes, reina de la noche is so beautiful, especially in the higher elevations where the cool weather prolongs the blossoms! yes, it is a very dangerous hallucinogen.
I moved to CR in the year 2000 and will always have ties there. Some dear friendships were made – imagine that – and I hope that I am always able to return and visit them!
Z
How wonderful to have lived so many amazing places! 🙂 I wish I could as well but we are tied here for the time being. 🙂
you have a balance, amiga, and when i was your age i sometimes put in 100-hour weeks! i think it’s because i have lived that life, i can now have a polar opposite one without a case of the guilts.
z
Wow what did you do before you moved south? I feel guilty as I never worked that hard! 100 plus hours is insane. I was in business for ten years before having kids but quit working once I had them. I figured it wasn’t worth it. I’d rather be with them as they grow up so fast. Too fast. I wouldn’t trade a thing! 🙂
Beautiful post and flowers!
here’s an experiment to see if the youtube function works.
z
How lovely. Warms my heart on a very cold night.
Brrrrrrrrrr! Just thinking about ‘very cold nights’ makes me a bit cold! The temps here on the Ecuadorian coast rarely dip lower than 65 F or go higher than 85. The Andes are cold at night, but still very pleasant. I confess that I am quite spoiled!
Thanks for your comment!
Z