succulents and ferns
each pretty in their own way
offering themselves
While out running errands I decided to take a run to the now-open-for-the-season mega greenhouse store. It would take hours to photograph every area of the place, so I focused on a few kinds of plant while searching for a plant tray, a pothos, and a random perennial.
The title of the poem is the title of a book by Michael Pollan, which hypothesizes that plants purposefully look, smell, and/or act in a way that makes humans choose them. I sure would have loved to choose any of the plants in the pictures — if I had the space for them! I’d be interested in hearing any thoughts on Pollan’s hypothesis.
Grace is today’s host of dVerse’ Open Link Night.
Tao Talk 
Gorgeous shots. Love the birds’ eye view ones 🤩
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Thanks, Sunra. I hadn’t planned on taking pics while in there but next thing I know my hand followed my eyes :)
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☺️ I’d have been the same!
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:)
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Each one is its own temptation. Such wonderful forms.
I don’t think plants are waiting for us to choose them at all. They do perfectly well without us in fact. (K)
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LOL! Maybe a case of mansplaining? ;)
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Humansplaining–we are not the center of the universe no matter how hard we try to make it so.
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I love my plants and I have so many pothos. I guess we choose each other, specially those that thrive with our nurturing and care. I adore the title and the photos.
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Thanks, Grace. I had pothos some years ago but lost it along the way. A YT fish channel I watch uses it as part of their filtration system. I’m going to try it on my fish tank.
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My favorite is the 4th one down…that is a great picture….as are all of them
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I like that one too, Max. It looks like a crown to me. Thanks!
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My first thought was it favored a white dandelion but of course it’s not… it’s way too intricate…what is it?
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You’re talking about the one with the ring of pink flowers around it? Some kind of cactus but didn’t look at the tag. There were dozens or more varieties of them.
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Yes! I loved that one.
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offering themselves indeed Lisa ….to pollinators and the elements!
Pollan’s hypothesis is humancentric and since we do nothing for plants but look, buy, hybridize and patent I think he is way off understanding plants – but with that name I’m surprised.
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Laura, thanks, as always, for your insightful perspective. He’s got a show on netflix now (or is in an episode of it that I saw) on mind-altering substances. Looks like he’s looking at plants in another way now.
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perhaps it will help him see what we can do for plants and not vice versa ;)
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Beautiful photos Li. All are so beautiful and inviting us to take them home. I wouldn’t buy any of the cacti as I’ve had a very bad experience with them when I was a kid and grabbed a cactus full of thorns/ spikes with my hand. They impeded in my hand and I was in agony.
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Oh no, Sadje! They are no joke if you get poked by them. Even moving the prickly pear out into the sun or out of the rain, it’s poked me more than once. The succulents in the house now have no thorns.
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Yes better outside than inside.
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Of course the plants look like they do because they appeal to humans,… they have been bred that way.
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You’re right, these hothouse plants especially.
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It’s odd looking up, seeing the bottom’s of the plant pots
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These are just some of the ferns. There’s hundreds of other hanging baskets also.
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They do ‘offer themselves’ to us, whether for admiration, inspiration and/or propagation! Really enjoyed this!
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Carol, plants are my family. They must be doing something right :)
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I’ll take it! They got my attention. And it’s great to be welcomed.
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Thanks, Colleen!
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A beautiful reflection, Lisa. Love your photographs, which to me all breathe the “botany of desire” — whether it comes from us or them or both, I think all living things desire to be loved and to give and receive praise, just for being and for the Author of that being.
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Well said, Dora!
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The first spring after I retired, I really noticed the ferns coming up. I told my sweety how amazed I was by them. She just smiled. I think they had a chuckle, too. My dear one’s gardens are an urban paradise in the summer.
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Sounds like a wonderful place to enjoy summer. Thinking of you two sitting in the garden and sipping iced tea.
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It’s pretty grand, yeah. A lot of foot traffic goes by and people often stop and compliment her loving attention to the space.
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HI Lisa, I love your photographs. YOur poem is beautiful.
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Thanks, Robbie <3
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Lovely photos Lisa and the poem is almost overshadowed but equally lovely! Pollan’s conceit is charming but I think it is the plant-sellers and breeders who have chosen them to appeal to us – rather like you choosing where to point your camera…
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Andrew, thanks so much. I even get a little nervous being in a vast place like this. In a way it feels like the plants have been enslaved. Out in that area are long plastic-covered tunnels where they grow shrubs and trees, and they also feel like prisons for plants. Well-said and reasonable comment on “Pollan’s conceit.”
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I think humans need these plants more than the plants require the human side.
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For sure, Usfman. If we end, plants will go on.
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It would be so easy to get lost in there!
My co-worker has that cactus with the crown of flowers. I love it.
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Dale, yes it would be easy to get lost, and easy to drop a large wad of $$ in there also. It took all of my willpower to spend only $25 for what I needed (and one perennial I wanted.) You know that bright orange butterfly milkweed I’ve posted before? Now she has a little sister :)
Those cactus are gorgeous!
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Oh yeah…
I bet it did!! How wonderful you got her a sister!
They are!
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Thanks for the photos. So many wonderful colours in bloom right now. 😊
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Glad you enjoyed them and yes there are!
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That would be Heaven for me.
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It is like being in heaven, Melissa!
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