Window Garden

Our kitchen sink is situated in a corner underneath two windows. Above the sink is a little ledge on which I currently have a collection of plants. Clockwise from the left are a rabbit's-foot fern, a cyclamen, a clover, and a christmas cactus.



Look at the new sprouts in the clover. Something so hopeful about sprouts... The plant was an impulse gift from a co worker a few years ago. The job was a total nightmare, but looking at this plant reminds me of the kindness of that coworker. I also take comfort that both the plant and I survived an extremely toxic environment.

The cactus has recently sprouted lots of new leaves. I am so proud! When we were in Minnesota this past February, I took cuttings from Ryan's grandmother's cactus. It's a huge plant. I think his aunt said she remembered it in the house when she was a little girl. That I could get the cuttings home, get them to root and, finally, to grow seems like a minor miracle.

The fern is also a horticultural heirloom from Minnesota. We brought back four of the "rabbit's feet" and they, too, have begun to sprout. I think Ryan's aunt said her fern was from cutting from her great-grandmother's plant. So, our humble little sprouts have a long history.

The cyclamen is the one I bought in January. I nearly killed the poor thing. But, it survived and I'm hoping to nurse it back to health. This happy, sunny little spot brings a lot of comfort to both me and the plants.