As an a herbalist, I love plants – primarily studying and utilizing them for nutritional and healing purposes – but they are also beautiful to look at and liven up the room. They are truly inspiring and we have a lot to learn from their nature and individual properties. Having said that, I sheepishly admit that I am not very good at growingplants. I attribute this mostly to the fact that my studies have kept me moving around the globe for the better part of the past ten years, without time to properly incubate new botanical life. But the reality is that I am used to working with plants during their harvesting and consumption phase – not the sprouting and growing periods. I need practice.
I invite you to join me as I take you on a tour of the small beginnings that are my first (city) garden.
You have to get creative when planting a garden in the city. There is no out-door patio to make a mess on, so certain precautions are necessary when working indoors (like newspapers and properly aligned trash bins). A window-sill is about the only place where sun-happy plants will thrive, and it just so happens my New York City apartment windows face east so they can soak up some nourishing rays.
The San-Diegan Passion Flower
The large pot you see in the above photo is a Passion Flower plant, given to me as a junior plant sprouted from a larger mother-plant owned by my good friend Grace. Her mama-plant travelled all the way from San Diego, and has since thrived in New York City. This beautiful vine has sweet nectar, curly-cue sprouts and the most beautiful flowers (I’ll be sure to post some photos once mine finally bloom). I am happy to say that I have had this plant for nearly a year now, and it continues to grow and thrive.
The Lily
The second pot was my first attempt at growing a Chinese herb (Bai He/Lili Bulbus) and also my first attempt at growing a plant from a seed (which I obtained from a Chinese Herbal garden upstate). Although you can’t tell from this photo, after months of watering and a lot of love, the seed has sprouted! In Chinese medicine, we use the bulb of the lily plant to nourish the lungs – and find it especially helpful when recovering from an upper respiratory infection, in cases of chronic asthma or a restless spirit (ie: insomnia) which can present after a prolonged period of grief.
Aloe Vera
The third plant (and also pictured here) is aloe vera, one of the most useful plants to have around the house. Sun-burns, cuts, scrapes, scars, dry skin, rashes, skin irritations, acne – the jelly in the center of the big cactus leaves can be used for so many things. It can even be taken internally for dry constipation. I remember when I was a kid and I had a huge scar on my forehead from tripping and falling head-first into the corner of the piano (ouch!). My uncle Bill was visiting from Big Sur, California, and got me an Aloe plant. I walked around the house and slept every night with an open leaf taped onto my forehead for probably a month. It looked silly at the time, but to this day you can only faintly see the scar if I crinkle my nose – it works.
My fourth and final plant is a simple rubber plant, which I basically just got because I liked the deep-purple leaves (and my friend Krystie insured that it would endure anything).
My next addition to the city garden coming soon: Culinary Herbs ~ Stay Tuned!
One Comment
I remember the Aloe plant in the kitchen window and how you would tape it to the scar above your eye. I, also, used it a couple of times for burns and dry skin, so I know it really does work. Great photos and story. I’m sure the plants will flourish under your care.
Love
Dad