Some people think it is strange to talk to your plants, or to have a "relationship" with them at all. I however, on the other hand, love my plants and treat them as thought they are indeed part of my family.

Granted, this could be partially do to the fact that I live with four males (hubby, sons, and dog)and feel the need to even out the playing field by having female plants. (wink)

I am not sure what it is exactly, but seeing a plant grow and change, under my direction is a huge mood lifter for me.

I recently added a new member to my flora family. Hibby :)

Now see, many years ago in my old home town I had another hibby, A double bloom, red hibiscus that was well over 6 feet tall. She came to us because she was too big to move out of the house that she had grown up in.

I promised to care for her, and that I did. I loved that plant. She watched my children grow, listened to my silly stories and heard my endless singing. She never complained.

She would bloom for me constantly and I would praise her.

When we moved from that house and I found her a home in the Floral store I was working in, people offered me hundreds of dollars for her, but she was just not for sale.

I learned in a tragic way that not everyone loves their plants as I do. I gave her to the owner of the store when the store shut down. Poor hibby ran around in the back of her truck for over a week and eventually died.


It broke my heart.

Saturday I found another one. Identical, a red, double bloom tree hibiscus. I am happy, and you know what, today, she bloomed....