During the Christmas season, a wide variety of cultures around the world are decorating their homes with plants. We’ve always done this here on Mama Maya. Just that none of them plants have ever been plastic! Traditionally, we overwinter especially the saplings and the seedlings that are too young and delicate for a full-on frigid Winter outdoors. In nature, the seedlings and the saplings take refuge under the ancient trees. The more mature plants of all kinds, including wild grasses, herbs, bushes, ferns, and fungi, all will be there to protect an up-and-coming sprout or two, not to mention each other. A mama tree will guard her sapling under her branches, keeping the snows and hail off her babes, sheltering her little sprouts from the wind, and maintaining the temperature a little warmer under her evergreen wing. What’s more, the seedlings and saplings will tap into the root systems of the more mature biosphere, sucking up extra nutrients as only succulents can do. Thus, is also the water of the little buds kept kosher and the sunlight nourishing but not too direct or intense. If I bring a little one inside during the colder months, it must always be for that little one’s benefit. To find a place indoors to incubate until the seedling or sapling can make it outside on their own. Once the rhizome of a seedling or sapling becomes integrated enough into the larger ecosystem, they may not need even to be overwintered at all. But even if some plants will each year always need a month or two indoors, it can be part of a magical Christmas season. There is nothing like having some indoor plants around not only to clean the air, but also to regulate humidity and to eat up an extra fly or two. Even more than that is the joy of seeing a green friend in my home cottage during the Winter. Did you know that plants keep a home warm not only due to the greenhouse effect, but also by warming the heart. I keep the plants near a window, well-watered with plenty of light, and surrounded by other plants and fay sparkle. All of us we listen to music, and the plants and I we keep each other company. All of us at our home cottage including the plants and us animals we are guardians of our own light spaces. Enjoying our cozy time as the world outside darkens and the veils of our ancestors are lifting. There’s plenty to enjoy now during at-home hibernation. Then with the Spring season it’s time once again to visit the outside world together. This will happen in its own good time, for now I remain thoroughly and happily planted.
