Do plants have souls? To me, the answer is yes. Plants have a plant’s soul which is different than a human’s but just as meaningful. My son Matthieu and I have fun conversations about things like this often and I’m always telling him that my mind is wide open and that really anything is possible because no one has all the answers. For some reason, we humans as a whole, are pretty narcissistic to imagine that we are the only sentient creatures in the wide universe. To think, that any other being is merely a mindless organism thriving or struggling to get by, is crazy to me. There’s some judgement around this topic making my ideas seem a bit floaty. Frankly, I think the opposite is true and that the energy and intelligence that resides in plants, specifically, is far more intelligent and advanced than we can imagine. I feel it’s us humans who are simpleminded. Whenever we are driving in the car I love to look at the beautiful trees that line the highway. It’s so beautiful up here in the Hudson Valley, you can get lost in thought gazing at the trees. When driving down to Long Island to visit family, the view becomes less and less lush, as the buildings take over the skyline and the trees are less and less pronounced. I think about the utter patience and determination to live that these trees have on the side of the filthy road breathing in disgusting fumes all day, everyday. They still grow and stretch out into the sky, despite being chopped into weird shapes to accommodate power lines and buildings. It’s like they grow and continue to be beautiful because they have patience for us and are waiting till we figure it all out. Same for the ones that grow in our yard, they bloom, watch, and listen, in the way that nature does knowing their kind came before and will come after. The houseplants in my home are a part of the family actually. They need their vitamins and weekly watering to thrive while they give off positive energy and subtly support the family. My kitchen and living room are full of them. They’re luscious and green, some with flowers. When we buy a new one, Matthieu and I say “Welcome to the family!”. As little buds pop open I whisper in its face, '‘Great job! Keep up the good work!” :-P No shame here! Because, in my strong opinion, these plants are conscious and they hear us energetically and they appreciate love and respect. This is why I love to draw plants and use them as the subject matter in my still-life compositions. I love the changes they go through from day to day and the intricacies that can be found in one leaf or blossom. Plants are an endless source of inspiration for me and I thank them for sharing their innate creativity with me!

Anywho, the very lovely Mother’s Day gift from my husband was a gift card to my favorite plant nursery, Salbellico’s, and so I got to thinking about what plants we will buy and all the rest! What are your thoughts? Am I alone in this line of thinking?