Plant Lady
I am a plant lady. Always have been. Some years I was more fanatic than others. I lived in a 500 sq. ft. apartment in West Hollywood, CA when I was at the height of the madness. I always had quite a few plants, but between 2017 and the beginning of 2020 I had accumulated 300 potted plants. They lived throughout my apartment, and in and out of every nook and cranny of the apartment property. I would ask neighbors who didn’t make use of their tiny bit of outdoor space, if it would be ok for me to put a plant (or two) there. Everyone was so nice and welcoming of my plant obsession. Some were even inspired to get a few of their own!
In the summer of 2020 my partner and I decided it was time for a change of scenery. That summer, actually that year, LA became very depressing, boring, kind of scary, and just not fun anymore. Like most people during the pandemic we craved space and nature and someplace where we could breathe a little and get some peace and quiet. I began to question my current job prospects and reflected on what I had been doing the last decade of my life and started to imagine what could be next. I felt out of options and ideas and had no clue how I could change it up. What can I do? What am I qualified for? Are those things I want to do still? Then I decided to start thinking about what I like. Plants! It felt obvious and exciting.
Now I had to ask myself, “what can I do with that!?” From here on out I just felt like I opened a whole other can of worms and was back at square one figuring out what to do next. Other than my love for plants and being a plant mom, I couldn’t really see how that qualified me for anything other than crazy plant lady, which that job is already spoken for all over the world, and one I already occupy! Calmly, I started to search the internet for jobs for people who are plant professionals. Horticulturists, landscapers, landscape architects, plant shop owners, farmers, florists… herbalists! It spoke to me. I felt the spark of fire light inside of me the more I read about herbs and herbalists.
I knew about plant medicine and herbalist types my whole life. The same way many of us come to know plants for healing. You have a stomach ache and grandma tells you to drink Chamomile. Most of this home remedy information came from my maternal grandmother. My family is from New Mexico and Colorado, both places are rich with medicinal plant life and a deep cultural history of using plants for healing. Even though I have always loved growing plants, I never considered deepening my knowledge of plant medicine. The plants were always magical beings that I considered friends and felt so happy to nurture.
In my research, I found a school in Colorado that offered programs and classes that would lead to certification in advanced Herbalism, and Clinical Herbalism. I started to wonder if I was just getting in over my head and completely crazy for picking this up all of a sudden. Then I thought, why not? Why not me, why not now? So off to Colorado we went. My partner Natalie, my Chihuahua Winnie, and our car filled with some belongings and about 30 plants. I managed to find homes for all of the other plants in LA, but there were a handful I didn’t want to leave behind. Making those choices was hard.
I really didn’t know what to expect at this school. I felt completely out of my league. Being in the presence of wise men and women who know the plants, how they heal, and how to work with them was both intimidating and exciting! Everyone was so kind, knowledgeable, and fun! It was everything the boho, hippy, witchy, plant lady in me dreamed it would be! We made salves and creams, teas and tinctures, sang songs together, hiked in the forest and talked with the trees! I mean, I was captivated completely.
There was a deep sense of home in this for me. I sat quietly in the sun remembering the camping and fishing trips of my youth. I could see the memories vividly. The scents and sounds rooted me back inside myself after all of these years of floating on a tether in space, separate from that person. Coming home was deeply medicinal and my reintroduction to nature after living in the center of Los Angeles for so long. I began to get quiet enough to hear flowers and trees speak to me. I also got quiet enough to be able to speak my truth to them. They held me in this time and soothed my soul, like a mother would.
From here on out I was bound by community and family with nature again. I knew going forward that no matter where I lived, I would not lose touch with her. She let me in on more knowledge than I ever knew existed, and certainly there is so much more than I will ever know. The mystery and discovery is what makes it so fun! I imagine they are having fun learning about us too. Even if I can bridge plants to a person for one small spell of relief and comfort, I am complete in my efforts. Each time I am able to offer light and healing to myself and others, is such a joy.
The power is in us all. You don’t have to be an herbalist to have this relationship with nature and her wisdom. I am called to Herbalism because herbalists are my people. They can walk for hours to seek beauty in the forest. They can sit for hours considering a leaf, a tree, a flower. They will sing and talk to all of nature and find ways to be in communication. This is how we can all connect. You don’t have to know a lot of facts and figures, you simply have to sit quietly with plants and introduce yourself. Say “hello” and “nice to meet you”, like you would any new friend! Watch for signs that may come in sounds, thoughts, gentle breezes. Try to hear with your heart and the messages will come.
Yes, I am a crazy plant lady and a total love junky for flowers and trees. I can’t recommend it enough! Should you need a little lift in mood or injection of magical wonder, look no further than your backyard, local garden, park, or forest. They are there, willing and waiting for you to sit and visit.
Deep Love from the Depths of My Wild Rose Blooming Heart,
Violet
