“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed: if you think terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.”
My jade plant soaking up the sun in our living room.
Often when you hear someone talk about how they started a collection it has to do with an emotional memory. Watching the show American Pickers on the History channel, you often see pickers Mike and Frank go into an old barn or warehouse filled to the rafters with stuff. The people who own it often say things like: "I was with my grandpa fishing when we found that old lantern and I've collected them ever since that day 59 years ago" or "the first thing I bought with my money from my paper route was that bike now I have around 80 of them." I can for sure connect with loving memories that tie to a physical object but I'm pretty sure my husband will not allow me to pack a pole barn full of a collection.
Jade tree starts in mason jars.
My collection that started from a good memory is my house plants. Right after I got married my dad gave me a start of a jade plant. He got two of them from a very kind lady that our family construction company had just finished doing some remodel work for. She was very into house plants and wanted to give some starts to my Dad as a thank you. At the time I did not have a single plant in my house and was not sure what to do with it at first, so I put it on my little window ledge in our previous house and hoped for the best. Over time, I would spend many days cooking and washing dishes with that little jade tree hanging out on the ledge bringing some life to the space. It reminded me of my Dad and I liked to think how miles away my mom had her start sitting on the window ledge in her kitchen as well. When the little start turned more into a tree and needed repotted I realized that this jade tree had literally GROWN on me.
Jade tree starts in painted mason jars.
Soon it was too big for the window ledge and had to go on a plant stand in the living room and I replaced its spot in the kitchen with a new house plant. When we moved to our new house two years later I brought my house plant with us and realized it too needed an upgrade to a larger pot. While we were moving in I let it sit on the back porch like I had done for past summers. However, after returning home one weekend I found a bunny or squirrel tried to snack on it, only to rip off several leaves and branches that it never ate. I placed those torn off pieces in small pots and kept them moist for days. Soon they had started sprouts of their own that I gave away to friends and family.
I used chalkboard paint to give the pot a whimsy feel. The writing can easily be erased if I change plants.
Jade Tree facts:
Ceramic envelope from my shop holds another start of a jade tree.
- AKA: Crassula ovata, jade plant, friendship tree, lucky plant or money tree
- They are part of the succulent family and therefore do fine with less watering and it is easy to create new starts from just leaf cuttings.
- They are green all year, sometimes having a red hue on the edges and can produce small white star shaped flowers.
- While they are great house plants they can be outside all summer as long as they are not over watered.
- Jade trees can grow to be over three feet tall and are great for pruning and learning bonsai.
My house plant collection has grown to almost fifteen plants now but I'm biased towards my jade tree, the true starter of my collection.
Ceramic envelop holding another jade tree start.
Fond of jade trees as much as I am? Check out this jade tree pendent from Rachel on Etsy.com Her wire wrapped jewelry is beautiful and I'm adding this jade tree necklace to Christmas list even thought is only March.
