Houseplant — “28 to Make”

28 to make is a creativity challenge from CreativeLive. Participants create and share a quick sketch every day for 28 days. I’m doing the same but with words.

Each day in February, I’ll set a timer for 20 minutes and write a “sketch” inspired by the prompt for the day.

Day 2: Draw a houseplant

They say you should get a pet before you think about having kids, and you should get a plant — and keep it alive — before you get a pet. I’ve never done any of those things or wanted to even though I like pets, kids, and plants. I’m getting better about taking care of my friends' plants when they go out of town, but I would ask around to see if anyone else can do it first before you ask me.

I can be counted on for flowers, however. I’ve bought them for friends, family, girlfriends, exes, roommates, and, on more than one occasion, my host mother when I was studying abroad. Flowers are almost always for saying sorry.

I’ve never had the flowers outlive the calm before the next fuckup that calls for flowers, and I guess that’s a good sign. I would never be difficult just to have an excuse to bring flowers.

I’m not knocking houseplants. I bet they have a lot to teach me. Maybe in the watering and pruning and dusting the leaves— is that a thing people do with their plants? — I might discover why I’m like this: better at the big blooming gesture than tending the soil of harmony.