I had a lovely Mothers Day yesterday. After spending a cozy, rainy day in the studio painting, Robin arrived to chauffer me to Cody’s house for dinner carrying a beautiful fuchsia plant as a gift. Attached to the plant was a tag proclaiming, “Buy once, use twice!” This seemed an odd bit of marketing since I generally expect things I buy to be usable multiple times, not just twice. It also made me wonder how you “use” a plant.
Upon reading further I learned they simply meant it could be enjoyed as a house plant first and then planted in the garden later. Wrapped in festive fuchsia colored cellophane it does cheer up a room. But since my cats try to eat bouquets and houseplants I will probably plant these in the garden soon.
Many of my garden plants were gifts and I always think of the people who gave them to me when I see them in the garden. And they all were “Buy once, Use twice” items too since they got sketched and planted.
The bowl of succulents in my dining room were a gift from my sister.
The penstemon in my backyard was a housewarming gift from Barbara and the rubber tree in my side yard came from Robin.
The azalea in the front yard was a birthday gift from my next door neighbors.
The Japanese maple tree by my front door was a gift from my coworkers in honor of my father’s death nearly 10 years ago.
Jana Bouc, Artist 