Today was Mum’s 76th birthday and it was too bad that I was only going back next week. So, instead of sending her flowers, I ordered a pot of Phalaenopsis orchid. It will still be there when I arrive next week and if its watered and fed regularly, it is set to last a long, long time.
Commonly referred to as the "moth orchid", Phalaenopsis are one of the longest blooming orchids – they last from 2 to 6 months before dropping and have also been known to bloom 2 to 3 times per year once they have reached a mature size. Once the flower has dropped, if you cut the stem just above the node where the first flower bloomed, a new flower stem should emerge from the top node within 2 months! With Mum’s ”green fingers” and her tender-loving care, I’m pretty sure this pot of Phalaenopsis is going to be around for awhile.
Gardening had always been one of Mum’s favourite hobbies and I remember she loved orchids. And she loves Phalaenopsis especially. One of the things we first did after her stroke, once she was up to it, was to take her out to her patio and to her garden so she could see, touch and of course, talk to her plants. She enjoyed being out there. It was quite therapeutic, I could tell. Of course, she was also upset she couldn’t walk about and do the usual gardening activities because she was in the wheelchair. I’d tell her that that was one of the activities she should visualise herself doing along with the other things she enjoyed like cooking and going out with the girls.
When I called to wish her this morning, she said she liked it so much she has put it by her bedside. I was glad she liked it. It meant a lot to me. And I couldn’t wait to be back next week to spend some quality time with her.
For today, happy birthday Mummy..whatever with the past has gone, the best is always yet to come. And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years….I love you.
