In February I was looking for a few indoor plants to brighten up the bookcase in our new home. It seemed like a small thing at the time, but then I thought — if I can get a trailing plant, why not make it an interesting one? I remembered the monkey mask plant and realised I didn’t want something ordinary. I’ve always been pulled to the unusual, so I went looking for plants that felt a bit different.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly it would grow into something bigger. One plant led to another, and I found myself drawn to Philodendrons in particular. In a short space of time I’ve collected more than thirty varieties. Their forms, structures and presence surprised me. It felt like I had stumbled into a whole new world.
In a way, it isn’t entirely new. I grew up on a nursery and went to an agricultural school, but after that I left it behind to find my own way in ICT while travelling overseas. Now, 25 years later, I’ve come back to it in a different way, and I’m enjoying it more than ever.
Collecting plants has given me a new source of satisfaction. It’s not only about how they look, but also the process of finding them, learning their needs, and watching them grow. This twist in my life wasn’t planned, but it already feels important.
I’ll be posting more about the plants I’ve added to my collection and the discoveries that come with them.
