Miracle Flower

One year ago, this flower was given to me by a gentleman I knew from Rotary. I had just been hospitalized prior to Brynn's early birth and loved all the flowers given me--but this one especially. With the orchid came instructions of how to water it, which I was eternally grateful for because I have a hopeless black thumb.

First, then, this little flower is a miracle because it's still alive.

Second, it is a little miracle because last February or so, all the flowers died and the stem started to shrivel. I cut the stem off, but kept the plant because I liked the leaves--and because I was proud of myself for keeping it alive this long! Much to my surprise, this October, just before Brynn's first birthday, a new stem started growing. Just a week or so after Brynn turned one year old, it bloomed again. Symbolic? I thought so. Little Brynn and this Orchid have a few things in common, I'd say.

Third, I met the most wonderful artist recently who came to my studio over Christmas break and we became instantaneous friends. Her name is Mara Schasteen (find her blog and website here). On a whim, we decided to paint together before she left and we used the miracle flower as a subject:

Just thought I'd share. The vertical composition is Mara's (who is infinitely more talented than I at still life paintings) and the square one is mine (my first, rather imperfect attempt at being "loose" and "free" in my brushwork):



Natalie