If you think this title is boring just wait until you see the post.

I have plants in my house.  Quite a few actually - and for the most part they are all thriving.  There are many good reasons to have lots of plants - good feng shui, it improves the air quality in your home, they are good for relationships.......

Okay, I'm making all that up.  Actually, the only reason I can think of is that they are a good way to quickly fill up some empty spaces in your decor and as to why I have so many - well, I'm not sure.  I think people notice I have plants and decide that they make a good gift for me - so now I have more plants than I can possibly keep up with.

Just a quick aside - have you ever noticed that no matter how many windows you have in your home that all the plants will only survive on one side of the house?  No, you've never noticed that?  Well, maybe it's just me.  But all of my plants are located on one side (the west side??) as that seems to be the only place they are semi-happy. Anyway......

You know, the key to having healthy plants is to ensure that each plant has the proper type of soil, pot, food, humidity and . . . . 

Okay, I'm making that all up too.  Usually, I just throw the plant in a pot with some dirt and try to remember to water it.

This plant is my barometer.

When he wilts then I know that I've forgotten to water the plants . . . again.  It's actually quite surprising that any of these plants are still alive considering how often I forget to water them....

Some of these plants thrive seemingly without any love from me at all.  Like this one.

I received this one at Thanksgiving.  I've given it the bare minimum of attention, water and love because it's a poinsettia.  Usually, they die upon receipt and aren't really expected to be kept as house plants.  This one though apparently loves it here.  If it continues to thrive, I suppose I may have to re-pot it and see what happens.  Although I expect that once I begin to put any effort at all into it - it will give up the ghost.  Because plants are fickle like that.

My Christmas Cactus (so named because they are supposed to bloom at Christmas time, of course)

Has officially been re-named the Holiday Cactus.  This sucker blooms for every holiday that the calendar can throw at  it.  As you can see it's preparing to bloom again - well, it is Groundhog Day tomorrow so I suppose it's due. 

Now this one - the Cyclamen?  Well, what can I say?

I love these plants - they are, generally, beautiful.  I've tried to cultivate them at least four different times - and this is always the result - no matter how much loving care, water, light, etc. that I shower upon them.  They always die.  This species hates me.

They should look like this:

After four previous attempts I gave up on this plant.  The relationship was just too volatile.  I'd bend over backwards trying to please but every time it would leave me within just a few short weeks - usually it didn't even take that long.

But then received one as a gift and once again I tried so hard, so very hard.  And, as you can see, after just a short time.....

once again I failed.  I've decided if I ever receive another one, I shall smile and say thank you and then,once the giver is gone, in the interest of saving time and energy promptly throw the damn thing away and grab a glass of wine instead.