Gosh! That was fun! Been missing the Sunday Whirl and those twelve little word pushes to write something. Thank you Brenda, hope it’s ok that I’m back. 
burden, bends, drunk, poetry, virtue, palace,
ditch, diminishing, wish, breaks, room, steps
Twelve ways of looking at a potted plant
-Twenty one years, fourteen houses, seven phone numbers, two drunk roommates, one potted plant.
-Stretching from damp earth, sprouting at every angle, the potted plant reaches for artificial daylight in a windowless room.
-The dirt-stained, rainbow-striped pot is a dollar-store palace for the potted plant
-The potted plant once stood on the steps of a wooden ladder, an artistic homage to shabby chic.
-Sitting on my desk surrounded by papers and trinkets and pencils and pens, the potted plant hears every wish I make.
-If silence is a virtue then the potted plant can teach me a thing or two.
-I thought it would be a burden but I didn’t realise how much neglect a potted plant could suffer and still survive
-Potted plant beauty marks: yellow splotches brighten select leaves.
-In my potted plant collection: Ivy, Orchid, Jade Plant, That-Plant-That’s-Still-Alive.
-Accidently dropped on the kitchen floor, the potted plant bends and breaks stems. A natural pruning.
-The potted plant ends its life in the back lane ditch.
-Poetry is being read. It’s about the potted plant.
What fun, and a great use of the wordle words. What a gorgeous orchid. Did you know that direct sunlight is very bad for them, and that they need a transparent or at the least, translucent pot? They do thrive on neglect!
Was never into potted plants… getting one now though!
If silence is a virtue then the potted plant can teach me thing or two.
… and what a story it could tell, too, after all that. It’s beautiful.
Thank you so much Laurie. Jet-lag is making me suspiciously clever.
Lol Stan. We can compare notes then.
Thank you Viv.
I own four little orchids and I must admit that they are a little on their own. They get tossed outside for the warm season and ignored, and somehow, in the fall they set buds and bloom for me. I really must show them more appreciation. Thanks for the tip; I’ll watch out for direct sunlight.
Not only back, but first! With a gift. What a gorgeous photograph.
One delight of living in Jakarta was that orchids were inexpensive. We had them all over the house and, as ViV suggests, ignored them except for the pleasure they gave.
I love how you used the words, am even jealous and am making a note to try a Roth whirl.
Love the photo. My experiences with potted plants have not been like yours. All I got was guilt about being so negligent. You have turned your plant into a companion and I admire that. I like the tone of your piece, it is full of life and energy,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/once-again/
Thank you so much Elizabeth. Actually, I tend to look at potted plants in the same way as I do bought cut flowers. Usually after they start looking poorly I chuck them out reasoning that for the x amount of money they cost, they served me well for the time I had them.
Margo, you’re such a sweet, sweetie. Thank you so much. If I lived in Jakarta I probably couldn’t move in my house for the orchids. I’m also sure I’d make a complete pig of myself, wearing them in my hair, pinned to my clothes, tucking blossoms in every vase in every corner…people would point and say, “there goes the crazy orchid lady.”
I love the repetition of the potted plant. This is a whimsical exploration of the life of a dear friend, that ended tragically, in a ditch.
It’s more than okay that you are back — Hooray!
Laughing! Yes, they would, but then they would shrug and smile and let you be that crazy orchid lady.
Thank you Brenda. It was so satisfying to write out the whirl. Can’t wait for next Sunday now!
This is divinely creative; I love it.
Thank you Brenda. Off to have a peek at your site now.
gorgeous orchids and poetic musings! My favorite is: Accidently dropped on the kitchen floor, the potted plant bends and breaks stems. A natural pruning.
Quite a lot to think about there…
Thank you Nan.
I’ve dropped a plant before. It’s a bit like buttered toast, lands on the greens.
Wonderful! I esp. like the ‘dollar-store palace’…and then the ending. Thank-you for the smiles:)
Beautiful photo, exquisite orchid, and lovely words.
Thank you so much Janet. I’m so glad you left your site addy because now I can go visit you.
Love the orchids. I went to the garden center yesterday looking for some but what they had was all dead…my next place to look will be home depot, which often has really nice ones for a good price. I went out on a limb and bought three huge potted plants about six months ago…they are still alive as I write so I am doing something right!
Raina, I saw those beautiful photos of you and the philodendron on your site. Love it. Today I saw some beautiful orchids at Whole Foods. Do you have one in Calgary?
Love it, Veronica. Of course, my poor orchid actually might get pitched. I managed to kill my current one quite quickly. I possibly killed someone’s muse at the same time.. .read on to find out:
http://paulatohlinecalhoun1951.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/deserted/
Paula, the way I look at it is: did the orchid outlast the same value of cut flowers? Yes? Good value then.
Off to read your post! 
me and houseplants have not been on friendly terms mostly.. but have been thinking of trying again to renew, refresh this relationship.. and maybe should start with orchids
I loved the sense of history and companionship. And the repitition of ‘potted plant’. Nice one and lovely photo. Orchids are amazing.
Veronica, this is just marvelous! I truly love what you did with the words. Welcome back!
Pamela
Thank you Veronica. I love your name.
Orchids are amazing.
Thank you Pamela. Off to visit you now.
Hey, Veronica, found you at the Whirl. Loved your dozen observations – especially references to survival. I am so bad with potted plants that, when we go to the store and there are plants for sale outside, my husband always jokes, “Amy! Don’t look! You might kill them!”
“Poetry is being read. It’s about the potted plant.” A wry, fun ending. Enjoyed this very much, and here’s mine for this week: http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/01/14/the-royal-pain/
Peace, Amy Barlow Liberatore
LOL Amy, love your husband’s comment, (although I probably shouldn’t encourage him). Glad you found me and, I’m so glad you’ve left your link because now I can find you.
Oh, this is wonderful! I love the format you chose – it works so well. Like some other commenters, I am a great killer of potted plants. Once upon a time I managed to keep a potted tomato plant on my balcony alive long enough to produce a few small tomatoes, and I felt myself a great gardener. That was the exception rather than rule, though. I even killed a jade plant last year, oh well.
Thank you This Girl. I’m so glad you left your site addy because now I can go find out more about you.
Yay for tomato plant! Fresh tomatoes are the best, aren’t they? There’s a special smell when you pick one off the vine that’s just so…so…tomatoey. Could you tell me your name so I can get to know you?
The thirteenth way to “look” at a potted plant, is to read your wonderful words. Welcome Back “Home”, Veronica!
Thank you Walt.
It really feels good to have those whirls to look forward to and to write some poetry again. I should do more.
What a nice slant on how to tackle a wordle!
Plants make beautiful roommates..she looks lovely
Thank you Jae, I love having blooming house plants most of all, don’t you?
I was given one shortly after my father passed away. Shortly afterwards, it died, too. I was later told that I shouldn’t have tossed it on the compost heap because they’re supposed to look dead after blooming. I can grow almost anything, although orchids are a mystery to me.
Wonderful! A gorgeous plant…creative words..
Incredible photo, unique poem.
Thank you so much Elizabeth.