I had put all of the finishing touches on my room, but something was still off. I didn’t know what it could be - no more ghastly white walls, my bed was finally in the perfect position, the couch felt homey in it’s little corner… So, what?

There was a man selling plants at the Amherst Farmer’s Market this weekend, and that’s where I found the missing piece of the puzzle: a Maid of Orleans jasmine plant, with delicate white flowers poking out of the green stems. I bought it immediately and continued running my errands, plant in tow. Like a new baby out on the town, people were delighted and curious, and I brought her up to many a nose so they could get a whiff of her fragrant blossoms.

It brings me endless joy to have a pretty plant with whom to share this space; it was exactly what was missing from my life. There’s even a sweet worm friend living in the flowerpot, too, poking around the moss all day. The memory of my lazy flower-filled afternoons with Myrtle still tugs at my heart now and again, but luckily, I’m finding love in swimming hole adventures and magical forest escapades.

At night, I move Ms. Jasmine from the windowsill to my bedside, so she can breathe me to sleep.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an entire room full of delicious jasmine plants? I’ll work on it (and you should too).

flower power, carmella