Lesson of the Lilies

I wasn't a gardener, but I knew I couldn't let these plants die

- By TONYA MAY AVENT, Woolwich Township, New Jersey

Three years ago, my friend Nicole brought me a beautiful plant with glossy green, oval-shaped leaves—a peace lily. “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. My father had just passed away unexpectedly. I carried the plant into the kitchen and set it down carefully beside the two I already had. For the past two years, I'd tried to care for those plants, mostly unsuccessfully. The random brown and yellow leaves dotting both pots were evidence of my ineptitude.

Now I had another one to worry about. Great, I thought. Although I cherished this new lily as a remembrance of my father, I couldn’t help wondering if it was a waste of my time and my friend’s money. Maybe I just wasn’t a plant person.

I'd never had much interest in gardening. When I was growing up, my mom certainly didn’t have time for it, what with raising five children. My grandmother had a huge garden that we were not allowed in, except on those few occasions we'd help pick string beans ready for harvest. All I knew were the basics from science class—plants needed water and sunlight, right?