Antirrhinum is a genus of plants commonly known as snapdragons from the flowers’ fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed (thus the ‘snap’).

When I was a little girl, my mom had snapdragons and I remember her showing me how to “snap” them. It was the first flower I could recognize. I used to test other flowers by squeezing them and if they didn’t snap open, I knew they were not my favourites.

Snapdragons are on sale at Tru-Value this week. I got 6! They are a pale pink and first thing I did when I placed them triumphantly on my desk at work. You got it! I snapped them! To my delight, they worked the same as they did when I was 4 and first learned their trick!

When I look at this last picture, this is our front garden, all I see is potential. I see a potentially perfect place to have herbs. In fact there is already a lavender bush, a rosemary bush and a bay tree. I would like to put ornamental flowers and herbs here. I look at this picture and cannot wait to transform it. Let me at it!

But… I read recently in a book called “In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts” that when we look at something’s (or someone’s) potential, we fail to see the real person. I am really bad for this. I look at someone who I know well, whom I love, and I see their talents, their skills and I think “Oh they have so much potential!” I always thought it was slightly tragic when people didn’t live up to their “full potential.”

What I learned from reading the aforementioned book, was that by focusing on the potential, I am not able to love that person (or garden, haha) unconditionally. Loving unconditionally does not leave room for dissatisfaction or disappointment. It puts a condition on my love. “I love you but, I would be more pleased if you did this, this and this.” Thus unconditional love is vanquished.

So lovely garden, I choose to see you as you are, very healthy soil with earthworms, froggies, salamanders, and bumble bees! Sounds like a very good brew indeed!