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“Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.”
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Lao Tzu
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Here is another of the ‘accent plants,’ grown in a shallow Bonsai style pot, I’ve been working with this summer. The two main plants were sold unnamed, but I believe they may be a cultivar of Alocasia, another of those plants commonly called ‘Elephant’s Ears.’ Tropical, they prefer warmth, high humidity, filtered bright light, and moist soil; a winning combination for a houseplant!
I fell in love with these striking leaves and adopted both plants on the spot. They came in tiny 1″ pots, and have been growing in their new, more spacious pot for almost three months.
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Mid-June, right after planting up this arrangement
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The ground cover plant is Sellaginella, or ‘Spikemoss.” Spikemoss also appreciates constant moisture and high humidity, but indirect light.
These little ‘accent plants’ require the frequent, close attention a proper Bonsai requires to keep them hydrated, groomed, and in good health. It only takes a moment or two, but the plants must be checked every few days. I feel more comfortable growing the little ‘accent plants’ because they don’t require the frequent pruning woody Bonsai need, and can grow fairly happily in their shallow little pot for a long while.
They grow on a windowsill where they never get direct sunlight, but have bright light all day. This has been a good windowsill plant as it never drops a leaf or petal and fills its space elegantly.
Caring for little plants such as these helps us cultivate mindfulness and patience.
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Our little Alocasia after a summer of growth.
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“Time is a created thing.
To say ‘I don’t have time,’
is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.”
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Lao Tzu
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My appreciation to blogging friend Anna at Flutter and Hum for hosting Wednesday Vignettes each week.
Photos by Woodland Gnome 2015
Forest Garden 
What a pretty composition. What is that wood slab on which it sits? I’m with Anna: stealing the spikemoss idea.
The slab is a cutting board made by Michael Laico. https://michaelswoodcraft.wordpress.com/ He special made it for me, but my partner doesn’t want us to ‘mess it up’ by using it. The grain is very special, and I use it on top of a small glass table. We enjoy it that way 😉 We find a very pretty variegated spikemoss in little pots at Trader Joe’s in early December. I watch for it, and use it in holiday plantings. It is pretty under orchids and Poinsettias, and survives all winter in or near a window. Some varieties are supposed to be winter hardy here. I’ve not yet been successful keeping it out of doors over the winter. It is a great plant!
Such a striking leaf! I esp. love that last Lao Tzu quote -so ‘me:’ “I don’t want to”! 😉
🙂
I love those fantastic leaves too. Nice idea with the spike moss. I might just have to steal that one when it comes inside in winter. 🙂
Done 😉