The ornaments are boxed, the needles are vacuumed and the tree is lying at the curb. The place feels clean and roomy, but also a little bare. A fresh start for a new year is a good idea, but it always makes me a little sad to take down the Christmas tree.
After a few respectful days of mourning, I went shopping in New York’s plant and flower district for some new greenery to liven up our apartment. I set out with no notion of what to get –evergreens and paperwhites felt like faded recollections of Holiday decorations (the tree’s a tough act to follow), and it seemed too early for hyacinths, crocuses and other bulbs, although they’re starting to appear in nurseries. Bromeliads and other tropicals were a possibility, though. I also found some potted pineapple plants (sprouting little pineapples) that were interesting and would have fascinated Julia, but I didn’t think they were colorful enough to brighten these gray winter days.
I was about to give up when I ran across something that made me smile: miniature Meyer lemon and Valencia orange trees bearing ripening fruit. I added two fragrant jasmine plants, lugged my little Mediterranean garden to the nearest cab and took it home.
I like its cheerful almost raggedy good looks, and the scent of the jasmine is wonderful. I also think Julia will enjoy watching the fruit ripen, and we can eat it together when it’s ready. With a little luck, we’ll be able to coax the orange to bloom in the spring, and maybe it’ll survive the summer outdoors in Southampton, and we can get it to bear fruit again. Ok, with a lot of luck . . . .
I almost don’t miss the tree.
