Peony Envy and the Ant
What’s the attraction? Relationships are hard to understand. What unfathomable desire draws us together?
In the first year, however, when the plant was small, I noticed a large ant on each of my precious buds. I ran to the local nursery and asked for a spray to get rid of the ugly pests without killing the plant. The women behind the counter chuckled and said each bud has its own ant. That ant is responsible for eating the outer casing of the bud allowing the flower to open. That ant is an essential part of the process. Without the ant there wouldn’t be flowers.
That’s the power of that symbiotic relationship – just like the ant and the peony it’s not always obvious why we need each other. We coexist, supporting each other and mutually benefitting from our relationships. When I appreciated that the ant had a purpose, I changed my attitude and gained a new respect. The question is, what do we need to blossom?
By Janet Odgis
Read article on LinkedIn.
Odgis + Co is an award-winning brand design studio based in New York City. We Make Business Beautiful.
Blossoming
The peony is one of my favorite flowers. Their fresh delicate color and the amazing scent always delight me. Six years ago I decided to try growing them myself. I knew that it was a smart investment because they are perennials; if they take to the soil the bulbs come back and expand every year. One September I planted six peony bulbs in a sunny part of my garden. The bulbs are about the size of a small potato. Today I have a virtual wonderland of luminous peonies. Every year they produce more magnificent blossoms. Every fall they wilt down to the earth and I question if they will return. But late winter I always see little sprouts and watch as they peek up their red heads. It’s a very satisfying process to watch the budding, perfect spheres triumphantly appear and aggressively expand.In the first year, however, when the plant was small, I noticed a large ant on each of my precious buds. I ran to the local nursery and asked for a spray to get rid of the ugly pests without killing the plant. The women behind the counter chuckled and said each bud has its own ant. That ant is responsible for eating the outer casing of the bud allowing the flower to open. That ant is an essential part of the process. Without the ant there wouldn’t be flowers.
That’s the power of that symbiotic relationship – just like the ant and the peony it’s not always obvious why we need each other. We coexist, supporting each other and mutually benefitting from our relationships. When I appreciated that the ant had a purpose, I changed my attitude and gained a new respect. The question is, what do we need to blossom?
By Janet Odgis
Read article on LinkedIn.
Odgis + Co is an award-winning brand design studio based in New York City. We Make Business Beautiful.
