Wisteria

By: Gabriela Yareliz

My husband has a green thumb. He is currently planting seeds into trays. I just pop up by the table to sniff the soil (I like the smell of soil), and then, disappear. He plants. I read about plants.

I recently read about Wisteria. Apparently, the meaner you are to Wisteria, the more it thrives. I swear. I even read Martha Stewart tapped the branches with a hammer, and it bloomed like crazy. A freakin’ masochistic plant. Or so I thought. Actually, though, it’s resilient.

“In folklore, the Wisteria’s botanical fortitude symbolizes growth, prosperity, and victory over hardship… The Wisteria’s ability to thrive in harsh conditions is a lesson in resilience,” Richard Christiansen wrote.

Have you ever been thrown into what Richard Christiansen calls “bad soil”?

Happens to me all the time. Especially, career-wise. Like Lord, give your girl a break. (We pray for a nontoxic environment, always.)

But as I read about Wisteria, I decided this was my spirit-plant (I am aware this is not an expression, but now, it is because I used it. Sort of like spirit animal— listen, I will make this a thing). I get planted in some weird places. I get my branches hammered, I am thrown into a hostile soil, and then, I bloom and thrive in my corner. It’s a vibe. I can relate. The meaner you are to me, I adapt and still push toward the sun. Try killing Wisteria, and it will grow and spread. Ha.

Wisteria. A new plant-spiration. So, when you get thrown into bad soil, a weird corner or someone takes a hammer to your branches— embody the Wisterian way.

“So work like Wisteria, even if the conditions don’t seem right. Through adversity, beauty blooms— and it keeps on blooming.” Richard Christiansen