The Power of a Single Plant

Christmas Cactus Bloom, November 2020 Photo by ERSwett

A single
small plant, a
gift in 2003, grows for
17 years, blooming regularly
just before Thanksgiving, as if feeling
our longing for color, just as
the days darken and
trees stand
baren.

Christmas Cactus Plant (a gift from my mother-in-law in 2003), Fall 2020 Photo By ERSwett

It was
a gift from my
mother-in-law, its
abundance reflecting her
deep love for the keeping & caring
of all kinds of plants. During this
time of Thanksgiving, I am
grateful for her and
for this pink
cactus.

Dried Blossoms on Paper, Fall 2020 Photo by ERSwett

For me,
photographing
the spent blooms has also
been an invitation to see the beauty
embodied in decay, especially
during the past 3 years,
when she has been
in decline.

Composted Blooms, November 2020 Photo by ERSwett

Last
week, the pink
blossoms lay beside stale
bread & a banana peal. 3 years ago,
those blossoms lay on fresh snow, mixed with
spent leaves & flowers. I doubt Pam ever imagined the
powerful impact that small plant with its pink blossoms would
have on me. It was this image from 2017 that inspired
me to begin sharing my work in new ways,
including making a set of greeting
cards with a variety of
images from that
​year.

Dried Flowers, 2017. Photo by ERSwett

This
first 'dried
flowers' photograph
is part of my original "Compost
Composition" greeting ​card collection.
There is still a limited supply available, which
I hope to get out into the world. Please express your
gratitude for the US Post Office by writing
cards to those you love. Rumor has
it that these images make
people feel good.
Here's a
link.

Mixed set of 8 Compost Composition greeting cards, Fall 2020