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The Strange Orchid
The Strange Orchid
 
In my current residence’s window there is a light yellowish – azalea colored striped orchid.
 
While the apartment was getting renovated for about 10 months we had to live in a motel. After returning to the apartments, we invited some people over for a meal and the visitor had brought the flowers.
 
It has been about 7 months and now it only has 3 withered flowers. I think this was the longest time I’ve had an orchid live this long.
 
I remember receiving my first orchid about 35 years ago. When I had planted my first church (San Jose Korean Bible Church) one of my faithful Sunday school staff donated me one to decorate my office.
 
When I went to the market, I would see where the flowers would be located but I never had the urge to buy as they were very pricy. I think the orchids back then were of a fancy accoutrement.
 
After receiving a fancy flower, I looked and thought that it was strange to see the tree-bark like things that were piled neatly around. Thinking this was not enough and wanting the flower to last for while I went outside the church yard and filled up the tree bark gaps with dirt to fill the planter. Also I had watered the flower as occasionally as possible.
 
But the results were… rather disastrous. Long story short, the root of the tree had rotted away and the pretty flower instead withered down into yellow. It was my own foolish attempt and the result.
 
Had I read up on how to maintain such fragile flower, I would be had a better result.
 
Last January was my 2nd granddaughter Evangeline’s 11th birthday. I brought her a red colored orchid. My son in law and for their entire family I usually purchased an orchid flower for decoration.
 
Most of the flowers would last at most 6 months – flowers would wither and the flower buds would also soon fall off as well. Even if the water was regularly given (at the right amount) and put in a fresh location, it would not last so that long.
 
Whenever that happens, I would cut the flower’s branches where it faded and waited for another flower to sprout. I had succeeded once or twice but most of them are just green leaves and no new flowers to bloom.
 
But my granddaughter’s flower seems to mock at my experience.
 
After seeing the well-blossomed flowers fall one by one, the flower pot was removed to another location. But instead of it fading out completely, the flower buds slowly grew larger one by one and still blossomed. Even now that orchid still has many flowers and as if it is waiting for their next blossoming, the last 2 buds are ever so much growing.
 
I only had brought that flower because it was beautiful. But I knew the flower had already bloomed way before I had bought them. But after a year and 9 months, it still looks strange and I wish I could pet it.
 
I do not know why it lasted for that long – it was not maintained specially. I must think that particular breed was strong, or maybe it was planted to be strong? It’s just strange and curious.
 
 
(September 13, 2019)
Number Title Reference
68 ​Never Had I Experienced…
67 ​“Meeting the Youth Born Again”
66 The Strange Orchid
65 The Grace of God
64 ​Kodi Lee (You have Changed the World!)
63 Memorial Day
62 Only 2 Persons
61 ‘70’s Young Nak Presbyterian Church Young Adult’s spiritual movement ‘70’s Young Nak Presbyterian Church Young Adult’s spiritual movement
60 Elder Ha-Sik Min’s eulogy
59 Elder KilSang Kwon
58 Reverend KyungJik Han’s Epitaph
57 Good Natured Person, Devout Person
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