Living On Air

In Florida, anything that holds still, eventually turns black with mold. Sidewalks. Houses. Fences. My teak storage cabinet. Instead of trying to keep my cabinet perfectly stained, or oiled, or painted every year, I painted it 4 times over one weekend, using 4 different colors of Chalk Paint. Then I sanded it down with a mouse sander to reveal all the layers. The distressed finish, makes a stress-free finish. Instead of little imperfections that drive me crazy, it’s one big lovely imperfection.

All that mold growing capability also makes it possible to grow epiphytes. You’ve gotta love a plant that lives on air – like the Spanish moss that grows in old oak trees and makes them look like they’re sporting long silver beards. So delicate and graceful.

Contrast that with the big bold Staghorn fern. After seeing a massive specimen anchored in the crook of a tree at a local nursery  this little fellow followed me home. He sits on the shelf and lives on air. I don’t have to fuss over him or the storage cabinet.