Sundays... a day for relaxing, or as is my case, the day I process all the information crammed in my head during two full days of back-to-back graduate school.

My housemate decided that the spring warmth had finally reached a level where she could put all the plants outside. I only moved in last month, so I had no idea that the copious cactus and succulents in the house were actually outdoor plants brought in to avoid the winter chill. She also keeps the outdoor plants covered during the winter with a protective, breathable tarp that allows them to get some sun, but avoid the frost, so walking into the little backyard area today was a burst of color and freshness!

One of the most beautiful plants out there--and there are many--was this Arum-lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica):

It was so gorgeous that I had to take a picture. Looking at the delicate flowers and protective leaves got me to thinking, "Why would anyone cut these and bring them indoors?" To me it is obvious that the flowers are part of the greater ecosystem that is the plant and all the other plants around.

I have never really understood cut flowers. To me, it is like cutting off someone's beautiful hair and putting it on display in your house. If I think a flower is beautiful, I will either bring the whole plant into the house or in cases when that is not possible, take a picture.

Can someone who loves cut flowers
help me understand why you do it?

I genuinely want to understand. Do you cut flowers because you don't think the plant is aware? Do you even think about it at all?

I look forward to learning from you!