“[Saint] Francis asked that part of the friary garden always be left untouched, so that wild flowers and herbs could grow there, and those who saw them could raise their minds to God, the creator of such beauty.”
-Laudato Si #12
As we have read before, Pope Francis reflects on the inter-connectivity among all of creation. The effects of climate change are a real challenge and we are all called to do our share to maintain a livable environment for future generations. During this time of Lent we focus on improving our relationship with God. Let us also think of how adding a plant in our home can be a small step in respecting God’s creation in nature inside as well as planting outside.
“Authentic development includes an effort to bring about an integral improvement in the quality of human life, and this entails considering the setting in which people live their lives. These settings influence the way we think, feel, and act. In our rooms, our homes, our workplaces, and neighborhoods, we use our environment as a way of expressing our identity.”
-Laudato Si #147 Pope Francis
Even though snow may be on the ground, it is Lent and Spring is just a month away. Thoughts of flowers and plants come to mind. We all love to see flowers blooming when Easter Sunday arrives. Live plants in the home can provide beauty, improve one’s mood and reduce stress. If you choose to embrace the beauty that plants and flowers can provide, the more environmentally beneficial option is a live plant as opposed to cut flowers. A live plant will replace carbon dioxide with oxygen through photosynthesis, but often cut flowers are grown using pesticides.