Moss Memories

The Night is mother of the Day,

The Winter of the Spring,

And ever upon old Decay

The greenest mosses cling.

~ A Dream of Summer {1847}

John Greenleaf Whittier

Some of my fondest childhood memories involved playing in woods.  I always thought moss was one of the most beautiful plants.  My cousins and I would make a moss "carpet" when we would make a pretend house in the woods.  What a lush floor it made, like green velvet. I lived in the the city, well... a small town,  but I didn't see much moss growing around my neighborhood. Seeing moss was a special occasion for me.

Several months ago I saw some little pots of moss for sale at my favorite nursery here in Texas.  I didn't buy any but later thought of them often.  I made a special trip one day, several months later, to the nursery to buy some little pots of moss.  I was told they didn't have any more, it was a product they sold during the spring
time.

What a thrill, finding beautiful green moss during the frigid month of January!

Last week, I was pacing in the "backyard" as the pool guy was repairing damaged (frozen) pool pump part$. Actually we have no backyard, I guess it could be better described as a courtyard.  Lo and behold, while I was pacing back and forth, hoping the repairman would not find more pump damage, I noticed some moss growing in a terra cotta pot!  Not much moss but it was still beautiful green moss!  Today I went out with a spoon and carefully removed it and replanted it in a little white pear shaped dish.  After Googling, I see for moss to thrive, it would be best grown in a terrarium. I have the perfect container for this so I plan on trying my luck in the spring with making a small terrarium.  I can look at the little world of the terrarium and pretend it is my little rain forest.

Goodness, I think that little bit of moss was important to me because as I have written about before, I have felt "nature" deprived living here amongst all this concrete.  I take it as a compliment when Clint makes the statement, "It takes so little to make you happy."  Thanks, Clint!  {It is true, most of the time! ;-) }