We Will Be Forest! by Ilaria Bernardini

Author:Ilaria Bernardini [Bernardini, Ilaria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

I, on the other hand, when Maria arrives, am excited to see how she is doing. If her health is still good, her body strong, whether she’s still suffering for the end of her love. How long her hair is. I want to check whether we’re all managing not to close up into ourselves completely.

‘Sometimes, just when you think a dry plant is dead, it puts out small new leaves. Before they die, plants go into a sort of stand-by, or convalescence,’ Maria explains. ‘Sometimes for up to a year. The first thing a plant does when it senses danger is to stop its growth. Take your strawberry tree and your feijoa, for instance: they’ve put out new buds and they’d been in a coma for ages.’

Maria is always bringing me something new. Plants she grows herself or buys at plant fairs and nurseries outside the city. The plants she brings me usually range between two and ten euros. They’re teeny tiny and haven’t even begun to develop properly yet.

‘Everyone’s in a hurry, they want to buy the big plants. Call it plant-à-porter. It’s OK to buy a bigger plant now and then to speed things up or cover a gap – I get that – but I like to watch a plant sprout new life and grow right in front of my eyes. I like to find out how a plant will grow in my company as opposed to the company of someone else. To find out what things we can do together. When you buy a plant at the peak of its beauty, you should know you’ll be forced to witness its decline. It’s like choosing to experience old age instead of youth.’

I’d have liked bigger plants at first. To cover the gaps, at least, and for a little instant gratification. I would have liked flowers, immediately, but we’re planting seeds instead and then we’ll have to wait and see. When you’re growing something, you can never be sure that it will grow at all, or grow in the right way. Like you can’t guarantee that love will lead to something. That the sun will rise tomorrow, et cetera.

‘I’ve planted you a winged spindle that will turn bright pink in the winter, and a golden privet – it’s a smaller size than the common type. A few perennials too.’

‘When do they start growing?’

‘In spring, until it gets very hot. Then they’ll slow down a bit, and pick up again towards the end of summer. After that they begin to gradually shut down as we get into winter. The aerial part of the perennials disappears in winter, but they’re still active under the earth and will pop out again year after year.’

‘How big do they get?’

‘A little less than they would outdoors, in full soil, and a little less than you’re imagining right at this moment.’

Meanwhile, my son and my boyfriend are beginning to get to know each other. Nico doesn’t know he’s my boyfriend at first, and he welcomes him as a friend among friends.

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