Meet your neighbor & the plant that’s helping him heal

Happy Monday, DMV! May the 4th be with you.

Readers send me photos. They tell me stories. Some nuggets of info are so interesting that I can’t help but ask questions.

Today, meet Sam Lee, 47, of Vienna, Virginia. On April 24, he sent me this photo of his flowering plant. I didn’t immediately recognize it. Do you?

Sam — after reading about my health issues and the real reason I write this newsletter — wrote to me and mentioned his own unexpected health woes and career bumps. This plant, he said, is helping him heal.

“During my recovery, I picked up a Venus Fly Trap. Redditors insist a VFT should not be kept on a windowsill, but mine has thrived. 9 months later, it's still growing … my plant's flowers even bloomed!” he wrote.

I was intrigued and had so many questions. Why did he get this plant?

“I think it was a dash of whimsy — can't quite put my finger on it. I think subconsciously maybe it was a fondness for the fireball-spitting Super Mario Brothers VFTs? … I am not a plant guy by any stretch.

“What appeals to me about VFTs is that they don't require too much care and also provide the opportunity to interact a little more directly through optional insect feedings. In a similar vein, I keep a one gallon sustainable ecosystem of Hawaiian opae ula shrimp — no water changes and only requiring a toothpick cap of spirulina each week. Between parenting and other adult responsibilities, I value these whimsical hobbies that don't require me to expend too much mental and physical battery. It's mostly pure enjoyment.

“I am just so utterly fascinated by watching my VFT grow and finding the occasional insect they have captured on their own — I felt like a proud parent the first time I discovered this.”

“With my first flowers, I also realized they send their flowers about 6 inches above their traps, as not to capture pollinators. I find that super interesting, nature is so smart!”

“Assuming I successfully pollinate the flowers in bloom and get the seeds to grow, my goal is to start gifting small VFT seedlings to people around me,” he said in our back-and-forth email correspondence.

“Caring for and staring at my VFT brings me joy and peace. I love how my VFT stretches to meet the sun and quietly attracts and waits for the occasional insect morsel.

“It's a low-key reminder to stay calm and rooted in the present moment. Keeping this mindset has been something I have really prioritized this past year during my recovery, and I look for small ways to build tiny sparks of joy into my day. Even if not usually into plants, I would encourage others to give VFTs and succulents a try. There are so many lessons to be learned and feelings from holding nature closer.”

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Sean Richardson, 30, a resident of Takoma Park, sent in this photo he took during an outing with his fiancée Dyani.

“Saw this deer with unique fur in Sligo Creek while on a walk with Dyani,” Sean wrote in his submission. “Never seen a deer like this before!”

My husband has occasionally spotted piebald deer living near Maple Avenue and Sligo Creek.

Are you celebrating May the 4th at any Star Wars-themed events? Share your photos of your Jedi outings and spring life in the DMV here.

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