A sign at our local nursery recommends purchasing native plants like wattles, bottlebrushes, waratahs, and hakeas for our gardens because we live so close to the Australian bush.
Everyone in our village seems to have ignored this advice. Each front garden on our road has many exotic agapanthus plants. In summer, we all enjoy a glorious display of blue/purple and white flowers.
There are also agapanthus plants in the park, right next to the bush. The council ignored the nursery’s advice, too.
Of course, the nursery was right. Agapanthus seeds have germinated in the bush. A few rogue plants have sprung up here and there between the gum trees and wattles.
During summer, as I drive to town, I enjoy spotting agapanthus flowers in the bush alongside the road leading out of our village. These plants stand out because they’re different and don’t belong. But despite being a threat to the natives—maybe they’ll take over the bush—I like them. They make me smile.
Is that because I’m a bit different myself?
Now I’m thinking about unschoolers springing up everywhere like agapanthus, ignoring the critics’ warnings not to live this beautiful way of life. We stand out because we’re different and don’t belong. Imagine if we slowly increased in number, like the exotic flowers in our bush. Would arbitrary rules and control diminish? Would trust, respect, unconditional love and acceptance spread throughout the world?
Being an unschooler, I’m curious:
Why are the agapanthus plants in the park flowering earlier than the ones in our gardens? We live only a hundred metres or so down the road from the park, and our plants don’t even have flower buds.
I’m looking forward to our agapanthus plants blooming. The sculptural flowers are a sign of summer. They also tell us Christmas is near.
And now I’m thinking about Christmas shopping. I haven’t started buying my gifts. Have you?
A Few Different and Curious Posts
Here are some different and curious stories you might like:
