I’ve talked more about ‘interiors’ in this blog in the last few months than in the previous (four) years combined! I guess moving house gives you the opportunity to reinvent yourself a little – something I obviously have decided to make the most of. And quite frankly – if I was still working and had money – I’d probably dump most of my current furniture and start afresh. But alas…

However, while I’m on the ‘interiors’ subject, I thought I’d gauge your thoughts on plants. Inside.

My own parents weren’t very (ummm…. how to say it politely?!) green-fingered*.  In fact, back then we had a couple of outside pot plants and a few trees that survived our boxer dog’s puppy years (he loved feasting on them!). Naturally I’d ‘done’ macramé at school, so we also had faux greenery hanging in lime green and orange macramé hanging pot plant holders (it WAS the late 70s/early 80s!).

At University I copied everyone else’s interior-decorating expertise succumbed to peer pressure and installed a little happy plant in my dorm room, but cannot recall how long it survived or if it was constantly being reincarnated (like children’s goldfish or budgies)!

Then when a friend and I moved into an apartment in the late 1980s one of the first things we bought (as well as things on which to sit and sleep etc) were a couple of indoor palms – very popular back then and possibly still so today. I have to admit again I cannot recall how the poor plants fared as we weren’t great at tending to things (though we did have goldfish which lasted an inordinate amount of time – and that’s a whole other story).

I next toyed with the idea of indoor plants after watching The Jane Austen Book Club. I’ve already mentioned the familiar comfort the movie gave (gives, still… possibly?) me. As a fan of Maria Bello and relating to her character (Jocelyn) I found myself envying her house – it seemed homely and inviting: the sort of place in which a vibrant (but not young) single woman should be living! When I looked closely to see what was so alluring I realised she had plants. So I went out and bought an indoor plant for my place.

Alas, for some reason a plant just didn’t fit. It looked wrong. Out of place. (As an aside, it might not have been Jocelyn’s plants after all. Possibly the furniture. Or the toy boy love interest!)

And more recently? My habit of watching shows of the 70s and 80s (like Murder She Wrote) where rooms are resplendent with greenery and hanging pot plants, simply reinforces my sense that plants inside are just wrong!

However… having left all but one of my plants at my old abode, over the last few months I’ve I had to buy new greenery for my verandah – opposite the sea and in constant sun. Fortunately, after much consideration (ie. asking the guy at a Bunnings store!) I bought two very hardy Yucca plants (see pic on left).

I had thought they’d complement the third plant which survived my move: some lily type thing.

And the Yuccas are doing well. As well as looking particularly stylish (if I do say so myself), they don’t seem to mind the sea breeze or constant sun. And – more importantly – they willingly forgive me if I forget to water them for weeks days at a time.

But – dum dum (ie. cue dramatic music!) my once-pretty lily thing is not faring well on my sunny and sea-salty balcony. With no other outdoor space, it may have to be euthanised or… I’m thinking….. I could try it inside.

I’m mentioned that I’m struggling to make my place feel more homey, but will my wilting lily do the trick?

So, what’s the verdict? Plants inside? Too 1980s or kinda comforting?

* I should note that my mother now has stacks of plants and they are all surviving quite happily!