I never heard of a succulent plant until I started bringing Maria some home from the supermarket last winter. Her friend Emily disclosed that she had become a serious and committed succulent collector.

Succulent plants are now all over our house, in every windowsill, and they are incredibly sculptural to me, which excites my Leica as well.

Gardeningknowhow.com describes succulents in this way:

“Succulents are a group of plants with some of the most diverse forms, colors, and blooms. These easy-to-care-for indoor and outdoor specimens are a dream for the busy gardener. What is a succulent plant? Succulents are specialized plants that store water in their leaves and stems. They are remarkably adapted to harsh climates where water is scarce or comes sporadically. Merriam Webster defines a succulent as “full of juice” or “juicy.”

There must be close to 100 succulent plants in our farmhouse, and Maria checks in every one of them almost every day. She waters them, shifts their light trims their leaves ad flowers, rehomes them constantly.

This year, I am grateful for them; they ease the sting of all our flowers dying and gone. And they are distinctly sculptural shapes, and signs delight a photographer.