I have been commended many a times for perseverance...! Today, I met perseverance itself as I was exploring in the backyard.
Just prior to hurricane Katrina, a friend of mine from Louisiana gave me a very special greens to plant in my garden. I was so excited to receive this gift as it is not common in the US. Used as an Ayurvedic medicinal herb for more than 2000 years in India and SriLanka, this resilient runner plant has been given the botanical name, Centella Asiatica.
Fresh salad made from this tropical herb with a squeeze of lime was my childhood favorite. I had it planted at different sites in my backyard to make sure it takes root. It was a slow but sure growth and they took root. I did not have enough to make any salad and I had planted one in a pot to save from winter fury, the first year. It was a pleasant spring surprise to find those rooted outside showing up their green faces. So I was very sad when they never showed up following the second winter. That was year 2007!
Last two winters had been colder and had many stretches of snow covered days. And I would reminisce about the little sparse patches of Centella Asiatica which I was lucky enough to have. But, today as I was exploring in the garden, I stumbled upon these green heads calling for help, silently!
I could not believe after so many years... they have come back! The roots must have been turned over when we dug the plots. Talk about perseverance... I have found the champion. It has been the most remarkable uplifting experience with an underlying Divine message: Never give up!
Copyright©2011 VeeraMahal FRANKLIN
