I just gave this miniature ecosystem in an upcycled bottle to my brother-in-law for his birthday. I had gathered the floating plants (Salvinia minima) along with associated tiny pond creatures when we all visited a cousin's property in the countryside in July. The Egeria densa is from a bunch I purchased. I added a couple of pond snails to work on eating the algae.
My children criticized me for giving plants to people who don't want them. Now I feel bad. I may have just condemned this little collection to die of lack of natural light, or just get tossed in the bin.
I feel so passionate about biology and living things. It breaks my heart that this household where the jarrarium went allowed a bunch of gorgeous healthy plants to die soon after I had given them. (They only just told me.) I knew that they were going to travel, and I had offered to pick up the plants and take care of them while they were away, but they refused. My son said that's because they didn't really want the plants anyway. It makes me feel a little sick. If they don't want plants, why couldn't they have accepted my offer to pick them up?
Well, I guess I can take comfort that I didn't give them a puppy. (Joke. I would never give someone a puppy.)
Can someone please say something to help cheer me up?
by gringacarioca
19 Comments
To be honest, they’re probably wondering what the he** I was thinking, giving him a bottle of pond scum
just stop giving them plants š
I think thatās a cool jar, you can send one my way š¤£
Find people who also love plants and do swaps with them š
thereās a whole world of people who would deeply appreciate this gift.
Nature, even when effected by humans, is spontaneous, and cruel. This isnāt your fault!
As an aquarium enthusiast, I would appreciate that!
Donāt sweat it! Itās all about the thought! Iāve questioned gifts Iām giving many times.. but it comes down to people should appreciate any gift given from the heart. If they donāt, thatās a them problemā¦ not a you problem!
Itās cool, unique and thoughtful. You did a good job, imo!
Personally if someone gave me such a thing Iād be really happy but the hobby isnt for everyone
I guess I’ll remember that everything passes on. This gift was unique, home-made, pesticide-free, and minimal waste. I have no control over what other people do. My BIL if free to throw it away if he doesn’t want it. From now on, I’ll let my kids choose gifts for family members. They are thoughtful, and it’s good for practicing empathy and planning ahead. To be fair, my children did plan and purchase (I gave them the cash) fancy ice cream for my BIL, so he received more than just pond scum from us.
Just find people who share the same passion and donāt make you feel bad! Join some groups online or look at local groups
Many people consider this a hobby. It’s just not their thing, and that’s okay. They may not understand how much it means to you either. Some people have so much going on in their lives, adding something else to take care of can be difficult. Don’t take their neglect of the gift personally.
Actually very cool little jar! But hey, if they donāt like it thatās whatever. You tried it and wether they keep it or not is their choice. Long as you had a good time putting it together and you got pictures itās not a waste. In the end it is the gesture that counts.
I want one š„ŗā¤ļøā¤ļø
He didnāt deserve it. lol
I would appreciate it if someone went out of their way to give me it
I would love this gift
Not that it is likely to help but I would have loved it.
Well, I think it’s important to remember that gifting is about giving someone what they would like based on your knowledge of them. I appreciate that you feel passionately about it, but gifts are meant to reflect the recipients interests.
Once I sent my friend (who has live plants) who was feeling sad an orchid. She lives in another country so I tried to order it online to get delivered. I didnāt realize I ordered a fake orchid until after it was delivered. She said she was so relieved that it was fake because she didnāt want another thing to take care of. So I guess I got lucky by accidentally ordering a fake one!
Your gift was thoughtful in that it kind of captured a little piece of fun memory between your families at the relatives property, but I can see how it wouldnāt be a gift everyone would want to receive.
Maybe next time youāre there if it looks neglected or unappreciated you can just swap it with a matching bottle of dirty water and take the eco system back home š
Not everyone gets it unfortunately. It surprised me to see a survey that said the #1 most unwanted gift in the US is plants. When I shared this with my friend she gasped in shock (she also loves plants). The fact is, there are plenty of people who share youāre live of plants and nature. I think of it as a āgreen flagā when it comes to people, if they have the capacity to care for something.
Iām not particularly good at house plants (despite my best efforts), but Iāve been keeping aquariums and terrariums just fine. A lot of my life revolves around animals and the natural world so it baffles me when someone wants nothing to do with it.