Mary's Plant Hospital

The grand stairway that comes down to the rotunda

The late Herb Caen fondly called San Francisco “Baghdad by the Bay,” definitely a fascinating city to live in. And if you are ever in our fair City, a visit to our City Hall is a must. I know, I know.  Some people call it “Silly Hall.” But it really is quite a landmark. I had the privilege of working there for about 10 years and it was a remarkable experience.  The walk up on the majestic staircase was always a grand exercise.  It made me feel like one making a dramatic entrance into the presence of Queen Elizabeth.  A couple of friends who came to see me one day exclaimed, “This is where you work every day? It’s like working in a castle!”

THE PLANT DOCTOR       
 

Joseph Strauss said, “You have in San Francisco this magnificent Civic Center crowned by a City Hall which I have never seen anywhere equaled.”   Indeed, indeed!  And amid this grandeur, this exquisite architectural wonder, one little spot that has touched my heart so warmly was the little room where our team had the copiers and office supplies.    Here, reams and reams of briefs and other documents were copied, collated, stapled and boxed or put in big brown envelopes to be mailed, filed or messengered to some court.  Here, frazzled staff worked frenetically to make deadlines.  But in a corner of this room was a window sill full of orchids in various stages.  Some were in bloom, some in a pathetic state of dehydration, some growing new leaves, but all very gently cared for by Mary Go.  I called this spot “The Plant Hospital.”
                     
 I first met Mary in a satellite office of the City Department we worked in many years ago.  A quiet, gentle, kind person, she was one of those who just did her work day after day, without calling much attention to herself. She used to have little African violets in jars or little planters on the window sill of the ladies bathroom.  Sometimes there were single leaves being rooted.  Sometimes, the violets would be in full bloom. This fascinated me. What soul would take her time to do this in a very busy legal office? Then I met her.  You’ve heard of  ”Bloom where you’re planted.”  Mary makes plants bloom where they are planted. She brings beauty to where she is, quietly, unobtrusively.

 

Mary told me that her first patient in her “Plant Hospital“ in City Hall was an orchid that a lawyer was about to throw out.  It was past its blooming and looked dead.  Mary asked for it and soon it was on the window sill in the copy room.  She nursed the Phalaenopsis back to health. A short time later it bloomed again with beautiful purplish flowers, which lasted and lasted. It gave not only beauty but a sense of calm, quiet presence in that beehive of activity.  And it seemed like the plant was grateful for Mary’s kindness.  It just kept giving flowers all through the year.  Quite a few saw this “miracle” and soon Mary had other patients that her gentle, nurturing care would bring back to life.  Co-workers started saying, “You have a plant problem?  Bring it to Mary, she can make anything bloom.”

 I don’t know much about plants but I love flowers.  As our friendship grew, I got “plant education” from Mary and soon my orchids at home no longer had to die after the blooms were gone.  My friend taught me to put the orchids where they got afternoon sun because it was gentler.  As to watering, she told me that a good dousing once a week is all that was necessary. I should be careful not to get the leaves wet. The pots should have good drainage. There were two kinds of plant food I should use.  And, (you are allowed to smile) I should talk to them gently and kindly every once in a while. Soon my orchids looked a lot better (and I thought, happier).  I even managed to get second and third blooming from my Phalaenopsis each year.  My window sill at home began to look like Mary’s at City Hall. Like Mary I had also “rescued” a terribly abused orchid that a co-worker gave me. For the longest time, though leaves had grown and it looked much healthier, it just would not give me flowers.  I even put it between two beautiful African violets in full bloom and told it, “Aren’t you jealous of these two?  They are so pretty.  You could be, too, you know.”  But it did not work.  For more than half a year I waited then I talked to Mary.  And she said:

“Raquel, plants are like people.  They thrive in a caring, kind environment.  If they had suffered abuse of any kind like this one, neglected for long periods of time because the owner was too busy, then it would take more time to bring it back.  It has to heal from the neglect.  Be patient.  Even if you think nothing’s happening, one day it will respond and will reward your love and care.”
 

Mary was right.  A few weeks later, the orchid grew a stem, then there were buds, and soon there were beautiful, delicate white flowers.  So you see, even in "Silly Hall" (Bill O'Reilly might call it "bastion of craziness") one can get valuable education that can make one a better and more caring person.