Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026
Focus on the big picture

Tayari Jones on why she stopped throwing away unbloomed orchids

PBS, 12 Dec 2020
New York Times bestselling author Tayari Jones says her orchid plant is a memento that encapsulates the year 2020.

Before the pandemic, Jones would buy an orchid every month as a treat to herself and she'd throw it out once the petals had fallen off the flower. Then, this year, she stopped herself from throwing out her orchid because she saw parallels between herself and the plant.

“I feel like this is perfect for the moment because I'm not blooming right now,” she said. Nevertheless, Jones said she and the plant deserve care, and she touches its leaves to remind it that “it's O.K. We will bloom again.”

Photo courtesy of Tayari Jones

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