The Story: Flowers and Steel
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” — Kahlil Gibran
This vessel came from a friend after church one Sunday, handed to me with a smile and a simple, “I know you’ll make something beautiful out of this.” He wouldn’t accept payment. It was a dark blue toolbox, rusted and worn, the kind of object that has already lived a good, honest life.
When I planted purple violas, dusty miller, and a large ornamental kale inside, I couldn’t stop thinking about the contrast between the steel and the softness. Tough on the outside, tender within: it felt like a mirror. We’re all a bit like that, aren’t we? Strong, scarred, resilient.
What makes me think of resiliency more than anything is motherhood. I’ve given birth five times and raised children in all the seasons of life and yet, how many times a day have I torn myself down with words I’d never speak to another soul? This kind of dishonesty, the quiet war against ourselves, steals peace we were never meant to lose.
But here’s the truth: I am steel, and I am love. And I am sure, reader, that you are the same. You’ve weathered more than even you remember. You’ve stood in cold winds and kept going.
These flowers, the violas, the kale, the dusty miller, are cold-hardy, bending but not breaking. They are the very picture of endurance. Still, like all living things in containers, they need protection. When hard freezes arrive, bring this toolbox inside to shelter the roots. In the ground, plants can draw warmth from the earth; in pots, they rely on us.
I often look out the window on an icy morning and see the trees standing tall, the birds still flying, the horses walking through snow to graze. Life persists. We go on. It’s what we do.
So when you see this blue toolbox, I hope you remember to be gentle with yourself. To honor the storms you’ve weathered and the tenderness that still blooms inside you.
Care Guide
Light: Full to part sun, 4–6 hours daily.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy; water when the top inch feels dry.
Environment: Outdoors with good airflow; bring to sheltered area during harsh conditions.
Freeze Protection: When temperatures fall below 32°F, move to a protected porch or indoors near a sunny window. Below 28°F, cover with breathable frost cloth or bring fully inside. Lightly water before freezing weather to help roots retain warmth.
Encouragement: Remember, resilience isn’t hardness — it’s the quiet strength to keep growing, even in the cold.
I prayed over this vessel and for you, the one holding it now. May its flowers remind you that gentleness and strength can live in the same soul, and may God bless whatever you are enduring today.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” — Proverbs 31:25
With you in the soil and the story,
Ellie
A Living Story Disclaimer
Each Restoried Garden begins its journey in my hands but continues its story with you. Every vessel has been cleaned, prepared, and planted with care; however, once it leaves my garden, its life depends on your unique environment and tending. Please note that weather, watering, and placement all influence longevity, and I cannot be responsible for plant performance or wear over time. These pieces are meant to live, grow, and change, a reflection that no story truly ends; it simply takes root somewhere new.
