Story: “What Remains”
“The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” — Thomas Moore
This little can once sat on my kitchen counter: green beans, tomato sauce, soup for a cold night, it was something that helped me put food on my family’s table, which led us to moments at our table, the kind of quickly fleeting moments you don’t think about until they are gone, the mundane, but the sacred.
When the metal cans were empty, I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away. They had done their job: fed us, served us, and that felt worth honoring. So I washed them, filled them with soil, and tucked new life inside.
Now, each one holds a small flower or cabbage, something living where something once nourished. It’s a reminder that life rarely needs to be perfect or new to be meaningful. Sometimes what’s left behind is still enough.
When you take one home, I hope it brings a little warmth to your day, a reminder that beauty can bloom from what remains, that the smallest things can still hold great love. I wonder what you will plant in it with the changing seasons?
“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” — Proverbs 31:17
Care Guide
Plant: Mini ornamental cabbage, pansy, or viola
Light: Full to part sun (4–6 hours of gentle light daily)
Water: Add small amounts as needed; cans have limited drainage, so avoid overwatering. Keep soil slightly moist, not soaked.
Freeze Warning: Bring indoors or under shelter when temperatures drop below freezing. Unlike plants rooted in the earth, these little ones rely entirely on your care to weather the cold.
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.
