Several weeks ago we had our first freeze here in Dallas before winter even arrived.

I have just bought two ivies a few weeks prior. One remained inside while the other had its home outside hanging from my balcony. Unfortunately I forgot to bring in the second plant. The next morning I awoke with this realization and went outside to check on it. It looked horrible, of course. There was rain with the freeze so the leaves were like tissue paper and everything was just an ugly shade of brown with green undertones. 

I clipped what seemed to no longer be good. I inspected it. I was sure it was dead but I decided not to give up on it. Even though there was nearly nothing left to it after I clipped all of the dead matter away. 

The picture you see above is that same plant. It doesn't look like much, but you should have seen it before. It was just vines and dirt -- a far cry from the long tendrils and lushness it once had. But now, after nursing it by my bedroom window, it is coming back to life.

My lesson: never underestimate the strength that lives just under the surface. I could have dismissed this plant and it would not have had a chance to grow. But ultimately, I shouldn't have forgotten it in the first place. 

Plant food for thought.