I recently ordered a silk Dracaena tree for the office. A person who saw me unwrapping it said, “That’s the weirdest plant I’ve ever seen.”

Indeed, it looked weird. All the leaves were vertical, straight, and packed tightly together. This was done to protect the item during shipment. Each leaf had an internal wire that needed to be bent into a more natural shape.

With the leaves bent and arranged (a slightly tedious task) the artificial tree is now quite attractive. Not as good as the real thing, but a satisfying substitute.

* * *

Are you still packed tightly together? Still bubble wrapped and protected?

Just beware. One, you weren’t meant to stay packaged. And two, you might look a little strange the first time you come out of the box. It might take a little stretching, bending, and arranging for you to come into full form. And of course, that takes time and effort.