The Silver Lace Vine on the north wall of my terrace is in bloom again. To the best of my recollection, for I have not been around all the time, this is its second time this season. It is doing very well in spite of the severe drought that has hit Istria this year. And I have watered it hardly at all for months. If I remember correctly, I watered it no more than a couple of times over more than half a year, if not even longer. As I have learned over nearly a decade in Motovun, one can easily spoil a plant. It gets used to one’s attentions, and it conks out as soon as one starts neglecting it, even if only briefly. Planted more than three years ago, the vine on the north wall of my terrace has grown sturdy from my neglect, though. And no kidding. When it comes to plants, I have learned that this is one of the most successful approaches. For the sake of tender souls, let us call it benign neglect, instead. A handy term, too. It is one of the most successful approaches to living things well beyond the plant kingdom, as well.