Between the windowsill and the nearby floor, Greta was able to keep over twenty different plants. She had several ferns on each end of the window, as well as another large fern in the corner across from her bed. Beside the ferns were four small juniperus procumbens, little juniper bonsai trees she carefully tended. Beside these were two large and strong aloe vera plants. In the centre of the windowsill sat several herbs, including a cannabis sativa plant that rose tall and sturdy. She had been growing her own cannabis since she was 14, although she didn’t start smoking it until she was 16. Beside the cannabis plant were a few pots each with basil, lemon balm, chamomile, peppermint. A few hot pink potted geranium sanguineum, for colour, and her prized plant: rosa carolinae, a miniature rosebush of white roses, which Greta looked after with exquisite care. It had grown from one of the original clippings she’d brought home from The Botanist’s greenhouse when she was still a little girl. Greta’s persistent attention and love she gave it showed—the plant was very much alive and vibrant. 

Picking up her spritzer, Greta approached the big fern in the corner first. “I’m okay,” she poked around the plant, looking for dead leaves. “I have a new opportunity. Hypnosis. What do you think?” She picked up the spritzer and started spritzing the fern. She moved onto the aloe vera.

“I knew you’d say that!” Greta laughed. “Well, it’s exciting. And he’s paying me,” Greta put her fingers in the aloe’s soil. “You’ll be all right,” she said to the plant. She ran her fingers over the tops of the herbs. She smiled as they tickled her fingertips. “Look how strong you all are!” 

Part 3 of Luminous Rose tells the story of Greta Dahlstrom, an 18-year-old university student struggling to make money. She is also unable to get a bank account due to her mother’s irresponsible money behaviour. 

Greta is a sensitive introvert with a special connection to plants. Her father, whom she was deeply connected to, died when Greta was 12, and she lives with her mother, who has been drinking her grief away. Greta keeps a room full of various plants, one of which in particular is quite special to her, the Perpetual Plant. 

Greta moves through her days with calm and grace, belying the deep guilt she feels inside from an event that happened when she was eight years old. She prefers to spend time with her plants and has few friends. 

When Greta’s psychology TA (teaching assistant), Otto Fischer, asks her if he can hypnotize her as a case study, the two of them embark on an adventure that will have ramifications far in the future. 

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