Green Thumbs and Other Myths

Since Vanessa is convinced that she is going to kill all of the herbs in her cute little window box, I told her I would dig out an old post from a couple of years ago on my other blog. You know, to show I have empathy for her situation.

Originally posted 6/14/05.

I've come to the conclusion that the idea of a "green thumb" is malarky.  This theory is proven out in more than one way around our home.

In the front of the house, we have planted hostas and star jasmine, which we have trained on wire/metal obelisks on either side of the front door.  More than half of our hostas are blooming beautifully despite being pummeled and torn by hail just days after planting; hardy little suckers, indeed.  Both jasmine plants are heavy with luscious-smelling blossoms; nevertheless, one of them was just days away from being pronounced dead and dug up a couple of weeks ago.

We have some lovely snapdragons... that popped up through the pea gravel around the pool.  Nevermind that we didn't plant them there, and the ones we DID plant (in thoroughly tilled and amended soil) are either now dead or struggling mightily.

We have some gazania daisies planted that had to be moved; they should be named "Lazarus daisies," as at least half of the dying or dead miraculously have sprung back to life with no help from me.

I'm growing grass...  Apparently, bird seed is really just grass seed, and I recently rinsed their food bowl out in my bathroom sink.  Two or three days ago I noticed some lovely blades of grass poking their heads up out of the drain.

And so, I've given up trying to analyze my successes and failures at gardening.  I just gratefully enjoy the beauty I'm given, and mourn the loss of that which is gone.

Comments

[vanessa]

Thanks for reposting this, Lori! This is so funny... I don't know how I'm going to make sense of all of these gardening anomalies and funny random things dying, then suddenly coming back to life. I think you're right... best to just let nature do what it will.

[Alina]

Do you still keep jasmin? It's really really good with green tea...