Confessions of a Former Plant Assassin

I was not born into a family of plant assassins.  My parents were meticulous

and creative gardeners.  Daddy was always especially fond of growing roses.

He would nurture them and then take photos of their beauty.  Mom had a

green thumb too.  Some neighbor would give her a cutting and Mom would

work her magic and the garden would be full of whatever it was she had received.

Our yard was always a showcase.  

My grandparents on both sides always had thriving vegetable gardens.  They

had rain barrels and would use the water to keep their gardens moist. 

Composting was what they practiced and preached.  Grandmother Marie,

my Mom's mom, would go out into the garden in the late afternoon and 

collect greens for a fabulous salad all summer long.  

So what happened to me????  I never intended to be a plant assassin.

I always had good intentions.  In the early spring, my enthusiasm would

run high and I would head to the nursery.  When I look back at my life,

I realize that while I wanted to have a lovely garden, I truly never had the

time to devote to it to properly nurture and maintain it.  My work and other

responsibilities kept me so busy.  Gardening became what my Mom would

call, an after thought.  When a plant came home with me from the garden

center, it's days were numbered.  Sad, but true.

Now that I have more time to devote to a garden, things have changed.  I fuss,

and I nurture.  While I am out in the early morning with my mug of coffee and

with Bentley, I inspect.  I check soil moisture.  And .... hopefully no one can 

hear me when I do this .... I talk to them too.  

I read garden books now.  I check out the internet for care tips.  My family

up in heaven must be pleased.  Their offspring has finally learned her lesson.

Plants will no longer need to fear for their lives when they come home

with me.

There is such a sense of contentment in a garden.  It is a place to visit 

where the problems of the world just don't take root.  The birds are singing,

the bees buzzing, and I can hear my neighbor's wind chimes softly

ringing in the background.  The atmosphere is soft and welcoming and

so very therapeutic.  It's my happy place!

While I have become more comfortable with my ability to sustain

flowers, I have a new challenge ....

Tomatoes!  I have two tomato plants!!  They are growing and so far

they seem to be thriving.  I keep encouraging them.  When I talk to

them I whisper ~ grow strong and healthy and produce lots of tomatoes.

Hopefully, they are listening.  

I have spent some time on YouTube checking out gardening

tips.  I found this video about petunias that I found helpful.

Hope you enjoy these tips, if you don't already know them.

Have a wonderful day y'all!

Vintage Charm Party

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley