on the color of your thumb…

Do you have a green thumb, where every plant, succulent, cactus, bush and tree — deciduous or not — thrives at the mere sight of you?  Or do you kill every plant that you have ever come in contact with, including that “guaranteed to grow ” plant you bought at the supermarket last month?

Well I’m here to tell you there is no such thing as a green thumb, or black thumb for that matter.   I have known people with an apparent gift with all plants, who secretly have an entire outdoor shed dedicated to those plastic nursery pots — empty pots that once held a healthy plant and that were subsequently killed by said “Green Thumb Gary”.

I have also known people despair with their bad gardening luck, only to find that eventually they do find something they can grow successfully. So, Black Thumb Betty, there is hope for you. Just find your sweet spot, a plant that you understand, and that understands you. Branch out of typical roses and tomatoes and dahlias. Experiment with succulents, exotic banana trees, terrariums and water gardens. You will find it, if you keep trying. And remember, nurseries take back your empty plant pots, evidence of your plant failures, so you need not be visually reminded of your mistakes.