Garden Envy

I've been gone for a week. Did you miss me? We had a sun and fun-filled week at the beach, and I promise that a photo-heavy post about our adventures will be coming soon. But until then, enjoy my latest tale from the home front.....

I am a terrible gardener. Really, really terrible. Part of it is that I just don't have a feel for plants. I don't really know how to take care of them, I never manage the perfect water ratio, I don't know when to cut them back to maximize their fullness, and I'm too lazy to learn. Really, my lack of horticultural success can be summed up in two words- I'm lazy.

I don't know if you've ever been to Georgia in the summer time, but I don't recommend it. It's roughly as hot as the surface of the sun, with the added bonus of humidity so thick you feel like you're suffocating the moment you step out the door. And our yard seems to be blessed with a particularly voracious breed of mosquito large enough to carry off small household pets. It's unpleasant. And the only truly sunny, plant-appropriate spot is really inconveniently located at a far, underused corner of the yard. It takes actual effort to get out there and water it, so I don't.

Every year I vow to do better. I plant stuff in the spring with visions of glorious herbs dancing in my brain. Then I water it good for a week or so. Then it gets hot and I slack off. Then it gets hotter and I give up all together, leaving the poor, parched plants to the mercy of elements. A few valient specimens manage to straggle weakly along with only the occasional rainstorm providing a much-needed drink. I feel bad about it, but only when I look at them. And since they're in the aforementioned underused corner, the guilt isn't strong enough to ensure their survival. Like I said- lazy. But yesterday, I went to visit my sister and her lush jungle of herbs, tomatoes and okra inspired me. It was awesome. I was jealous. I coveted her basil. So I decided to give the herb garden one more try.

Now, I'm not stupid. I know that if I plant them in the same place, they will die. So I decided to switch things up. I had some planter boxes filled with good dirt left over from last year's lackluster tomatoes. I hadn't bothered to plant anything in them this year, so I decided to put them to work. I transplated the basil, mint, rosemary and chives that were barely clinging to life. I also added some more basil, dill and a jalapeno pepper plant. And here's where I made the change that might, just might, allow them to survive. Rather than leaving them in the sunny Sahara of the yard, I moved the boxes onto the deck.

It's not as sunny, but I had a basil plant up there that a friend had given me, and it was doing beautifully. Well, until Mason sprayed it with a whole can of Deep Woods Off, it was doing beautifully. (He was trying to keep the bugs off.) Had it not been the victim of pesticide-based murder, it was showing great potential. And it was close enough to the air-conditioned house that I actually watered it, and used it in spaghetti sauce. And if I only have to walk onto the deck to water them and use them, and if they're directly in my line of sight so I can't ignore their pitiful wilting, I might take care of them. So I think the relocated herb garden might just stand a chance. We'll see. If not, I'll probably just have to give up my dreams of fresh herbs and accept my black thumb!