Photo of me in my sandbox, because this blog is my writing sandbox. (Getty Images)
I spent an enormous amount of time this morning, a half-hour to be precise, nurturing my balcony plants. It was a grueling session. I'm unsure what type of plants they are. Maybe you can help. They all have bright flowers - orange, purple, magenta, white, yellow. They're all at various points on the alive spectrum. Any ideas?
I ask because you’re a better plant parent than I. You’re everywhere and you’re out there for all to see. You’re on your balcony or in your yard frequently, some of you daily. You have tools, many tools, like a trowel, gloves, a sprawling hat, shears, and often a big gardening bag to put stuff in. You may even have one of those weird Stanley mugs as your gardening companion.
I, on the other hand, have only three tools. A Target plastic bag or my kitchen trash can for scraps. A broken trowel with no handle, because I’m cheap. And dull pruning shears. Actually, are pruning shears ever sharp enough? Work your way through that question as you decide whether my motley tool collection adds up to three.
“Sounds to me like you’re working from a deficit, as usual, Chad.” Facts.
Let’s get back to you, though, and why you’re a better plant parent than I. You’re out there at the right time of day, be it earlier in the morning or in the evening once the sun has completed its heavy lifting for the day. You offer your plants first-class perks like a sip of refreshing water at the end of a hot day. You may even feed them!
You’re a premium plant parent.
“The Delta Airlines of plant parenting,” I can hear my Amy offer.
My plants whisper. “Here comes Chad again with his rusty shears and lukewarm tap water.”
They know my name! Those grueling sessions must be paying off. They value our time spent together and provide life, color, and energy. Even with my deficits, they thrive.
