I’ve never been one to keep real plants alive. When I lived in California, I tried many times to nurture beautiful flowers and plants, only to have them die on me. I don’t know if it was the extreme California heat that did them in, or me (most likely the culprit), but I gave up long ago on buying pretty flowers in the spring or summertime.
Now I’m in Oregon, and Spring Annuals are a huge deal here. Everywhere I go there are gorgeous potted flowers, and hanging baskets overflowing with bright, colorful blossoms. A few weeks ago I was drawn into a nursery with the most beautiful, thriving plants and flowers. After consulting with the woman who worked there, I decided to buy some flowers for my front porch. I told the woman that I needed something EASY to take care of, and she assured me that all it would take to keep my flowers and plants alive was to water them once a day and pluck the dead leaves/flowers when I saw them, and fertilize with Miracle Grow once a week. Okay, that I could handle, so I gave into the temptation and bought myself a beautiful hanging basket with plants and flowers. It’s so pretty and everytime I walk out onto my front porch the bright colors make me smile.
So far, the plants and flowers are thriving really well, and I’m wondering if the cooler Oregon weather has anything to do with how well it’s doing. I’m faithful about watering/plucking/fertilizing, and I’m actually enjoying it, too. I’m thinking my “not-so-green” thumb curse is a thing of the past!
So, what about you — do you have a green thumb when it comes to plants and flowers, or not? Do you have any easy tips on how I can make sure my flowers and plants continue to grow and thrive?
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Warm wishes for a Happy Birthday go out to Plotmonkey pals Dena Walton and Shannon T. today! We hope you have a fabulous, fun-filled day!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 40 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
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Wild For Him
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Some how I managed to inherit my father’s green thumb from the farm, when it comes to growing things outside. Didn’t fare as well with my mom’s when it comes to inside plants. Go figure.
I didn’t plant a gardent this year, just one tomatoe plant and some herbs. I have a gardent that needs to be torn up and a new raised one that I can physically work in, put in. As soon as my two strapping grandson’s can get together to do it that is. So no garden until next year. What with all the rain that we have had is probably a good thing.
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Sorry Janelle, but I have a HUGE bug phobia so no desire to have a green thumb, but I did have a question WHERE ARE YOU? Me and all your fans miss you! What are you working on? When can we expect a book from you? What about the Wilde series? There’s nothng but old info on your website. Please respond to this comment, we all love and miss you!!
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Happy birthday, Dena & Shannon!
I don’t have a garden now, but I used to, and I loved tending to it, watching things grow. It’s a good feeling, knowing you are creating something like that. I miss having a garden. I do have a few plants, but I prefer outdoor flowers.
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Laura, ME TOO! Bug phobia. And no green thumb. But Janelle, tell them about DON’S green thumb and the plant from his surgery, LOL!
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I’m not really good at keeping plants alive either. I had good luck when I was planting gardens years ago, but live in an apartment now and don’t have a spot where I can grow a garden right now. I do have one plant in my house that I’ve managed to keep alive for over 10 years, but flowering plants don’t do well at all around me.
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Hey Janelle, congrats on keeping this one alive…I know absolutely nothing about gardening…my thumb, I believe, is the darkest shade of black there is when it comes to these things…the hanging basket looks beautiful too…keep up the good work there, and pretty soon you will have a beautiful garden to look at…
It is so good to see you Janelle…I feel like I haven’t “seen” you in forever…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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My plant management skills would give a gardner heartburn. I don’t trim bushes. My theory is, “Cut it to the ground. If it’s meant to live, it’ll grow back.” Some do. Most don’t. This year, for the first time ever, I planted tomatoes and we’ve been feasting on them for the past couple of weeks. They’re so good, it makes me want to see what else I could keep alive long enough to harvest.
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I think I inherited my mother’s gardening skills – meaning one week everything is doing well and flourishing, and the next week it’s all dead.
But lately the fruits/veggies have been producing regularly, but over half the garden has been taken over by mutated strawberries…I swear they have the most unique shapes and just keep sprouting up – but they’re delicious!
Happy Monday!
<3 J
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Happy Birthday Dena and Shannon
You’re doing all the right things, Janelle. Just keep on keepin’ on.
I think I have a green thumb. I water and fertilize and dead head the spent blooms and so forth. Everything is doing really well in our yard. Along with the three tomato plants, red bell pepper, Italian parsley, Thyme and basil.
Have a great day all. We’re going to a Rockies game tonight!
Cher
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Everything dies with me !!! I don’t have a green thumb (or a green hand as we say in france). I recently discovered however that I had a knack with orchids. They require a minimum of attention which is basicaly all I’m capable of
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*checks thumb* Nope. Still black. I killed a Boston fern in 24 hours. Srsly. My idea of a perfect yard is concrete with big pots that SOMEONE else puts flowers in four times a year. Just sayin’…
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Happy birthday pals!
My Dad was the green thumb of the family.
Weather can kill anything.
My rule of thumb (ha,ha) is toask nursery person and follow just like you.
I might suggest some chives, lavender, heather and mint.
Maybe an herb strawbery pot. The scent can be very uplifting.
Now that we are in maine in the rsummer I am having luck with some perrenials too.
My lupine was spectacular. I use miracle gro moisture control soil and fertilizer with great results.
Daylilies are a great plant to start with. Just pick your favorite color
And watch them get better every year. Hugs.
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Happy Birthday to Shannon T. & Dena W.!
My mother had the greenest thumb ever! She could take a dry. dead branch
and have it sprouting green leaves in no time at all! As for me, don’t allow a
nice blooming plant to approach my house – I’ll have it dying or dead in minutes!!
Pat Cochran
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In the past I have enjoyed having some blooming plants for color. The apartment I live in now has no outdoor area where I can plant a few things. Most of the plants I had were in pots & they mostly thrived! Where I am it can get really hot during the summer which means you have to take very good care of plants. At this time I don’t miss having to take care of plants or making arrangements to have someone care for them if I take a trip. That plant is gorgeous, keep up the good work.
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Hi, Laura (And Everyone Else!). I’m so sorry for the lack of information on my website regarding my upcoming books. I’m on the last leg of finishing up this book I”m currently working on, and once it’s turned in I can get to work updating stuff on the internet — and announcing the new series I’m doing. Unfortunately, I won’t have a book out this year, but definitely in 2010.
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No problem Janelle, I think we are a patient lot…aside: really, we are ….lol…anyway, I am just glad that you are busy writing and doing your thing…can’t wait to see what the new series is about…hopefully one day, we get to see more of the Wilde series spin-off books…it is really good to have you back in the jungle…or should I say, it is really good to be back in the jungle on a more regular basis…have a wonderful writing day…don’t forget to come up for air some times…lol…I will swing by later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Congratulations! I have the original black thumb and have absolutely no luck in keeping plants alive. I’d given up on buying them and then gave in and bought two topsey turvey planters for tomatoes. Success is so-so. One of the two died and I replanted a new one which is doing great. Flowering, growing, and even has tomatoes. The other one of the first two didn’t die but is exactly the same size as when I planted it 2 months ago.
What I’ve found great in Oregon is the outdoor flowers grow, thrive, reseed themselves with no help from me at all. I do nothing….not even water.
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Thank you ladies for all the birthday wishes! I spent the day with my kids and then went shopping for school supplies after hubby got home (left the kids with him :) since school starts tomorrow.
Your flower basket is beautiful Janelle! I have a black thumb for sure, I killed a cactus last year. I am afraid to try anything else.
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I don’t have much of a green thumb either. The only thing that I’ve had much success with is succulents – probably because I have a habit of forgetting to water plants for several days and then drowning them.
I’d love to give gardening another try even just for growing herbs and vegetables but I currently don’t have a yard in which to have a garden.