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I'm a late "bloomer"! I used to kill any plant I had. It has bothered me for so long, I'm at a point in my life where I no longer accept this. I LOVE plants, and I want MANY!
This year for my birthday, I asked for plants from EVERYONE. Well, I've been digging in, reading and talking to the nursery staff (poor folks, I've picked their brains clean). Now I have over twenty plants which have survived and many, in fact, actually thrived, and sadly two have died.
I am determined however, to succeed. My home looks so pretty, the air is cleaner and my neighbors are all probably celebrating the bursts of color that have finally appeared in front of my home for the first time in 12 years.
I am an INFANT in this endeavor, and I am so happy to do gardening. I actually relax doing it. My husband came home one day about two weeks ago, and had to ask me if I had a glass of wine, lol, THAT'S how relaxed and great I felt. I had been in the garden for hours that afternoon.
So that's my story, and you seem to be such a great group of people, (I've been reading your forum for a while now). I look forward to experiencing a new hobby with such knowledgeable people.
I promise to do my homework, so that at some point, I may be able to offer a helping hand in return!
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Greetings 4freshair, & welcome to the forum!
You sound just like I did, almost a year ago! I'd always had veggie gardens, but took no interest in trying flowers for many years, because I lived in a region with an extremely short growing season & didn't think I had the time to mess with them. Then, we moved to an area that has a ridiculously long growing season! Not only was I suddenly in a place where I could raise melons & harvest tomatoes almost up until Thanksgiving, I also discovered that not all flowers come from seeds, & that many types can endure harsh winters & come back every year!
Just like you, I was determined to have flowers in my yard like other people do, so I tagged along to a garden club meeting with a lady from my church ...& joined up! I picked their brains raw, till I thought they'd ask me to leave because I was so stupid, so I started Googling for information & stumbled across this place... where I was told right off the bat that there is no such thing as a stupid question! (I've been here nearly every day since then, & couldn't ask for better help & better friends!)
There are so many friendly people here, all willing to help each other & share their gardening experiences (as well as hobbies, pets, kids, recipes... the list goes on, as you've probably noticed). Many of us have developed lasting friendships here, & we're like one big family! (PLUS, our forums are monitored 24/7, keeping this probably the safest & most comfortable place on the Web!)
Although I came in with some basic knowledge, from having had veggie gardens for so many years, I've learned so much about flower gardening in the past 10 months that I can jump in & post pictures of my accomplishments already! It also feels good to be able to help other people in return, & share my thoughts about what has & hasn't worked for me in my experiences with veggie gardens.
By the way, my husband also had to re-figure me out when I got started with flowers & houseplants (which I'd never had any luck with in the past), but he likes the results of my new interest, & the change it's made in my moods & attitudes. He's even "digging in" to give me a hand these days... & is actually listening to me now!
I'm looking forward to getting to know you, as I'm sure others will be, so jump in & start asking questions & tell us which things are growing well for you & which things you need help with! I hope to see you again soon... & often!
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Thanks to everyone for such a warm welcome! I'm happy to have seen such a quick response. This site is alive and well, and THAT is VERY good news!
Sometimes, you just get lucky I guess, finding a place where people show up regularly. Yay me! Yay us!
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Patty, no my friends don't call me 4freshair LOL!.. Karen is usually what they go by. Thanks for the compliment on the poem.
I am such a beginner, I assure everyone, they will have a few chuckles with me. I haven't a clue how to "dead head" ANYTHING properly. When I get a plant, I ask, but then within a week, I forget between all the other plants I have. So what do I do? I dead head them in different ways and see which ones come back. LOL...then I hope to remember THAT! Pathetic, I know.
The plants I have are (most interesting, to me, first)...
Coleus (Kiwi Fern) (LOVE IT).. Coleus (KONG) (Mine turned into King Kong... growing almost two feet wide as well as tall!) Peace lilies..alive Day lilies...dying Tiger lilies...retired. Succulent plants Coleus (Dappled Apple) Geraniums Marigolds Some kind of palm plant... floor to ceiling type... I'm fighting to keep it going. (Why did someone tell me they were a piece of cake?)... probably shoulda just ate the damn thing.
R.I.P. Trailing Verbana (yellow tiny critters invaded and we lost the battle) Mums (lol thought they were something else... treated them exactly opposite... so hence the goner status) Petunias (planted in the "hex" pot... everything that goes in it, croaks) Roses (bloomed for one hour. Lost on that one) Wave Petunias. OMG yes I know, I'd have to premeditate killing THEM, well, King King took over (planted in same large container... oops)
That's my sad story. The R.I.P. list is starting to upset me, it's getting longer. I honestly think I don't have my soil facts down right.
As far as pics.. my hubs will be teaching me how to get them up here, but not for two more weeks. He's being kind enough to re-do our bathroom. Yeah.
So, aren't ya glad ya asked? hehe... Now for the return, Please tell me what you have and let me know all about them.
Welcome to the forum! It's nice to meet you and I hope to see you around on some of the forums!
Have a beautiful day!
* * * * "Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!" Plants: 6492 | From: Illinois | Registered: Feb 2006
| Seeded: 199.217.139.111
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![[shocked]](graemlins/shock.gif)
(I've been here nearly every day since then, & couldn't ask for better help & better friends!) 
(PLUS, our forums are monitored 24/7, keeping this probably the safest & most comfortable place on the Web!) ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
It also feels good to be able to help other people in return, & share my thoughts about what has & hasn't worked for me in my experiences with veggie gardens. ![[grin]](graemlins/grinnnn.gif)
![[wavey]](graemlins/wavey.gif)
![[flower]](graemlins/flower.gif)
![[clappy]](graemlins/claps.gif)
![[thumb]](graemlins/thumb.gif)
![[muggs]](graemlins/mugggggs.gif)
It's nice to meet you and I hope to see you around on some of the forums! 
Printer-friendly view of this garden