Wishing for a green thumb

With the National Home Show coming up this weekend and Flower my latest PlayStation 3 obsession, I find myself wishing for a green thumb.

I don't need to be super garden savvy. Living in Toronto means I have a deck in lieu of a backyard, and odds are I'm never going to be the type to successfully grow my own food. However, it would be awfully nice to be able to keep my African Violet, which I have been slowly killing over the past two years only to nurse it back to health and start the process all over again, blooming.

I should have known not to take on this plant. When my husband brought it home, complete with velvety leaves and deep purple flowers, I already had an unfortunate track record.

During university, a friend was leaving the province and was kind enough to leave me three of his well-tended houseplants. By the end of week one, the first plant (which I suspect must have been on the way out before it landed on my doorstep) was withered and unrecognizable. I still claim this was in no way my fault, though, on some level, I will admit that a lack of sunlight and water probably didn't help.

The other two began their demise more slowly. Some days, all three roommates would lavish them with attention, turning them to the sun and filling their pots with water. Other times, days (or weeks) would pass until someone (often a guest) would take pity on the poor plants. Once all the leaves had fallen off and there was only the slightest glimmer of hope for survival, I passed the care of the two hard-done-by plants to my grandmother, who nurtured them back to health. I'm happy to report that they're thriving, far, far, away from me.

And, as for my African Violet, I'll keep trying. It actually bloomed last summer, which almost fooled me into thinking I had cared for it properly. Then, slowly, the flowers and the leaves began wilting and dying. Now, I've got a few healthy leaves left, so I'm hoping not all is lost.

Maybe some day, I'll pick up the Botanicalls kit ($100 on ThinkGeek) that connects your beloved houseplants to the internet, allowing it to alert the whole Twitterverse when you leave it gasping for breath or drown it.

In the meantime, I'll keep my houseplant count at one (or half, if only having a few leaves doesn't really count as a full plant).

Get some real gardening advice on Yourhome, including columns on proper plant care by Sonia Day and three easy steps to planting a flower garden.

Comments

[Adam Rooke]

I felt compelled to introduce myself and my idea to you to get this in the paper ASAP!!!! I have also contacted Ms. Olivia Chow (our Member of Parliament) in this regard.

My name is Adam Rooke, I am an entrepreneur and savvy young businessman living in Toronto. I live in the City Place condos at 81 Navy Wharf Court in Toronto Ontario.

Problem: Minimal occupants that live in high rise accommodations recycle because the buildings have not been designed with this in mind and we are all just too lazy to go all the way downstairs to properly sort our trash.

Thus My Idea:
Please implement the following mandatory ByLaw for all Condo/Apartment Buildings recycling policy.

The City of Toronto MUST distribute “Blue” bags to all occupants that can be thrown down the garbage shoots for recycling separation/pickup. Just like common practice in most residential neighborhoods, this program can be expanded to Blue, Green and Grey Bags as well.

Recycling “bags” rather than “bins” or “blue boxes” MUST be implemented and executed ASAP. It is concerning that we are seemingly unwilling or unable to “think outside the box” when it comes to the environment. Please ensure this gets implemented or publicized ASAP.

Best regards to All,

Adam Rooke
Managing Director, Toronto
Richter10.2 Media Group Inc.
www.whywebpr.com/adamrooke

[ROBERT Cornish]

Now that is a brilliant idea (see Adam Rooke comment above)

-Robert Cornish