My Black Thumb

Have you ever noticed that people give plants at funerals? I’m not sure exactly why people choose to give plants. I guess plants are supposed remind the grieving that life goes on or that growth can occur even after such sadness. Perhaps, it is to serve as a living reminder of the dead loved one. Whatever the reason, I ended up with several plants.

After the funeral, I looked at the number of plants I had received and laughed. If Jason were alive, I know he would be laughing too. I am infamous for my black thumb (the opposite of a green thumb).

The spring after we got married, I decided that I wanted to plant some flowers and a tomato plant. Since we lived in a little duplex, all of our plants had to be in a planter or a pot. Jason humored me by letting me go all out and buy a bunch of flowers and pots. He even bought me a plant stand for my planter. I was so proud of my flowers. Two days later, a freak late frost killed them all. Jason laughed and told me to buy another round of less expensive varieties. I waited a week before I planted them. Unfortunately, I planted them just before summer staff training. During training, Jason and I lived out at camp for three weeks, so my poor plants did not receive any TLC or water. They were almost dead when we returned home. I tried to revive them, but Samson knocked over the planter one day when I was a work, and I came home to plants and dirt everywhere. I managed to salvage a few, but some including the tomato plan just didn’t make it. I replaced the tomato plant and a few of the flowers. Throughout our busy summer, my poor flowers, barely survived. The tomato plant had stunted growth. It managed to sprout two small tomatoes, but they turned black and fell off the vine before they ripened. I was proud that a couple of flowers survived my neglect and managed to make it to August. Later I learned, that the only reason they survived was because our neighbor lady felt sorry for them and she would sneak over to water them while we were gone. After that disaster summer of flowers, Jason managed to convince me not to buy any more flowers.

So…back to the funeral plants. I decided that not all of the plants should suffer my neglect. I sent several home with my mom for safe keeping. (After all she still has a plant from my Grandfather’s funeral 15 years ago). I gave one to a friend to replant for me. I kept the other two. When I was out of town, I asked some friends to water them for me. While I was gone, my plants accidentally got left outside overnight. I returned home to find them in rough shape. I’m not sure they’re going to make it.

It is a really good thing that I know that Jason would laugh to know my poor plants might not make it. He would have expected it. At least this way I can think of Jason and laugh if they die instead of cry these plants that were supposed to be a living reminder of Jason didn’t make it more than a month or two.