In Memorium

Heath and I visited Dallas in the Summer of 2006 to find an apartment before our big move. When we saw our current apartment, I was very excited about the deck that is right off the living room. I had visions in my head of creating a luscious secret garden which would be my calming get-a-way. The first semester here, being fall, was not the best time to plant a garden besides the fact that we were still trying to catch our breath financially. So I decided to wait until the Spring. It came and I excitedly bought pots and researched the best kinds of plants to grow in Texas. I looked up local garden shops in order to get the best plants, and I created a spreadsheet to keep track of my expenditures. If the success of a garden was based on passion, organization, or research, I would have an A+ no problem.

Before I continue, I should give you a little of my background in botany: Every summer when I was young I helped my mom plant, weed, and harvest a vegetable garden in our backyard. But somehow, there's a difference between helping with mom's garden and owning my own plants. I think it was my freshman year of college that I got my first ivy plant. I thought it was beautiful and couldn't wait for it to grow. And it may have sprouted a little, but mostly it just turned yellow and finally died. I couldn't understand what had happened. Here's to you, little ivy - I'm so sorry I didn't know what to do for you.
Then there was ivy #2; I guess I thought I would do better the second time around. Instead of improving, my little ivy fared much worse than the first one. Poor ivy #2; I'm sorry I was just too busy to pay any attention to you.

Now, you're up to date and we can continue with the Dallas plant saga. For a short time, I had several plants - a sweet smelling Jasmine; a fragrant Rosemary; some kind of flower that I never saw sprout, much less bloom; and I'm sure there was another one, but I just can't remember it. None of these plants lasted too long, either. The Jasmine was left out in the scorching Texas sun for too long. The Rosemary was over watered or under watered - I don't know which. And the flowers, well, the poor things just never got a chance. Soon all I had was a pile of empty pots.

What's funny, though, is that despite my obvious bad luck or irresponsibility or black thumb, I still relish the idea of having a deck covered with wonderful green plants! So, last year when a woman at work said I could snip a bit of her ivy, how could I pass up the opportunity? This was my chance! She said if I put it in water for a few weeks, roots would grow, and then I could plant it in a pot. So I got a styrofoam cup, filled it to the brim with water and gently placed the ivy in it. Days went by and I began to see little roots, then weeks, then months and the ivy was still sitting on my desk in its styrofoam planter. Finally, I brought it home, put it in a pot, and set it on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. I'm sure I haven't given it any more attention than any of my other plants, at least not on purpose. But a couple weeks ago, I noticed a tiny leaf forming on the end of it. Oh boy, was I excited! Not only have I managed to not kill it, but it seems to be growing!

Here's to you, Little Ivy #3, I truly hope you have a long and luscious life!