My African Mallow Shrub (Tara's Pink) is gonna make it. Knowing this makes me profoundly happy. I had some scary moments there for a while - emergency runs to Armstrong Garden Shop for some expert garden advice - STAT!
"she needs more water, it's obvious she's not getting enough water."
"She needs a bigger pot, isn't it obvious?"
"She needs a deeper pot, isn't it obvious?"
"She's fine where she is, just water her, isn't it obvious?"
"Maybe it's obvious to you," I want to scream. With all these different opinions how can it be obvious to me - I'm just a pre-novice gardener, for crying out loud.
The worst part was being reduced to having to talk about my watering habits...to strangers (this part isn't entirely true - I had run to the real experts at the Armstrong Garden Center, begging them for help with my Tara's Pink, that I almost became a Garden Emergency Room fixture - or, as I started calling it, the GER). The shame of it all. I mean, who doesn't know how to water a plant - you put water in it, done deal, no?
"Okay, okay, stop. You proved your point. I don't know what I'm doing," I wanted to scream.
The first step -- admit you need help.
On my last visit to the GER, I simply said "just tell me what to do, and I'll do it" I walked out of there forty-nine dollars lighter. But this time was different. I felt more sure of myself. I knew that this time my African Mallow Shrub was gonna fare better.
And she is. It took her roots a couple of weeks to adjust to the space in the deeper pot. Today, she's blooming like crazy -- her little gift to me for believing in her, for keeping her alive, for massaging her little shrub ego and convincing her that life is worth living - even if in this life you're a shrub.
And she's a beauty.
The back yard is stunning with her in it -- the butterflies and bees she brings to the garden (dreary plastic tubs be damned, I'm calling it a garden now) are richer for it. Tolerating exposing my initial ineptitude was worth all this.
I enjoy taking my breaks outside, staring at her, clipping away dead buds and leaves. Something about that little plant helps me release tension and take comfort in her colors and simple, delicate beauty - convincing me that it's all good, it'll all be okay.
Life is good when you take small action, very little in retrospect, and the compensation is simply - outta this world. And the folks at Armstrong's ...they're my heros.
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