While weeding my seedlings today, I noticed that a few of them already have increases! One has 4 increases already! I thought that was cool, such little guys yet, and they are already putting out new babies. It's really fun watching them grow. Some are getting big already, and others are still tiny.

Debra I think the key to having a green thumb is simply loving to do it, being willing to learn by trial and error, and being resilient enough to keep going after a few failures. Some people are so afraid of failure, that they fail to recognize that they have just learned something, and now should continue with this new knowledge!

Here here!

You are so right Tom when you said it is "loving to do it". I think the plants grow better for someone who is enjoying them, touching them and talking to them. While I was working with the Master Gardeners we trained quite a few people and some can grow anything and some can't seem to grow much at all. They are the ones that look at it more as a challenge/chore than a joy. They want the plant but they want to work on them in perfect weather, in cute gardening ensembles, with no bugs around them and then they want instant bloom. They usually hire someone to do it and just come to the meetings and talk about their wonderful flowers.

I tromp around muddy, dirty, hair falling down, sweaty, mosquito and fire ant bitten. Once I went into the extension office with dried mud almost to my knees and so tired I could barely shuffle. Agent Ed took one look at me and said "want me to clear off the desk so you can lie down and have a nap?" My love of nature is why I want to grow things but there are others who grow things better than I do. Perhaps it is a little channeling?

Tom and Bonnie, maybe you both are right. I could have quit any time those first four or five years when so many things died away. But I WANTED a garden. So I kept going, trying different plants to see what worked, noting what didn't and moving on--except hydrangeas, don't know why I can't get it in my head that I CANNOT KEEP ONE ALIVE HERE. Wait just long enough to forget and to try it again thinking THIS TIME it will work. Hasn't yet, so guess I must be delusional there. Or maybe just pig-headed?

Hmmmmmm -- are other people in your area able to grow them?

Have to be since the box stores sell them every year, even though we are in drought conditions. Think mine have always gotten too much sunshine and not enough water. During a usual summer, here, cumulative heat sickness basically keeps me indoors from about mid-July through the end of August. Which means any plant that needs frequent water is gonna croak because I'm only able to get out and water two or three times in that period. Got lucky this year with two extended cool periods that also had rain, and it was just a couple of weeks back that I got clobbered with it for this year. The breaks made me very happy because I was able to put the side yard beds in place and plant all those lovely, lovely Iris. With not working any more and the babies moved out, it hasn't been too bad being in the yard for a couple of hours in the early mornings, puttering and keeping the pots watered...so, maybe...maybe I can try it again! Yeah, that's it, I should try it again--and mamajack is having a reblooming hydrangea sale co-op right this very dadgum week!!! (uh-oh...)

You might try a different cultivar each time until you find one that can take the heat. I know they like only indirect sun, my grandma used to have them on the North side of the house.

I grow them here, Debra. Twist 'n Shout, Mop Heads, variegated, Oak Leaf, re-blooming..... If I miss a watering every other day they wilt. I grow them in shade but they need water. This year I put them in giant pots with drainage on the side of the pot. This allows the water to stay in the pot longer. This has helped.

Tom, there isn't one yet that can take both the heat AND my neglect. Maybe next year I will try Tiny Tuff Stuff in a container. I want the lacecaps rather than the mopheads, and blue rather than pink. Happy the selection there is growing.

Bonnie, the watering part--or rather lack of it--is the biggest reason they have all died. Had a couple of real beauties that I might try again next year, one was all white and the other had variegated foliage.

Twist n Shout is a lacecap and it survives my care so it must be hardy. I need some Tiny Tuff stuff to grow in a tub.