Green Thumb

 Can You Inherit a “Green Thumb?”

My grandmother had a green thumb. She could grow anything. My mother has always been able to grow beautiful flowers and colorful vegetables. 

My oldest daughter is like that. Allison can start a plant with a seed or broken stem or bit of root. I’m not kidding. She can grow anything and has a houseful of plants to prove it.

The bulk of that innate ability to grow anything and everything obviously skipped a generation. Mine. 

I am not a “plant whisperer” like my daughter or grandmother. I generally require seeds and directions. I’ve planted many a garden and grown vegetables for my family. I’ve managed to do well with outdoor plants. 

Particularly those that live on neglect.

I surprised myself when I saw a beautiful shrub outside a hotel in Kissimmee, Florida. I told Mike I wanted to grow one like it even as I pinched off a sprig of the greenery. 

I wrapped it in a damp napkin and we headed home.

Back at the house, I found a jar, created a “holder” for the sprig from a piece of cardstock, and set my little plant-to-be on a table on our back porch. And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Did I mention I waited?

Yep, more waiting.

And then? 

I started seeing some little nubs of roots starting to form. I made sure I kept water in the jar. 

And now? Now, seven months later, the plant’s roots are developing nicely. I’m ready to put my little plant in some potting soil. 

It’ll still need some tender loving care for a bit, but one day, I’m hopeful a beautiful shrub will grow in our flowerbed. I may have a touch of that green thumb after all.

We’ll see. One down. A thousand to go.

But like I always told my students as I sent them out to recess, "Everything needs dirt, water, and sunshine to grow."