I thought it might be interesting to see how many people you have influenced to take up gardening. I feel like everyone should embrace gardening, and most just need to see how it's done and will then gain the confidence to try it for themselves !! My first husband had never even had a houseplant, but once he saw me growing things, he quickly picked up the hobby. The first thing he mastered was composting !! After that he about took over my veg garden. "I already watered and fertilized, picked all the beans that were ready and pruned the tomatoes." he'd say as I was readying myself to go out and do those things. Even after we divorced he'd call and tell me how well his veg was doing and how he had stopped traffic with his wildflower display out front. * breaths on fingernails and polishes them on shoulder*... SUCCESS !! One down and the rest of the world to go!! My x roommate who lived here while looking for her own place now has a housefull of plants, is growing fruit and nut trees and has sucessfully grown peppers and tomato plants all on her own. That's only two for me. How many have you converted into Gardeners ?
Well, I'm not really sure. For 40 years my campers lay back on their deckchairs and watched me slave out there, keeping the place neat and tidy, but, with very few exceptions, just got on with their Pims or whatever, and snoozed in the sunshine. I do know that my eldest son has taken up gardening big time, and at least two of his four children, and their crowd of children also show interest, so maybe we could imagine they got it from me - but I don't really know. Judging by the lack of replies here - maybe there are no inspirational stories to be told? We can only guess.
My youngest Daughter grows a few things, very interested in herbs and foraging for edibles We also had a friend who used to come camping here, she passed away in the winter, but she'd often come down the greenhouse and ask me about tomatoes and things while she was camping. I'd like to think some of my enthusiam for growing things inspired her to grow stuff too
None of my friends ever reallly showed an interest in gardening, I just went about my own. When my kids were small they liked to help me with the vegetable garden, especially harvesting the peas, beans and carrots. As they grew older the interest was gone, and by the time they were teens they mocked me for all the time I spent in the garden. Fast forward 2 grandkids in, my daughter and her boys started a veggie garden in their small suburban yard. Now, they have acreage and grow an amazing vegetable garden, as well as fruit trees and flower beds, make their own maple syrup and have chickens and compost piles! I like to think it has something to do with me
I just LOVE hearing these stories !! I do think that gardeners have influence !! We can inspire others to try gardening and once that gardening virus spreads to another person, they, in turn can spread it further !! Besides, everything about gardening is good for us as people, good for the planet, and even good for passersby who can't but be pleased to see our garden blooming. I have, as I'm sure you have as well, had a few people stop and look, enjoying the sight of a flower in bloom. I had a woman last year stop and say that, eventhough it was out of her way, she would drive by my yard on the way to work every day just to see what else was blooming. How uplifting is that? Gardening makes people happy !!
I got my best friend to start from veggies from seed. He did tomatoes way too early despite my advice. Finally admitted I was right.
My X roommate is trying to grow a date palm !! I explained to her that they don't grow here. "Do you see anyone growing date palms here? Don't you think that there would be commercial date palm groves everywhere if they could be grown?" I told her. She's still planting date pits in pots anyway. I think some people learn better from personal experience !!
Maybe your X roommate is growing them to cover her Xpenses We're on the edge for growing date palms, think we're in zone 9b. They'll just about put up with the cold but they (like the cacti) don't like the wet winters. We planted one outside but it didn't survive, I keep another in a pot and just bring it in to an unheated polytunnel in the winter. The best ones for a colder climate are the Canary Island dates but I think ours are Medjool ones. They're easy enough to germinate, just soak overnight and then keep somewhere warm in a bag with damp tissue (or Xpense claim forms ) They survive outside in Brittany and the South West of England
Here they grow in the desert southwest, california and south florida. Georgia has wet winters, which they hate. This is why most succulents and cacti won't do well here either. Not the cold in winter but the wet and cold, that does them in !!
Same issues in our wet & rainy climate in the coastal Pacific Northwest. Opuntia cacti grow well here some with prickles some with none , if you can protect them from the deer. Several succulents have done well as long as they are planted in well draining soil. ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum - stonecrop, several other varieties some variegated some curly leaves. Sedums are deer, gopher , ground squirrel proof and some in my garden are over 25 years old. They are also great drought plants in xzeroscape landscapes. Even yuccas do well in a wet climate and I luv the long terminal panicles loaded with whitish flowers. Hens and chicks sempervivum do well planted on a slight incline do well in wet conditions. Well draining soil and protected in a area is key.
My youngest daughter, but unfortunately and obviously not in the best way. She loves to plan and grow things in the Spring after seeing the work I do in my yard...BUT !! Being young, worldly and care free, she finds too many things to occupy her time so as Summer comes, nothing gets watered. Last year we both bought new Xmas tree and planted them. Mine is looking awesome, hers...Ahh... lets just say I don't think brown is the color a pine tree should be. One time I was at her house and looked in at the flowers she planted in a pot and the dirt was like concrete. I mean I literaly could not pierce the surface with a screwdriver. She is an Angel, but like me when I was young, not too focused.
That is absolutely identical to my area. Funny that we are located diagonally across the US from each other and have almost the same growing conditions !! Well, she has the interest from you and I'm sure, as she matures and becomes more settled, she will be the gardener that you are one day !!
Just imagine how the person who influenced this gardener might feel should their gardening\work effort follow through to complete success? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00945-z
