My mother could not stand the fact that I had no live plants in the very small first house that husband Jeff and I purchased in Tampa. On her first visit she arrived with a large plastic, green fabric-covered pot filled with pothos ivy.

That began a life-long obsession with growing things. First it was plants, then kids, now grandkids, and still, there are plants. Enough plants that Jeff cringes when he knows a freeze  signals the migration of pots into the house, garage and shed.

Beginning our married life in Florida, my gardening was as easy as digging a hole, sticking in any plant, add a bit of water and it grew. Orange trees, left over poinsettias, roses, veggies...they all grew. What a change it was when we moved to Houston in the mid-70s and I found the "gumbo" known as soil very unforgiving. 

I persevered and today have mastered plumerias, orchids, bromeliads, roses, hibiscus and just about anything else that blooms.  While I like organization inside the house, my yard is hardly ordered. If there's a spot open, a plant fills it. I go for texture, color, scent, year-round blooms and butterfly/hummingbird attraction.

If a plant dies, I don't mourn, just try something else. 

My good friends Chris and Suzanne Salvo caught me in the yard, insisting I wear gloves (I never do - can't feel the dirt). The glasses where bigger, the hair darker, but the passion is the same.

If anyone is interested, my garden is your garden - bring a shovel, a pot and your gloves. I'll help you to anything you can dig...and give you some instructions on how to keep it happy.