Nature is fickle. Not cruel -- just uncertain.
This is what I want to know: Why do some plants pop out from under the dirt, grow quickly, throw out lots of leaves, and then burst into flower with nary a drop of fertilizer? Some struggle, appear late, are spindly, do nothing. Others: still born.
I bought four new roses this year. Two are doing beautifully. The other two might just be dead. All were handled, planted, fed exactly the same way. The rational horticulturalist in me says that it's just bad luck. But somewhere inside a voice says "It's your fault."
You could rake in the dough with a career in botanical forensics. Sadly, none in the yellow pages.
Silver lining: Every dead plant is an opportunity for further shopping.
Posted by rich at May 5, 2004 9:17 PM