Gardeners Anonymous

By M Fitzgerald (MitchF) May 7, 2008

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Welcome to the first article ever on this wonderful and ever growing group filled with people who, for the life of themselves, cannot stop the plant bug that already is growing in their soul. Come on in and introduce yourself and let me tell you how to know if you need the services of Gardeners Anonymous.

1. You watch 10 or more forums.

Not that you post in all these forums, but you keep lurking in the shadows. You keep lists and dream shop every time you read a new posting. The normal tell-tell forums are the Daylily, Iris, Rose, and Tropical. If you have one or more of these forums in your viewer and read each and every posting, you might be in trouble. The more serious addiction comes from those in the Brugmansia, Passiflora, and Hosta forums that almost always leads to carpal tunnel due to the typing needed to reply to the wealth of postings.

2. You keep a spread sheet.

You keep a spread sheet of the cultivars you have of one plant. These plants might look the same to the naked human eye but you have each and every one in a place of honor. You not only record the day you got the plant and number of leaves it had, but when it moved up pots, the day it bloomed (each time it blooms), and possible breeding partners. You dream of your special plants in your sleep and try to grow thousands of seedlings in hopes of growing something new and wonderful.

3. You ask for plants.

Your Christmas, Hanukah and birthday wish lists are all full of plants. You also might ask for pots, hose, dirt, mulch... the list really goes on and on here. The problem is not what you are asking for but that look of disgust that creeps on family and friend's faces when you ask them for these treasured items. Your children, on the other hand, always know what to get you - that next plant, tree, or bag of manure is right around the corner.

4. You have to save plants.

Be it at the store clearance rack or stopping to dig from a home that will soon be demolished to make way for progress, you have to get out there and save those plants. Hate iris? No more room? Already dead?   It really does not matter.  The urge to save the plant will sweep over you and space will be found.  The plant will be loved and it will make it - or you will just buy another one to prove it was not you who killed it!

5. You hide plants.

You get the plant from a plant swap, store, salvage job, you just never know but you bring it home and have to hide it somewhere. Why?  You love the new plant no matter how common or how many you already have.  You have to hide them because you have no place left to plant them.  All your beds are full or filling.  Your porch and every good sunny window is full and maybe you even have grow lights to make another room a place for your plants. There is no room and yet you picked them up and brought the treasures home.

6. You grow more.

Already have 20 boxwoods? Great, but you will still try to root cuttings. They have no place to live and you will have to give them away but you just have to make the cuttings.  You divide the plant, pot up the seedling, and take a double look at each and every weed just to see if someone might want it if you had it in a pot. Why do you do it? You know that so many people out there--people you have yet to meet--need these plants. If you can only find them, you will be able to give these valuable plants away.

7. You are accused of being a walking botanical book.

No matter where you go, you are always telling family and friends all about the plants in their garden, your garden, or any other garden you can dream of. Every dinner you eat makes you talk about the spices, fruits, and vegetables on the table and how you grew them, tried to grow them, or want to grow them.

8. You take field trips.

You go out of the way to places just to see the plants. In the spring you drive to the home with the tulips or the huge red buds. You look at park plants and take mental note of plants you need to gather seeds from later. You pinch back plants in gardens, taking the new cutting home to try your own. The world around you is just one big botanical garden ready for you to tour.

9. You have more seeds that you could ever plant in your lifetime.

You have trays and trays of seeds.  There are seeds you might need, want to try, or gathered and  just know you will need one of these days. You buy seeds, gather seeds, and keep track of all the 1seeds you have. You never throw out seeds seeing that they just might grow.  After all, some seeds in Egypt grew after thousands of years.

10. You would rather be in the garden.

You long to be in the garden. You get up in the morning and see the wonderful new day and long to be out there. Chores and work take up too much of your day.  If you could just run out and play in the garden you know the world would be a better place in which to live and work.

If you said yes to seven or more of the above, you are a bonafide candidate for Gardeners Anonymous. Feel free to sign up.  The rules are simple really - grow, share, and save  plants no mater where you are. The more plants you have, the better the symptoms will be... really, I promise! 

This is my own garden in the photo.

About M Fitzgerald   I am a pentecostal preacher, gardener,husband, and a father. I love natives, daylilies, iris, and roses. I love teaching others, be they children or adults, about the garden and plants.

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Subject: Not only is this me......but i enable

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Posted by ilovejesus99 (from Baytown, TX) on July 1, 2008 at 6:45 AM:

Oh my goodness. I am this person then some. Not only do I do all this but i enable adicts by giving them plants but I try to get people addicted to help me feel better.

Don't have any plants? Let me get you started. need to feed your addiction? I can help see my trade list.

I love this addiction and never want to be cured. But would fake it to get another plant. :O)

Blessings,
Sandy ^8^

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Posted by atalanta (from Sherman, CT) on May 15, 2008 at 8:18 PM:

It's bona fide.

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Posted by mary0520 (from Olive Branch, MS) on May 12, 2008 at 9:37 PM:

my husband banned me from the flower departments at lowes and home depot. but lowes always has mark downs and they need me to take them home and save them! my friends at work always say just go ask mary she will know what it is! I really dont want to be cured either. my 7 yr old grandaughter is always right there with me too. she loves plant sales as much as I do and getting her little hands dirty.

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Posted by holeth (from Lehigh Valley, PA) on May 12, 2008 at 5:52 PM:

do i need an intervention if i only exhibit 7 of 10 symptoms?

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on May 13, 2008 at 8:10 AM:

Nope - you need to dive all the way in first

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Posted by bseddon (from Pittsfield,, MA) on May 12, 2008 at 9:34 AM:

Let's see, I have about 50+ Bonsai, a sun room on the front of my house filled with plants, a room in the cellar with lights for starting plants and I am putting 2 large skylights on a portion of my heated garage so I can carry more plants over. I retired last November, 6 1/2 months after losing DH to the big C so the gardens are my comfort and since they have been a bit neglected during DH's illness, this is their year to shine. Have already spread almost 3 yds of compost and watched plants soar, the Forget-Me-Nots that my DIL gave me when DH passed are blooming, the fish pond is waiting for me to go buy fish. I buy feeder fish and watch them grow because when I buy expensive fish, they become Sushi for the raccoon. Am going to Logee's later this month!!! You know, over the last year I have heard all kinds of quotes that have helped in this journey ("If you come to an abyss, you can fall in or learn to fly"... that sort of thing) but a couple of weeks ago I read an article stating (and I'm paraphrasing) that to her God is not a noun but a verb and asking if she believed in God was like asking a fish if it believed in water.. the fish is simply sumbmerged in water and expects it to be there. She went on to say that God (in her mind) was NOT a separate being standing judgement over us but part of everything we deal with, every conversation, etc. This was like a revelation to me..... I hear God in the woman at the store who was in a great mood because she said she wasn't going to let anyone steal her joy, In the woman I met on vacation who reflected my feelings that widowhood was an exclusive club that no one wanted to join, who is forming a group called GOTO girls, Girls On Their Own, I feel God in my addiction which surrounds me with glorious colors and textures. Sorry for being so long winded...

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Posted by dobra1629 (from Houma, LA) on May 7, 2008 at 8:39 PM:

My name is Dorothy Dobra and I need help! Is there any help out there?

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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 11:33 PM:

Only one thing comes to mind "if you can't beat'em, join'em!".

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on May 9, 2008 at 7:57 AM:

There is help - plant a few more!

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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 9, 2008 at 8:01 AM:

Right and share with others at a plant swap!

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on May 9, 2008 at 8:02 AM:

True... I found myself starting so many plants everyone that came over left with a few of something... if they wanted them or not :-)

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Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on May 7, 2008 at 5:21 PM:

Good one Mitch Am Onely Watching 77Fourms

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on May 9, 2008 at 7:57 AM:

77! I can only keep 15 and I go nuts - more power to ya!

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Posted by nanny_56 (from Putnam County, IN) on May 7, 2008 at 3:35 PM:

I watch 17 forums... just lurk on a few others from time to time. These do include the Daylily and Hosta forums.

Don't have a spread sheet, but i did do maps of each bed... these need to be redone due to additions and moving a couple...

Yep, ask for plants, save plants hide plants and grow more plants. Have seeds going now and have no idea where I am going to put them ! lol

Botanical Book...hmmm...I think I gave a neighbor more info than she wanted the other day.

There may be hope for me ...I don't do field trips ...yet. And I don't collect seeds...yet...

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Posted by chrissy100 (from Sydney
(Australia)) on May 6, 2008 at 5:14 PM:

Well Mitch ...I have to hold my hand up ...yes it's true, but golly if we are addicts ...it is such a glorious addiction isn't it ?...garden addicts unite ...whatever plants you are addicted to ...hands up ...what is your favourite/latest addiction and why ...come on fess up!
mine is the magical and mysterious Brugmansias ...I call them Angels for they are truly heaven sent ...love all the things in my garden though ...thankyou Mitch for bringing this subject up ...so what is your latest addiction?
...tell us why ...
chrissy

This message was edited May 7, 2008 7:16 AM

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Posted by bluekat76 (from Ijamsville, MD) on May 7, 2008 at 4:29 AM:

My current annual addiction is heirloom tomatoes. This year I have 24 varieties, 100 plants and room for 42. At least 8 will have a new home by tonight, 50 more to go. I believe I am powerless of Lycopersicon. My life will not get unmanageable until August.....

Thanks for another great article Mitch!
-Kim

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Posted by onewish1 (from Denville, NJ) on May 7, 2008 at 6:02 AM:

your article made me laugh... guess I need it

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Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on May 7, 2008 at 6:02 AM:

Nice article!

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Posted by larlienda (from Strasburg, VA) on May 7, 2008 at 6:24 AM:

uh, oh.......


:-)

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Posted by Pyewacketcat54 (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 6:44 AM:

Hi Mitch,
I have to say my new addictions this year are clematis,and hostas. I'm gathering old wood windows to make a greenhouse,saw Notmarthas and it inspired me.... more room for learning!
And I want to say it was so nice to met you and the others at the R/U in Waxahachie this year....hope you are doing well in your new place.Becki

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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 7:42 AM:

Finally a group I can really relate to! LOL!! I love the #4 I think it was about buying a plant, just to prove it wasn't you who killed it. Another great article. It only serves to confirm my belief the one who dies with the most plant varieties wins! LOL! ....But Mitch, you left out the uncontrollable urge to pull weeds in other's gardens or public places when you see them!

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Posted by MAlt (from Effingham, IL) on May 7, 2008 at 7:48 AM:

Hi my name is Mike and I am a Garden Addict.
It's nice to come to a place and feel safe among others with the same problem.
I have visions of perfectly spaced beds of carrots and lettuces and onions and and - - - -
I start seeds in my basement and call them my babies!
My wife thinks I'm nuts she thinks I need help .I just need more time in the garden.

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Posted by podster (from Deep East Texas, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 7:53 AM:

Hanging my head and admitting guilt to a few... NO, all 10 of them. Plus some more, like enough plant reference books to bury me when the shelf behind me collapses as I surf DG. Plantaholica Incurablis ~ that is me.

The plant obession this year is Salvias, last year Scutellarias, the year before Stapliads, before that well.... you name it!

At least I can admit this among friends!

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on May 7, 2008 at 8:08 AM:

Glad you all liked it - it fits me way toooo much, Yes I am a life long memeber!

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Posted by CapeCodGardener (from Mid-Cape, MA) on May 7, 2008 at 9:24 AM:

Yes! And there's one other sign of G.A. . . . we invariably recognize our own kind and will happily talk gardening for hours with anyone we meet who shares the addiction, while other, non-G.A. members will be rolling their eyes with boredom and edging away. DH comes to mind. . .

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Posted by Lindawalkabout (from Holden, MO) on May 7, 2008 at 10:11 AM:

Got my one hand up for being on that list several #'s and the other one up toasting all the gardeners with a cup of coffee , wouldn't want it any other way ,

good writing.

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 10:29 AM:

#11 This is a highly contagious affliction. Witness my close friendship with The Mitch himself. I am totally, unabashedly hooked. Shall never be the same.
There are those in my circle of friends who truly start to edge away when I say Dave's Garden.

Thanks, Mitch, for everything.

Christi

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Posted by mrs_colla (from Marin, CA) on May 7, 2008 at 11:56 AM:

I am Christie and I am a plant addict.
This year's passion is roses, although I haven't got a clue about them. One already died, but I am sure it wasn't my fault! ( yeahyeah...)
I have a huge problem with fruit trees, shrubs and citrus and just added a gazilion currant bushes...
I confess I have stopped at a house on my way to work to tell the people their citrus trees looked bad and they need foliar spray with iron and zinc today!
They kept me there for an hour and I remedied all the plants they had...

My son said I love my plants more than him.... That isn't true, but it is close....

CC

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Posted by loves_lavender (from Granite City, IL) on May 7, 2008 at 12:06 PM:

Cute article, I am in the club! I have only been gardening on my own home for less than 5 years, but you should see my parent's yard! My passions are mainly herbs and flowering shrubs but clematis is becoming a new obsession as of this year. I started gardening when I was a child and still encourage my mother on what to plant during our annual shopping trips. I admit to the guilty pleasure of being able to read DG all day at work, too!

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Posted by phughes (from Portland, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 12:52 PM:

Cute article . . . I'm definately a candidate for GA

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Posted by nikki_glez (from Mina
(Mexico)) on May 7, 2008 at 3:30 PM:

yesss sign me in! im soooo a new plant junkie, i started with this addiction last year and i think its going to stay with me til i die, im a begonia lover, succulents, cacti, my house has a small patio so you must know how i feel like not having enough room for all those mental landscaping i make everytime i go to the nurserys, I have lots of seeds that Im still figuring out where to plant them, and yeah, I definitely hide plants! haha!im still gathering begonias, im not at that stage where i have no room anymore, but seriously im getting there soon!!
saludos desde MExico!

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Posted by robcorreia (from San Diego, CA) on May 7, 2008 at 4:43 PM:

Seems like somebody here needs to go to rehab! lol!!!

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 6:57 PM:

So Nikki. Where is Mina?

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Posted by planolinda (from Plano, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 7:00 PM:

i am in there too! and does anyone else go to bed and lay there and think about the different plants? how they are doing? which ones might need to be moved? and i wait all week for saturday to arrive so i can stay outdoors and play/work in the yard--each day i think of how much closer i am!! oh its sad but true-i am an addict!

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 7:03 PM:

Oh yes, Linda. Am very fortunate that we are now retired and can do whatever we think is priority each day. DH has now learned to do the laundry, mop the floor, clean the bathroom, he has been doing the shopping and cooking for a long time.

How can I possibly waste my time doing such mudane things when the garden awaits. Ohhhhh such bliss.

Christi

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Posted by robcorreia (from San Diego, CA) on May 7, 2008 at 7:06 PM:

hahah Linda, I'm so glad you said that! I thought I was a freak....last thoughts before falling asleep? Plants, plants, plants! lol!

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Posted by SongsofJoy (from New Hampshire, NH) on May 7, 2008 at 7:12 PM:

Guilty as charged on all counts!!! I've gone beyond spreadsheets though....I've resorted to Access Database!

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Posted by glevely (from Sanford, MI) on May 7, 2008 at 7:39 PM:

It sounds like some one has been talking to my family and friends I know THAT LOOK all to well
Gloria

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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on May 7, 2008 at 10:43 PM:

Another treasure of an article, Mitch!
Count me in for GA GA for plants. Count your Grandma in, too. (If I remember correctly, one year she really DID ask for Manure on the gift list, another year: concrete blocks and this year your Grandpa gave her a raised bed for a Dogwood Tree and flowers).
And, count your Great Grandpa in, too. Mom just told me a story about Grandpa that I didn't know...interesting.
You made me laugh, again! Love your sense of humor!

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 7, 2008 at 10:45 PM:

Aunt A. You should be very proud of Mitch. He is more than just good. He is fantastic.

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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on May 7, 2008 at 11:42 PM:

Lou:

Sweet! I am very proud of him...every since the first night when my mom called to tell me I had a new nephew! I couldn't sleep hardly a wink...was over at a friend's house and drove her crazy...

:-)

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Posted by planolinda (from Plano, TX) on May 8, 2008 at 6:10 PM:

christi i am planning to do lots of gardening when i am off for the summer and will get a taste of how great retirement must be!! my husband does all the laundry and clean up after dinner but has no interest in gardening--he likes how it looks tho--i am sort of glad that it is mine to do alone tho

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 8, 2008 at 8:59 PM:

DH was like that to begin with. Now that everyone is bragging he is about to get the hang of it. I still have a mow/blow crew that does the hot boring stuff.

Christi

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Posted by planolinda (from Plano, TX) on May 9, 2008 at 5:58 PM:

we do too-never heard it called mow/blow! will remember that

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 9, 2008 at 6:39 PM:

They are hadly here long enough for even that. Mow, blow the yard, and then blow.
Except yesterday they ran over my best hose, planted a large plant and broke the water line to the sprinkler system and took my leaf rake with them. Same owner that I have worked with for 12 years. He and I are having a real serious talk tomorrow.

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Posted by planolinda (from Plano, TX) on May 9, 2008 at 6:51 PM:

oh my!!

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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 12, 2008 at 6:57 AM:

Down here those sprinkler systems are a must with our summers. It is also expensive to get them fixed. I cut the wiring once and they charged $60 an hour for repairs!

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Posted by Toxicodendron (from Piedmont, MO) on May 12, 2008 at 9:23 AM:

You know you are in real trouble when you can't plan a vacation because of your plant maintenance schedules. In summer there is the watering, spraying, fertilizing, weeding, and harvesting. In winter, the greenhouse to attend and protect, along with plants tucked everywhere in the house. During spring and fall, it is just too darn nice to go anywhere else! Sigh...I need to get away guilt-free! And yet I still buy, buy, buy. Yes, I am a slave to this disease.

By the way, we have a local garden club and use the name Gardeners Anonymous. One night a stranger appeared at the meeting and inquired if we were the local Alcoholics Anonymous...I said no, we are Gardeners Anonymous but you are welcome to stay! He got the strangest look on his face after that. I believe he thought I was making a bad joke, LOL.

Thanks for the article, Mitch!
Toxi

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Posted by Candyce (from The Monadnock Region, NH) on May 12, 2008 at 10:50 PM:

Another great article!
I feel right at home in GA. It's the warmest, most comfortable, friendliest group in the whole, wide world! I'm happy to know there are so many of us in the club.

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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 12, 2008 at 11:00 PM:

Candyce......Guess I am getting tired....I just read " right at home in GA" and wondered why you were saying that when you were from NH, and I know Mitch; and he isn't from Georgia!! .... LOL!
Bedtime....

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on May 12, 2008 at 11:02 PM:

hahahaha. Sheila, I interpreted the same way.

nighty, night

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