I Have A Problem

 “An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life.”       

I am a fan of nurseries.  So much so that you can count on the fact that I will visit one at least once in the week, no matter what time of year.  A better week involves more visits.  One of my favorite spots is Armstrong Garden Center in Mission Valley.  I know most of the store’s employees by name.  They joke that I have more buying points than most of their customers.  I am what you call a regular.  I like nurseries.  I like this one especially.  It is not so large that I feel out of sorts, and it is warm and friendly on approach.  The music and sound of running water nourish me as much as looking at the plants.  I feel right at home. The employees make me feel like one of them.       

Joe is one such employee.  I happened upon him on one of my many visits to the place.    He was helping me research a plant and the conversation developed from there.   I told him that I thought I had a problem.  He looked at me curious.  I can’t help myself, I said.  I have to buy at least one plant a week.  He laughed then.  In fact we both laughed.   I have the same problem, he said.   My wife thinks I am crazy.  

I guess there are worse addictions.  For me the sheer variety of plant life is so vast I can’t think of ever getting bored.   A problem, yes,  especially when you consider the choices, but a problem I would take any day over others.  To consider also the intelligence behind such creativity, well, it’s impossible.    One day I will have to do better at doing propagation, but even then it won’t calm the quest entirely.  I will always be an addict.