Thursday, April 29, 2010

Black + Green = More Than Ivy for Me

I have a black thumb.

For as long as I can remember, ivy is the only plant I haven't accidentally killed. I'm serious here. I even killed cactus.

I moved up and down the west coast, bringing my trusty ivy with me in the back of my VW Golf. The ivy's limbs (or is it branches? appendages? tentacles?) now stretch to at least 30 feet, winding around my bookshelves. I've had to trim it back several times so it wouldn't take over.

I love my ivy. My bookshelves wouldn't be complete without it. But it was time; I wanted something MORE from a plant than having it look cool. I wanted to EAT what I grew.

Luckily, after moving into our new house last fall, I discovered my better half has a green thumb.

I'd heard rumors to that effect, but I'd never had a chance to see it for myself while we lived in tiny apartments. But now that we have a yard, I get to reap the benefits. The bigger veggies -- like the tomato plants, at left, and zucchinis, at right -- are still growing, but we're already eating salads from the garden every night.

It's true, there are some slugs that show up in the garden. But when they come out at night, I'm safely hiding in my study with my ivy.

--Gigi


6 comments:

Rachael Herron said...

Mmmmm. Garden salads. I can't wait to put mine in....

L.G.C. Smith said...

OMG, Gigi, that picture with the plant, you, and the books? I had the same plant, same bookshelves, totally same look for years. I had to do a double take: What's that tall brunette doing in that picture of my apartment in Berkeley?

And, um, I think your ivy is really a philodendron. :)

Your lettuces looks gorgeous. Yum!

Martha Flynn said...

"I think your ivy is really a philodendron"

srsly..i almost choked i laughed so hard at this

Gigi Pandian said...

OMG, LGC -- I bought those oak bookshelves on Craigslist when I first moved to Berkeley! Perhaps I bought YOUR old bookshelves!

Wow, so you mean I have a REAL plant that I haven't killed, not just un-killable ivy? That's so cool.

Rachael -- I'm looking forward to our second batch of planting coming up in a few weeks :). Aren't bay area seasons grand?

Lyssa said...

Epipremnum aureum, aka Pothos, aka Devil's Ivy. I can't kill them either, but my cat sure can.

Unknown said...

Gigi-
Yay for one green thumb in the family :) My gardening skills improved dramatically with the installation of a drip system and timers :) :)
Lisa