Conquering my black thumb

The black thumb of death has been haunting me my whole life. I mean I only have to look at a plant and it starts to wilt and die. I don't even want to think about the number of plants I have sent to vegetation heaven. I have even had fish commit suicide...

To celebrate the summer solstice I went to a yoga class where we did 108 sun salutations (108 has some significant meanings in yoga/ Buddha land). During the class they talk briefly about mantras or affirmations and the idea that the more you say something the more true it will become whether or not what you are saying is factual. I know it sounds CRAZY but stay with me here....

To me, all the mantra mambo jumbo is all just about self talk. Do you go through life saying "I can't do this" "I'm too tired for that" or "I'm not strong enough to manage it"? Imagine if you made a habit of replacing all those negative words and cants and started telling yourself that you were strong and that you could do it. The easiest example is when I go out for a run. If I take off on a run telling my self that I am tired, am not a good runner, should just be eating cheesecake on my couch etc.. my run sucks! If I run and tell myself how happy I am to be outside and running, that I am strong and healthy, that I can run further today than I did yesterday (whether or not I an really believing these statements at the time), then I always have a great run!

Bringing it back to the plants....I decided maybe I needed to practice a little positive self talk and instead of telling my self that I have a black thumb, try telling myself that I can keep a plant alive! It seems to be working! While I have one plant that may be beyond saving the other two are doing quite well!!

The plant that is dying a long, slow and painful death. I over water it, under water it, and just cant seem to get things right for this poor little guy. It started with three bulbs and I am down to one. :(

This is a plant that came from a little starter off my mums plant! I placed the starter in water until I had a nice growth of roots and then planted it and away it goes! Woo hoo! It is so pretty with red a green leaves and grows really fast. Although, I have no idea what kind of plant this is So I would love to hear the name of it if any of you know?! My mum did call the other day and asked me how it was going, I said it was growing well and getting pretty tall! She said "Really? That's strange mine is a hanging plant." Hmm, don't really know what to make of that then.... lol!

And finally my first successful edible vegetation..... Basil!!!!! **Moment of silence for all the other herbs that died in my hands before this success.**

I love Basil! I love putting this wonderful plant that I am growing into my pasta, on my pizza, on my salads...etc! I LOVE IT! I know I know its bizarre but every time I run up my stairs to harvest a few leaves to add to a dish I just giggle with joy! MY BASIL IS ALIVE!!!!

Look at all the new baby Basil leaves!!!!! Grow babies, grow!

Maybe, just maybe, I will one day have a whole vegetable garden.....