Plants are so Peaceful

@ramapo17 (30441)
Melbourne, Florida
November 1, 2015 2:54pm CST
I was never a person that cared one way or another about plants until I got a job in a nursery. A new nursery was built close to home and I needed a change of jobs. I applied there even though I knew nothing about plants or one flower from another. The place was a craft center and garden center. I got the job and started a week later expecting to work in the store. Of course I got put in the garden center. I was lucky enough to work with people that knew the plants. I did a lot of the moving and displaying of the plants but knew nothing about the plants. I decided it was time to learn about them. Every time we got a plant delivery I would help unload the truck and the driver would yell out which plant to get. I also use to take the tags off the plants and write descriptions of them to post on the plants. I taught myself all about them. Within a couple of years I became a manager of the store and it is a big nationwide company with many stores. I was very proud of myself and now I go crazy when I see new plants somewhere and I have to learn all about them.
11 people like this
12 responses
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Nov 15
I've never had a job working with plants but spend a lot of time working on my own plants - mainly trees that are in various stages of training to become bonsai. I need to learn more about the horticultural side of things but there are only so many hours in a day, and I spend far too many of them stuck in front of my computer.
2 people like this
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Nov 15
@ramapo17 Unfortunately I do both. Sometimes I think that technology controls my life.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
4 Nov 15
@Gina145, creating and shaping bonsai's should be so much fun but I never got into that. I always stuck with the huge trees. I had so many in my house it looked like a jungle. I am trying to figure a way to fit some into my new place.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
I know that feeling @Jabo. I try and do most of my time on here when my husband goes to bed. He likes to watch tv in bed so I can have the tv in the living room, only thing is that since I joined here I don't watch much tv.
2 people like this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
1 Nov 15
That is a wonderful story, it shows how well a person can do when she puts her mind to something that she really wants.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
Thank you @marlina. It makes me laugh how I could kill an artificial plant and then I became the specialist. I still love the plants and I am always looking for places that I could add another plant in the house
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
2 Nov 15
impressive self learning - you did really well.
• Preston, England
3 Nov 15
@ramapo17 I would never have had the patience to learn the skills you've gained - the plants would have probably not survived if I'd been caring for them
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
3 Nov 15
Thanks @arthurchappell. I am my best student, hahaha. I am always looking for new ways to do things or to learn. Some I get very involved with and others I get bored with so I put them aside.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
4 Nov 15
@arthurchappell It is so funny as I could never grow anything and my mom was shocked I got the job and taught myself what I needed to know. I also learned flower arranging and became a florist but that will be another story.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
7 Nov 15
What an amazing journey you took as you familiarised yourself with the plants. Well done to you!
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
7 Nov 15
Thank you @valmnz. It is so easy if you really like what you are doing. Things come so easy for you then.
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
1 Nov 15
I came late to plants too, (I was in my 60s). I was given some by a friend, bunged them in the garden and was entranced when they became beautiful flowers. I went on to win prizes for best garden. Congrats on becoming manager.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
@jabo that is so nice. I am now retired as I am 73 but I still drive my husband crazy as every time I go shopping I bring home a new plant, even if it is a small one.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Nov 15
@ramapo17 I can understand that - I hate to think how much I spend on plants.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Nov 15
That is so cool. I only know basic plants I see all the time. As for the rest - they're pretty about sums it up. I should really learn the names of those plants.
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
3 Nov 15
The best way to learn about the plants is to buy a small one or dig one up from a friend and read about it and grow it and you will see what it does or does not do.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
4 Nov 15
@just4him Before I got into this I use to kill everything. The whole key to successfully growing any plants is the lighting, temperature and watering. Once a plant is overwatered, don't even bother to try and recoup it. You would have to take it out of the pot and get all the soil off it and get new soil. The wet soil can get a fungus or disease on it and it can give it to plants around it. Here I go, on my little stage, hahaha.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Nov 15
@ramapo17 plants don't grow for me. I had a friend plant some flowers for me and they are doing fine. I don't need to do anything but let them be. It's the ones I plant myself that never make a showing.
@allknowing (137781)
• India
2 Nov 15
I spend most of my time with plants as gardening is my passion. I am happy you came to know what plants do to one's life
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
Thank you @allknowing, I cannot picture life without plants. They make me happy.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
2 Nov 15
I love plants too and I have a huge garden where I spend a lot of time.. You are so lucky to be working with plants .
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
I did plants when I was still working. I have been retired for about 4 years now and I still have to stop and look at all the plants in a store. I take forever when I see plants so my husband won't go shopping with me.
@DaddyEvil (137634)
• United States
5 Dec 15
I started learning about plants, how to grow them and what each type needed in order to live and grow well from my mother. We lived on a farm and she had huge flowerbeds as well as gardens. We kids worked in the gardens and flowerbeds right alongside mom and dad. We were also given small areas (50 feet x 50 feet) for us to make into our own garden/flowerbeds. Mom and dad never told us what we could or couldn't grow in our plots. They just supplied whatever seeds or starts we ask for and let us try to raise them on our own. (If ask, they would give any information we ask for, of course, but always wanted us to take responsibility for our own little plots. I've always loved exotic plants, Nancy. I love growing things that aren't considered growable in our weather conditions/climate.
• Chennai, India
7 Nov 15
It's a best thing to indulge in nature. We do have a nursery a few houses away from my home. Everytime I get past it I became really jealous about why my home has not been made a lot greener. It's heartening to see trees cut down for papers & other things. Some thing has to be done to restore the nature's balance. You are in a way contributing to it & as well as earning. Good job!!!
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
2 Nov 15
Wow! It is good you found out that you actually love plants! I don't work and never worked in plant nurseries, but I love growing plants. In fact, every summer, I plant tomatoes, eggplants, and variety of flowers . . In our bedroom and living room there are fortune plants and money plants.
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
Hello @julito. I never heard of fortune plants. Maybe it has a different name in the USA. I use to live in the northeast part of the USA but moved to Florida last year. I am amazed at all the plants we called house plants grow all over outside down here. I love it.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
1 Nov 15
That sounds like a very rewarding experience.
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
2 Nov 15
It is @boingboing. My mom use to laugh as I could never grow anything and would actually kill house plants. As I got into the profession, I realized I was over watering everything.