Are you a gardening addict?

Diana starts with ...
This was in the September 'Warm Earth' Magazine (the free mailing list, but also the more detailed paper copy in newsagents). A good laugh, but I was a bit shocked to realize these things about myself.

'Are you a gardening addict?

Find out by answering the following questions:

Have you gone to a nursery for one plant and come back with several? (yes)

Do you ask for manure or compost for your birthday? (yes, this has never worked though)

Have you bought a new plant knowing there's no room in any of your beds? (definitely. I justify this by telling myself that the height of plants I buy is decreasing)

Do you worry about your garden when on holiday? (yes. I recently watered the garden on returning, before picking up the dog from the kennel or unpacking)

Have you taken cuttings from public gardens or parks? (no)

Is gardening more important to you than cleaning the house? (yes, I try to make myself do the housework first on Saturdays, but it doesn't always work)

If you see a weed in a friend's garden, do you have an urge to pull it? (yes)

Do you have difficulty keeping your fingernails clean? (sort of, but I wear gloves and scrub, as I know someone who got toxoplasma from garden dirt and they always had dirty nails)

Do the staff at your local garden centre know you by name? (yes)

Have you gardened through meals or until it was too dark to see? (always)

Have you ever got out of bed to check on plants? (Not lately, but I used to live in a colder climate, and got up to cover things if I thought there was a frost)

If you answered yes to four or more of these questions, you're a gardenaholic. Unfortunately there's no known treatment for the condition and it will probably last a lifetime, but don't despair. The good news is that this is one addiction which is actually beneficial to your health.'

I thought of another one- I read fruit tree and vegie seed catalogues (and look at this forum and edibles page) for relaxation, even when I don't immediately want to buy something.

Can you think of any more?

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1

Tiggerbow says...
'Are you a gardening addict?

Find out by answering the following questions:

Have you gone to a nursery for one plant and come back with several?
- All the time

Do you ask for manure or compost for your birthday?
- Nope

Have you bought a new plant knowing there's no room in any of your beds?
- Yep - But I always think 'I'll find a place for it'

Do you worry about your garden when on holiday?
- Yes - but my Mum lives near by so she has instructions to check it for me

Have you taken cuttings from public gardens or parks?
- Nope - I only gorw fruit and veg

Is gardening more important to you than cleaning the house?
- Oh yeah - Don't vist me on a Saturday - house is a pigsty but garden is nice

If you see a weed in a friend's garden, do you have an urge to pull it?
- Not really - have too many of my own at the moment

Do you have difficulty keeping your fingernails clean?
- Yep - try to wear gloves but some jobs need a finer touch

Do the staff at your local garden centre know you by name?
- No - I shop far and wide

Have you gardened through meals or until it was too dark to see?
- Gardened to the point of exhaustion

Have you ever got out of bed to check on plants?
- Husband and I regularly go on 'slug patrol' at night with a torch - can take a couple of hours

I too enjoy reading seed catalogues and any gardening books or mags I can find.
My work collegue calls my gardening mags 'Jodie porn'
xx
Jodie (Tiggerbow)

amanda says...
A good laugh to start the day - thanks guys! I said to yes to all (and plan housework for bad-weather days too!) I got a compost tumbler for Xmas once! I only buy gardening mags and probly talk to my plants more than people some days..
I am right handed and have a bucket full of really good left hand gloves - as I wear the right ones out...(rigger gloves too..)
I spend more money on plants than I do on myself (clothes, haircuts etc...)
It's really nice to know I am not the only one ... I can't wait to show this to my hubby!

Mango-grower says...
Oh dear, but pretty funny.
Spending more money and time on plants than yourself is definitely another one too.

When we bought a house, I brought the improved soil from the no-dig garden I had in the old rented house back yard with me (it had a lot of investment in it, and I was sure the new tenants wouldn't appreciate it!). I read about a couple who were members of Brisbane organic growers recently who also brought their soil with them when they moved house, so it's not completely unprecedented behaviour.

Thanks for the amusing comments, I am enjoying them.

Diana.