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<p><img src="http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/4175/files/Headshot.jpg" align=left> My friends, I am a reformed House Plant Killer. I kid you not. In the past ten years, I have killed 9 variegated ivies, 5 ferns, 6 lady palms, 2 dumb canes, a handful of orchids, and 1 rubber plant. I've even managed to turn countless bowls of paperwhite narcissi into an unidentifiable mush.</p> <p>Reforming my murderous tendencies was not easy. A year ago when I got married, my new husband and I purchased our first home and decided to plant "a few nice roses." I was too afraid to tell him about my habit of killing plants, so I rushed to the store to pick up a few gardening books and, if that didn't work, to locate a source for plastic rose plants.</p> <p>Months later, I talked my husband into turning our backyard into a "real garden." One with paths, a pond, and flowers galore. Lucky for me, right around that time my doctor instructed me to cut back on the 16-hour workdays that my job as an attorney requires. I began spending my time creating a garden, talking to gardeners, and learning all I could about gardening.</p> <p>I still work as an attorney, but when I'm not in the courtroom I'm outside tending my plants, or downstairs in the indoor nursery that my husband built to keep me occupied on rainy days. This fall, I'm teaching two community college courses on gardening and garden design, and will be finishing my Master Gardener program as well. And, in the meantime, I have plenty to keep me busy in our 2500 sq. foot garden where, I'm proud to say, all of the plants are alive and well.</p>