Gardening: How it All Went Wrong

Several years ago, after deciding to redecorate my living room, I visited Arhaus Furniture. The thing about decorating is that my tastes never seem to match my budget, which is how I got into this gardening mess. Arhaus carried table accents that consisted of a shallow round or square ceramic dish full of lush, green, neatly manicured grass. Immediately, I was smitten with the unique concept, but not with the price.

After leaving the furniture store, I called my husband and rattled off my list of necessary items - grass seed, potting soil, and fertilizer. Considering that I have killed every plant ever purchased, it was evident he thought this was yet another one of my fly-by-night ideas, yet he went along with the plan. My responsibility was to purchase a pretty and functional ceramic dish to house my table accent. Loaded with my packages, I bought several ceramic dishes; I rushed home to begin my experiment.

My husband appeared skeptical as he handed over the potting soil, fertilizer, and grass seed. Feeling very much in control of the situation, I promptly placed each item in the ceramic dish we decided looked best in the living room. Like a kid on Christmas morning, I watered the soil and waited.

Day 5 - I began to see little sprouts of grass trying to push their way through the soil. I was ecstatic! This was my first planting experience.

Day 10 - The blades of grass were filling in around the entire dish. I almost took pictures, but at the last minute restrained myself.

Day 20 - This grass growing experiment was in full swing. My grass now required manicuring! It was not as green and full as the Arhaus table accents, but with a little more grass seed and fertilizer, I was convinced my grass would surpass theirs in a matter of days.

Day 25 - My grass was starting to turn yellow. Perhaps more water and sun would cure the problem, so I temporarily changed the location.

Day 30 - My grass refused to stand up completely. I was a little perplexed, but figured a trim should cure the problem.

Day 40 - My grass died. It was a traumatic moment.

To this day, I have no idea what went wrong. Perhaps I should have consulted my husband, he does have the green thumb in the family, but I thought I could do it on my own. Whenever I talk about planting or growing something else, with a chuckle he reminds me of the table accent experiment and walks away. Maybe I should take up painting instead.