Ok, I know that I'm not alone out there. I can't be the only one to have this kind of issue. I'm hoping that someone can offer up some advice on how to deal with my particular neurosis.

Some times I feel like I'm crazy , but I have the hardest time letting a plant "pass". I start from seed, and I never sow more than one seed in a cell becuase I can't bring myself to thin a seedling. I bought a lot of carrot seed this year, but I don't like planting carrots becuase I hate the thought of cutting a poor carrots life short. Of course, I have no issue of eating said carrot once the time is right. Like that makes any sense.

This psychosis doesn't end with thinning seedlings. Oh no... I have house plants that I don't like, that I don't want, and I can't bring myself to let them pass. I would give them away, but they are way out of hand to the point that I don't think anyone would want them. I've killed my share of plants, but it just feels wrong to kill one on purpose. I can't decide if it is more humane to let them die from dehydration, or should I do it quick by pulling them up and exposing their roots.

I have day lilies that need to be thinned, and I am just dragging my feet because I don't have a bed to put the divisions. They're just regular day lilies, orange, nothing special. I won't be able to give all the divisions away, and these things are damned impossible to kill unless I run them through the chipper shredder. That would make me feel like a mass murderer. Does this make any sense?

I have divisions from a lovage plant that was just getting too big for the location. I brought 13 to my garden clubs plant sale, and 4 of them sold. The rest are sitting on my driveway slowly wilting away because I'm not watering them. I feel like a neglectful parent and that I'm a really bad person.

Why do I feel this way? What can I do to get over the guilt? I feel like I need to be committed. Please tell me that I'm not alone out there. If anyone has conquered this maddness, if there is a 12 step program, please let me know. I'm begging you to help me!!!

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Composting is more than good for your garden. It's a way of life.

You got a camera over my shoulder or what????

I have that problem..
between over 100+ tomato volunteers' I have to re~plant before I can get into my garden to plant the one's I want for the summer..

I also have about 50+ Borage volunteers,
and the Johnny~Jump~Up's are going wild!!
*I have pictures in my photobucket album..*

My problem is beautiful weeds too, I love `em,
and they're so self caring, and healthy..
I'd rather have them somedays then the tempermental rose's and such!!!

No, there's no 12 step program that I know of..
If there is, someone should let me know!!!!

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Hey, PAR, you're not supposed to tell my secrets!!

Nobody's suppposed to know how guilty I feel when one of my plants die, and that I just can't make myself kill one on purpose.. especially when I usually kill them by accident! If one should live, and I'm forced to kill it.. nah, it's not gonna happen! Well, there was this one time.. we were moving from PA to MD, and I had no way to take my houseplant with me.. it was an ivy, and it had grown to immense proportions. I had someone take it off the hook for me, as I couldn't reach it.. (my chairs had already been put on the moving truck) and I ended up sitting it out on the curb for "trash". I just hope somebody saw it, and adopted it. It was beautiful.

Meg

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I reject your reality, and substitue my own!
My favorite digital camera photos that I took.
My family, garden, and a bunch of misc. photos!

Well I have a different problem. When I go and pick my vegetables I feel as if I am stealing the plants babies!!!

That plant worked so hard to grow them babies then I come along and steal them from her.

But when it comes to eating those fresh veggies I don't have that problem!!

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One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.

Thanks to everyone for letting me know that I'm not alone.

I have to remind myself that the definition of a weed is "an undesired plant or a plant in an undesired location" So a rose bush could be a weed if it was growing somewhere like the middle of your driveway. I'll just have to repeat that mantra as I clear out areas for new beds.

I did take a first step today. I pulled a blueberry bush that was not doing so well. It wasn't too difficult as I considered it putting the poor thing out of it's misery. I'll plant melons there as a memorial. That'll make the passing more meaningful. Any rationalization will do to clear my consience.

Oooh, I like that idea. I could take my unwanted house plants and empty the pots. Then I could plant something new as a memorial to the old plant. I think I could live with that.

I just checked out MaryReboakly's profile, and she's in Southern Illinois all the way in zone 6, while I'm in the Chicago suburbs here in zone 5. Dag'nabbit! I thought I found a home for some of my plants.

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Composting is more than good for your garden. It's a way of life.

The only thing in my mind that's a weed is
GRASS!!!
I really dislike lawns!!!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

The saddest thing is moving and leaving your garden behind. I just had to do that in our move from our house of 10 years to our new one. I miss my beautiful garden so much... I love my new home and I know one day my new gardens will be amazing but I still miss it. The previous owners weren't so much into landscaping. We have weeds and two lawns, that's about it.

I also feel bad when I have to thin out any plants. The previous owners of the house planted spearamint and its taking over one area. I definitly need to pull it out before it chokes the only other two plants I have. I might take some and plant it in a pot so I won't feel quite so bad...

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Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

I discard and replace dozens of plants every year. Whenever I purchase plants I have them sign Living Wills stating clearly that they do not want nor will they accept unnatural life support of any kind. They also sign a health care proxy designating me as the sole legal decision-maker as to their disposition.

No guilt or legal complications for me!

Au contraire, TK. I am a heartless, ruthless bastard when to comes to plant life. I have to be. My clients don't tolerate ailing plants on life support in their corporate Board Rooms. "Look great or you're out of here!"

Of course the discards usually find foster homes with employees and building personnel.

Will

And the discards that don't find foster homes, Will? Are you afraid that if you admit to living in a jungle, we will descend en masse on NYC and expect you to put us up for a month or six?

Hey! Are you ladies ganging up on me?

Curious Cindy - Does that nose hair you described have feelings? Do you save it or discard it? That was a rhetorical question. Please do not answer it on this forum - I might throw up!

Cricket - You know full well from your many visits here that I live in a concrete jungle, not a plant jungle. But I would be happy to have you perpetuate that myth if it would attract all of you wonderful ladies to come stay with me.

TK - You are so right. I only want beauty in my life. You qualify!

Anyone else want to pile on?

Ooooh, I love jungles! Thanks for the invite. Pull out that couch - my flight is booked and bags are packed. See you soon, Will!

BTW, will you pick me up from the airport and be my personal tour guide? You are a sweetheart!

I want to respond but I can't think of a thing to say. That's what I get for reading this string when it is past my bed time lol. Good night all.

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"Why do I feel this way? What can I do to get over the guilt?"

LOL, snip those "suckers"- STOMP THEM! Sleep peacefully! Enjoy tranquility and joyful bliss...

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Bob

Cybercrone,

Great ideas, our church is a huge beneficiary of extra tomato seedlings, basil forest, fennel jungle, and whatever else gets out of hand. Those plants get wonderful, loving homes and I feel much better for having donated them as I don't have space for everyone. Community gardens, food bank gardens, your city's children's gardens, urban gardening projects for the needy..there are lots of options out there for the creative, overly "successful" gardener ;o)

Will, one question...how exactly does a plant "sign" a form? Talk about creativity and a child's imagination ;o)

Julianna, pondering the im- or is it un-ponderable..hm...

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I have this problem also. I have a really big container that I just threw pepper and tomato seeds in (got started late) and now they are all about one inch tall and I'm procrastinating on thinning them cause I just can't do it..I want them ALL to grow. *L* I think I just might let them all grow all together *L*