Reaping flowers and Vegetables

A few weeks ago, my wife had this crazy idea that she wanted a garden just like her home in India. I am like there goes another case of 'Just like in India'. But not the one to say no, I agreed. The experience that followed was an eye opener.(Please read eye as wallet.)

So we went to Home Depot and began looking for flowers and pots to hold them. I almost fainted at the price of each flower plant and the pots. I saw this bunch of Mums for $5. The only place I am going to spend my five dollars are at Subway where any foot long sub is now only $5. I said that to her and she replied we can have our dinner today at Subway. It was Saturday and we are vegetarians on Saturday. I was in no mood for Veggie Delight. I understood well that I should listen to what she wants and avoid the trouble of having to do something that I don't want.

So she picked some mums, gazanias, violets and other flower plants that I have no idea what they are. Not to be left out, I said what about some vegetables. So were added kung pao peppers, violet bell peppers and vine tomatoes. I was like these should be enough let’s check out.

She says no no no no no. I don't want my flowers in these tiny containers. We need some nice flower pots and also some big trays for your vegetables she said. OK let’s go I say hurrying her to the pots section. We bought about 5 porcelain pots for some indoor decorative plants we already had, 4 plastic big pots for the flowers and three 18 inch trays one for the vegetables and two for flowers. Did you know that the trays in white are more expensive than the trays colored brown? Damn you racist color biased Home Depot shouted my inner self.

So I say again let’s check out. She says no no no no no. We need potting soil. The soil that we have with pots is not enough. The plants will die in a day on transplanting she says. She had a point. But who on earth in India buys mud and soil. Wasn't the whole point to have a life style like in India? She says our family always bought it. I thought my family was smart not to buy mud. We have enough soil in our backyard for plants. But I was hungry and did not want to start a losing fight. I also thought how much can a soil cost. All they have to do is package free soil in a plastic bag. A dollar at most, I guess. Was I WRRROOONNNNGGGG.

There are hundreds of soil types - garden soil, potting soil, 3 month, 4 month, everlasting, 1cf, 2cf, 5cf etc. And none of them was close to a dollar I estimated earlier. I picked two 1cf bags that weighed about 15 lbs each and put them on the cart. I said is there anything else. Nope we can go now unless you want more flowers she says. My response was No thank you we can go now. I fainted again as the register was ringing into 3 digits. Home Depot was hearing the sweet sound of cha ching while I was paying for mud.

By the time we reached home it was 3PM. We had our lunch on our way home. It took almost 3 more hours to transplant all the plants in the pots and trays. We also shouted and scolded each other as to why each of us was doing wrong. After 2 hours, I guess she was tired of planting the virtual garden or was tired of my incessant knowledge transfer of gardening skills and how to do them right. She left me on the balcony and never came back leaving me to finish my vegetables. I planted them all and went to be bed tired that night.

The next day I was talking to my friend and told him about my gardening expedition. He mocks me 'What? Are you going to reap flowers?’ I don't know but I hope to see some flowers in my wife's hand and atleast a pepper in my food for 120 bucks.

I did see some flowers and the peppers coming out today after about a month. I also saw some flower plants die and the peppers infested with achids. That's my next episode to get rid of those tiny slimy achids. I never thought I will be a farmer which was my ancestral occupation. I guess I have to now, if I am to see something out of investment.