by Kathryn Hood

Created on: February 17, 2009   Last Updated: March 01, 2009

My great, true, personal garden story: My personal account - Be wary of gardening tips!

A few years ago I lived next door to a husband and wife who enjoyed making their yard as beautiful as I was trying to make mine. We worked diligently planting shrubs, flowers, and flowering trees along the chain linked fence that separated our yards. Roses, azaleas, rosemary, ginger, mint plants and a mixture of other plants were strategically placed along both sides of the fence, adding color and texture to the chrome weave of the five foot wall of chain.

"Hey there neighbor, what are you planting today?" Larry asked as he stepped up to the fence.

"Hi Larry. I want to put a few marigolds in between the banana trees and the canna lilies, just to keep some of the bugs away." I answered, as I dug a hole to transplant the yellow-orange marigold plant that I was holding in my left hand. "By the way your roses look great weaved into the fence." Larry had planted a climbing rose plant (Abraham Darby) that intertwined through the fence. The effect was glorious with the apricot-pink colored petals adding beauty and fragrance to both yards.

"It was such a great idea to have both of us plant along this fence." Larry's smile showed his pride and satisfaction as he gazed up and down the fence line, admiring the way each of us had unified our plantings by choosing similar varieties. "But I don't understand how your banana trees are so much larger than mine. After all they are planted in nearly the same spot, only yours are on your side of the fence and mine are over here." He looked baffled by the fact that my banana trees towered over his.

"Well, if you don't tell anyone" I began with a conspirator's smile.

"Promise!" Larry quickly agreed. "Let me in on your secret so I can get mine to grow."

With a twinkle in my eye, I looked around to see if anyone else was within hearing distance. "The secret is simple. Late at night, when everyone is asleep, my husband comes out and wets on them."

"WHAT?" Larry exclaimed, disbelief widening his eyes.

"I'm serious! There is something in human urine that makes plants grow twice as fast and twice as large." I spoke softly, convincing him of my theory.

"Well, I have never heard that!" Larry replied. "But is sure seems to be working."

"I don't understand it either. But you can see the difference." I answered as I finished up the last of my planting and said goodbye. It was time to go inside to cook dinner. " See you later."

"Tell Mark I said hello." Larry called back, heading into his own house.

Looking back I caught him giving the banana trees a long, quizzical look.

Two days later, as I was again working on my side of the garden, Larry's wife, Carol, came up to ask. "I hate to bring this up, but what exactly did you tell Larry about your banana trees growing bigger?"

With a sparkle of mischievous glee in my eye, I quickly told her what I had said to Larry.

Laughing Carol confided in me, "You better not come outside for a night or two. Larry believed you so much that he has set his alarm clock to come out and give his banana trees the same "special water" that he thinks yours are getting."

"Should I tell him the truth?" I giggled.

"No, not for a day or two" Carol snickered. "I'll let him know soon. Serves him right to be telling me what a great gardener he is now."

Who knew gardening could be such fun!

Learn more about this author, Kathryn Hood.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.