26-05-2025
My rookie mistakes gardening include cursing at the nursery lady
A few years ago, I welcomed spring by cursing at the kind lady working at the local plant nursery. It was entirely unintentional. She offered her assistance while I marveled at a row of hanging baskets bursting with pink and purple ruffled blossoms. Pointing to the plant's tag and care instructions, I asked, 'Would these work well on a porch? The hybrid fuchsia.' Only I pronounced the name in a way that rhymes with plucks ya. Her widening eyes seemed to ask in shock, 'The hybrid does what?' — and then, just as quickly, her face softened with understanding: 'It's pronounced 'few-shuh,' dear. Like the color.'
