Thumbs Can Change Colors, Right?

FBG Kristen’s herb garden might not grow, but it’ll look pretty while she tries. Credit: kgseymour, Instagram

I don’t have what you might call a “green thumb.” Just as it is with my races, I have more enthusiasm than skill when it comes to keeping plants alive, but despite the intimidating stacks of empty flower pots that might lead a homicide detective to look into a mass foliage murderer, each spring I pull on my dirty gardening gloves, pick up a few unsuspecting sprouts, and give it yet another go.

I’ve always stuck to “pretties”—flowers, landscaping, that sort of thing. But lately, I’ve had the itch to try something a little more…useful. No, not a vegetable garden (please, I at least sort of know my limitations), but I’m planting a little back-porch container herb garden.

My hopes aren’t terribly high, given my track record. The plants I’ve managed to keep alive have definitely been of the hardy variety—you know, the kind that are okay with a lot of water or very little and don’t give in to weeds. But, I felt optimistic enough after planting my seeds to give the super-pricy fresh herbs at the grocery store a little bit of smug bitchface as I walked by.

I’m sure that won’t come back to bite me.

Do any of you have less-than-green thumbs? And have any of you had success planting an herb garden? —Kristen