Are you a killer?

Most of us are. Some people are inveterate neglecters of goldfish or gerbils, with terminal results. Others mutilate innocent crape myrtles and annihilate house plants with abandon. And nearly everyone I know, this year, is mourning some grandfatherly rosemary bush, once gnarled and magnificently sprawling, now deceased.

Don’t fret. This is not about blame. If you fall under any of the above categories, there is a pain-free way to make the killing stop. The trick is this: Know thyself.

Know thine own inability to sustain life in the home or garden. Acknowledge your failings. Avoid situations that inexorably lead to mortal outcomes for hapless animals and plants. Put your fish tank on Craigslist and try a nice aquatic screensaver instead. And if you’re guilty in the botanical first degree, turn to horticultural solutions that…

View original post 571 more words