Getting Hooked on Gardening: A Hibiscus Love Story

An Unexpected Obsession

I inherited a drab, dry-rooted hibiscus from my late father—his favorite. Two years of neglect didn't kill it. Then it exploded: tall, lush, enormous crimson flowers. I was captivated.

Deepening Involvement

I staked it, and it rewarded me with nonstop blooms. I tried saving seeds—only three fertile pods. Research revealed it needs more care to set seed. I planted them, hopes high. Now I'm considering hand-pollination ("artificial insemination" for plants).

The "Sickness"

I was never a plant person. Now I'm hooked. Is it age? Magic in the hibiscus? Whatever it is, I've only just begun.