I have killed so many plants.

Since moving to Oregon from Cincinnati five years ago, I have slain more than my share of innocents by not giving them what they needed to survive. Many more I have ripped out and thrown on the compost heap for failing to perform as I’d hoped.

You’d think I would have done better. I came here with 17 years of gardening experience. I’d worked at a wholesale nursery for 16 years. I’d been an ISA-certified arborist (though I’d let my membership lapse). And I was now gardening in the benign climate of Portland, where any noob can grow delphiniums and palms and monkey puzzle trees and hardy fuchsias.