Skip to main content

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

Happy accident

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.29.2008

Okay, confession time: I have a black thumb. Don’t believe me? Here’s what’s left of the cyclamen that Captain Caffeine gave me for my birthday.




I have come to realize that the only plants I can’t kill are the ones that I don’t even bother to try to keep alive.

For example, my lavender is flourishing. Although considering how hard it is to kill lavender, maybe that’s not a good example. After all, lavender can grow from just tossing some cuttings on the ground, because you can plant the stems and they’ll root.

Anyway, my gladiolas correction: bearded irises (thanks, Ausjenny!) are flourishing this year. Why? I have no clue. They are my “happy accident” plants.

Here is the key to my keeping plants alive—I can’t have been given them, bought them, or planted them. I didn’t plant the gladiolas—they were growing in the yard when we bought the house, and I could tell they weren’t weeds, so I told Captain Caffeine not to mow it down.

I watered it when I remembered to. Nothing happened all year (we bought the house in February). Then the following March, I had one stalk with two small flowers.

They seem to like my sporadic watering, because they’ve gotten more bulbs and lots more flowers, after almost eight years.



How about you? Any gardening/plant-killing stories?

Comments

Ausjenny said…
Oh Camy the bulbs at the bottom are actually bearded Iris's. but they look good.
I have them in my garden but they dont flower. some of the accidental ones are one called watsonia. they are bulbs you cant kill.
Dont give up on the cyclamen. just dont water it to much. it doesn't like that.
indoor plants everyone we have had has died.
april penny said…
I think plants only have to see me once and they immediately curl up and die.

My husband had a plant that had been his grandmother's, and it had been alive and flourishing under his care for a number of years. We got married and a couple months later, the plant died.

Someone gave me one of those long vine-y plants once when I moved into a new apartment and told me it was impossible to kill, and even someone like me could keep it alive...

I killed it too.
Denice Stewart said…
I just blogged about this very topic yesterday. I am with you, Camy. I can't keep plants alive, indoors or outdoors, so I don't bother anymore.

But we have to have landscaping in front of our house as part of the neighborhood covenant we signed when we built the house last fall.

We are going to a nursery to talk to the experts about what plants I won't be able to destroy.
www.dcstewart.blogspot.com
Carole said…
Same as you, Camy. Although my grandmother had the gift, any plant I touch dies - and it doesn't take very long either. I've gone to silk flower arrangements in the house, and have even considered purchasing silk-flower hanging baskets for outside.

But my husband is very good with flowers. He planted daffodil and tulip bulbs as my Christmas gift, and I've enjoyed them outside my desk window all spring. Next he'll do bedding plants for Mother's Day. I condider these the perfect gift.
Camy Tang said…
Thanks, Jenny! I will definitely take your advice. And thanks for clearing up what those flowers are--I just assumed they were gladiolas, but now I'm glad I know for sure what they really are.

Thanks also, guys, for letting me know I am not the only serial plant murderer on the planet. :)

Camy
Grateful Gramma said…
The irises are beautiful, Camy! Glads have a similar stem but have several blooms up and down the same stem.

I had several different colored irises but, for some reason, they all appear to have died. They haven't bloomed this year but last year all I had was the standard light purple. Pretty, but I had some beautiful colors....
Ausjenny said…
I really love your bearded iris's and wonder what i need to not do to get mine to flower. a neighbour gave me them and said hers always flower. today she asked if i feed them!
NO i guess that may help.
I do have 520 tulip bulbs to plant. will do that sometime in may.
Oh cyclemens will lose there leaves and look dead just leave it somewhere cool or in the shade dont worry about watering it to much in summer. the end of summer early autumn you will see leaves coming back and then water but try not to water the bulb. We have one mum got for her birthday 2 years ago and i would have sworn we killed it last year but its looking so healthy at the moment lovely leaves (if i can stop mum over watering)
Oh Mum had wonderful carnations only she cant garden anymore and someone didn't water them as we are in our 3rd year of drought they died.
Fedora said…
The black thumb of death lives at our house, too! We have a gardener come a couple times a month to try to stave off the destruction outside the house, and we have one plant inside that has survived our care so far. One. The rest have succumbed and are desperately trying to warn off their friends ;)
Anonymous said…
What do you know--as I cleaned my kitchen today, I realized I had a dead plant sitting on the counter.

Sigh.
Lara said…
Camy - I'm right there with you! The only plants I could ever reliably keep alive were violets. And for a while I had several. Then after I had my first child I decided to do them in (the violets). I reasoned that I couldn't be expected to care for both a baby and the plants, so I neglected them to the extreme. It took a while, but they finally croaked. As for the baby...she just turned nine!
Camy Tang said…
Violets were the very first plant I ever killed. :(
Camy
Want to hear a REAL black thumb moment? I actually really enjoy gardening and my vegetable seedlings are all coming along very nicely, as are the hanging baskets of variety blue flowers.

I had repotted a beautiful green plant (I don't actually know any of the plant names...) and put it in my home office.

As the weather turned cooler here (Australia) I started cleaning out the fireplace and set a fire blazing. This is an old cast iron fireplace that is incredibly dangerous and gets super heated.

Anyway, there I am, enjoying the warmth and crackle of the first fire of the year and there is my poor potted green plant MELTING! The pot was on the bricking beside the fireplace and the poor leaves were blackened by the heat, the soil was devoid of moisture and even the pot itself was second-degree-burn-style hot.

The poor plant is still trying to recover. I've moved him well away from the fire to a bright spot under a window where I can give it regular TLC. I don't think he'll ever be the same but hopefully I can bring him back from the brink of death.
Camy Tang said…
LOL! Somebody send the plant patrol to Rebecca's house for endangerment of potted plants.
Camy
glee said…
Camy,

I have two cyclamen in my backyard and I wrote to the company I bought them from the first year I had them because they sprouted but then seemed to die. They patiently explained to me that cyclamen are cool weather flowers and they look dead in the warmer months (as well as in the dead of winter.) They urged me to be calm and just let them lie dormant in the summer. Sure enough, when fall came, they sprouted new leaves and flowers and everything!

Depending on where you live, yours may be okay, too. Just keep them protected from the sun and keep the dirt moist. They will probably rejuvenate on their own when your weather cools off again!
Camy Tang said…
Thanks, glee! That makes me feel better. I probably shouldn't water them so often, too.
Camy
Unknown said…
Hiya Camy!

You're yellow bearded irises are lovely.

As for having a black thumb, my sister actually killed one of those miniature cactus which is apparently indestructible until they come under her care!

hehe, so yeah, I understand all about that!!

Popular Posts

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

「戌年」連載小説 第10章

キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第10章 - 赤いブーゲンビリアの低木 「マリ、ごめんなさい。」 マリは、答え機でラナの後悔に満ちた声を聞いて、犬の餌の袋を落としそうになった。 「あなたのこの犬の施設の計画に、私が最も支援的ではなかったことを知っ

Join Camy's brand-new Patreon!

My Patreon is now live! Thank you so much to those of you who have followed and subscribed to my Patreon! I hope you're enjoying Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster so far. For those who missed the announcement, I now have a subscription on Patreon where you can read chapters of my next book ahead of the ebook publication. You can subscribe to the tiers and receive more benefits in each higher tier. I put together a very PINK comparison chart so you can see the benefits available. Patreon is also a bit like a Facebook group in that you can comment on my chapters and my posts. Feel free to post reactions or ask questions, although I reserve the right to decline to answer if it would be a spoiler. :) To celebrate the launch, I’m offering something special. All patrons will receive “Bidding on Treason,” an exclusive, limited-availability short story starring Lena, whom you met in The Gentleman Thief , and who appears in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster . However,

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And

Psalm 139:14

Dear God, Thank You for the comfort and joy this verse brings! You created me personally and made me exactly how I am. You have made me beautiful and wonderful, and my soul longs for you. Amen 親愛なる神よ、 この聖句がもたらす慰めと喜びに感謝します!あなたは私を個人的に創造し、私のありのままの姿を造ってくださいました。あなたは私を美しく、素晴らしいものとしてくださり、私の魂はあなたを待ち望んでいます。 アーメン

Mansfield Park on Masterpiece

Captain's Log, Supplemental Okay, I was going to hold this for next week but I can’t hold the frustration in any longer. I finally saw Mansfield Park on Masterpiece Classic and it’s horrid (to channel Jane Austen). The story moves WAY too fast. The different issues dealt with in the book speed by so fast, I wonder than anyone who hasn’t read Mansfield Park can even understand what’s going on. The characters themselves are completely changed. Fanny is lively and girlish instead of timid and demure. And I agree with Kaye and Ruth , what’s with the hair down on her shoulders? How could the hair and makeup department let her get away with looking like a hoyden? I also agree with Kaye about Fanny’s heaving bosoms throughout the movie—so out of character for a “poor relation” to have such low-cut gowns. I do have to say one thing—I really enjoyed the moment Edmund tells Fanny that Mary Crawford is the only woman he could want for a wife—Billie Piper’s look is so exactly what I’d expec

A List of my Free Blog Reads

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Humorous Romantic Suspense: Year of the Dog (Warubozu Spa Chronicles series, Prequel novel) (Currently being posted monthly on my blog as a serial novel) Marisol Mutou, a professional dog trainer, finally has a chance to buy a facility for her business, but her world is upended when she must move in with her disapproving family, who have always made her feel inadequate. When she stumbles upon a three-year-old missing persons case, security expert Ashwin Keitou, whose car she accidentally rear-ended a few weeks earlier, is tasked with protecting her. However, danger begins to circle around them from people who want the past to remain there. Can they shed light on the secrets moving in the shadows? Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, n

Frogs

I know I blogged about this on my Writing Diary Blog , but I don’t think I blogged about this here. I read a few writing and productivity books, and I’ve been trying to form better daily habits. The problem is that my self-discipline is very bad. As in, embarrassingly bad. One of my goals has been to form a better writing habit. Since I’m a full-time writer, I already write every day, but I think there are things I can do to tweak my schedule so that I can be able to focus better when I write. I tend to get distracted by the thought of things I need to do that day which I haven’t done yet. I don’t know why my brain is like this, but I haven’t been able to break this tendency. So for example, while I’m writing, I’ll suddenly think about the fact that today’s the day when I need to change the bathroom towels, or mop the kitchen floor, or change the bedsheets. It’ll distract me for a few moments before I tell myself I’ll do it later and I need to focus on writing now. Then a few