The five telltale signs of a ‘hortaholic’

It may be an addiction, but it’s the good kind that enriches your life.

We all have passions and hobbies, when time and money permits. Sometimes, when these interests disrupt the balance in our lives, we call them addictions. Not all addictions are necessarily bad or destructive, but it never hurts to have them pointed out to us, in the interest of self-awareness. Therefore, I am going to take this space to make you aware of the telltale signs of an addiction near and dear to my heart, that I unabashedly enable anyone and everyone to support.

Here are five signs that you might be a “hortaholic.”

1. You are a compulsive plant purchaser. If you have a stash of more than a dozen plants waiting to find a home in your garden, and/or a dozen houseplants waiting for a permanent spot somewhere in your house, then you are probably a hortaholic. I like to tell my customers that there is always room for one more plant, so I suppose that isn’t helping the situation. But doggone it, the concept that you need to know ahead of time exactly where you are going to put your next plant purchase is nonsense. The thrill is always in the purchase, and over time you will undoubtably find a spot for your new little friend. Here’s to a codependent relationship with your local garden center!

2. You follow countless gardening profiles on social media and/or possess multiple subscriptions to gardening magazines. My kids and grandkids are always showing me interesting plants they find on their numerous social media platforms, and at last count, my wife and I subscribe to eight monthly gardening magazines. While our sources are different, we all seek out the new and exciting things to add to our gardens and indoor spaces. Chalk it up to FOMO if you want, but being well-informed keeps me on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the world of plants and gardening. I simply can’t bear to be the last one to find out about the latest and greatest gizmo or plant on the market. If you relate, you are probably a hortaholic.

3. You plan your vacations around botanical gardens. I can’t begin to tell you how many trips we have taken that had a garden-focused theme. It is always at the top of our list of places to see when we go to somewhere new and different. Even when we are aren’t necessarily planning a garden tour, we always somehow manage to find a few gems to fit into the itinerary. Sometimes even an old park in a small town gives us a chance to view a heritage tree or magnificent specimen that we would never encounter in a recently developed subdivision. While a person can only absorb so many cathedrals and castles before they all start looking alike, plants will always be unique. If you agree, then you are most likely a hortaholic.

4. You have a license plate frame that says “I brake for nurseries,” “I’d rather be gardening,” etc. What can I say — at least you aren’t hiding your obsession. Self-denial is never healthy, no matter what the addiction. And you never know, advertising like this can attract kindred spirits who are usually more than ready to enable you. Three cheers for our fellow plant lovers and gardeners!

5. Finally, the ultimate sign that you are an incurable hortaholic. You have one of those silhouette stickers on your car’s rear window that not only shows the size of your family including all the kids, the dog and cat, but also some of your plants. Hey, plants can be family members, too, so why not tell the world.

Any combination of these signs could put you at risk of being a hortaholic, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I am pretty sure it is a healthy addiction — I wouldn’t be in this business if I felt otherwise. Keep on gardening, and stay safe!

Steve Smith is the owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville, and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com

Learn more

Sunnyside Nursery, 3915 Sunnyside Blvd., Masrysville, offers two free classes: “Winter Pruning for Happy Trees” at 10 a.m. Nov. 7, and “Hellebores: Winter Jewels,” at 11 a.m. Nov. 8. For more information, call 425-334-2002.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.