“You are such a sucker for a hard-luck story.”

Today, my husband and I stopped by HomeLowe’s to pick up a propane tank for our grill. I tricked him into letting me browse the nursery, and so of course I came home with new plants.

Remember that hanging basket of black-eyed susans? I planted them a month ago and have been anxiously checking on them. Well, only one of the seeds sprouted, and I have been really bummed about that, wanting something pretty to put in that spot.

I dragged my husband around the long aisles of perennials, and browsed the seed packets forever. I was hoping to find something that would trail, was appropriate to plant this late in the spring, and that would bring the butterflies and hummingbirds around. I finally got around to the annuals aisle, where, of course, I found some:

In case you can’t read those labels, they are Superbells Cherry Blossom and Supertunia Pink Charm. I was immediately smitten by their pinky-purple cups and their advertised attraction to butterflies and hummingbirds. I hesitated, though, and lamented to my husband,

“I really like these, but they are more expensive than seeds, and seeds are so fun! You get see them get born and nurture them as they grow up.”

He responded, “Wow, I really need to knock you up.”

The truth!

I was just about set to go when I laid eyes on this poor, beat up little girl:

Her name is The Ravers Strawberry Fields. You know I love strawberries, and this plant is midsize and upright, perfect for the center of a hanging basket, and attractive to hummingbirds.

Now, I’m smart enough to know that you aren’t supposed to buy a plant in poor condition, so I searched high and low for one like her in better condition. I was disappointed, however. Disappointed to actually ask one of the HomeLowe’s employees. She was at her register, but her line was empty. She pointed me towards “the back room” which was just some row of racks in the parking lot. I searched those, no luck. Dejectedly, I returned sad Strawberry to her place, and went to the register with the cashier I’d just spoken to.

She asked, “You didn’t find another?”

“No, unfortunately.”

“Well, where did you put the banged-up one?”

“Oh, I put it back.”

“Well, you know, we can’t sell it, so I can give it to you and you can take a crack at reviving it.”

“… Give?”

“Yup.”

“Yes, thank you!”

My husband rolled his eyes and said, “You are such a sucker for a hard-luck story.”

The truth.

And I grinned foolishly all the way home. I mean, who doesn’t love getting something for free, right? But even more than that, I love that this poor little sweet thing isn’t going to end up composted, and I at least get a chance to bring her back to her glory! I’m so excited to try. So, I pruned her a bit, and planted her high and proud in the center of the basket. I added the other three plants, and left the one black-eyed susan seedling in case she is strong enough to keep going. I fertilized and watered, and now I’m just hoping for the best: