Chris McKeown
| Special to Cincinnati Enquirer
Today is Father’s Day, and I want to start by saying thank you to all of the great dads who read this article. I write 52 of these articles a year, and my favorites are always the ones published on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
This is because I am so grateful for both of my parents and all of the gifts they provided me. I’m not talking about birthdays and Christmas. I’m talking about life and all of the lessons they provided. Sadly, both of mine have passed. My mom died in 1995, and my dad at the end of 2022. Every year since they left, I gain a better appreciation for how important they were to me, as a child and equally as an adult.
On Father’s Day, I like to pay special tribute to my dad, Denny, who wrote this article for many years before handing the responsibility to me. My dad had a very unique personality that enabled him to connect with strangers to help them better understand gardening. He delivered information through his radio program, books and this article. He did it in ways that almost everyone could relate to and understand.
He had specific phrases he would use to explain certain situations. Those of us who heard him use these on a regular basis called them “Dennyisms.” I have a Father’s Day tradition of resurrecting a few of these.
‘You are buying plants. You are not buying paint.’
My dad did not like people doing what he referred to as “shopping by phone.” When a plant is being sold, the price is determined by the size of the pot the plant is growing in. The size of the pot is in gallons (one gallon, two gallons, etc.).
This is where the comparison to paint came in. What most people do not realize is that the size of the pot does not have a direct correlation to the size of the plant. If there is a difference in price from one store to another, there most likely will be a difference in the actual size of the plant. This is why you should never base a decision to buy a plant based on price without first seeing the plant.
‘Bugs need to eat, too.’
This “Dennyism” was delivered to people with obsessive personalities who did not like to see any holes in the leaves of their plants. Occasional feeding of plants by random insects is very normal and part of nature and our ecosystem. Heavy infestations, which are very rare, is when it is time to be alarmed. Seeing a few holes in the leaves of your plants does not demand the need for an insecticide.
‘Plants are not like furniture.’
This was used to emphasize the importance of good professional advice when selecting plants. A couch can be moved from one side of a room to the other. Once a plant is installed, it will be difficult to move if you do not like where it is, or how it grows. It is very important to know the mature size and growth habit of a plant.
‘Weeds are your friends.’
This was for people who were indifferent to their lawns, not wanting to put much effort into maintaining them. Occasionally, one of these people would get ambitious, wanting to kill the weeds. This is a mistake for these people because most of what will keep their lawn green are the weeds.
My dad certainly meant the world to me. I know those of you who have been reading this paper for many years remember him well. If you started reading more recently, thank you for allowing me to share these with you, too. Happy Father’s Day!