Observations

My youngest daughter works in the local garden center while she makes her way through college. As most people in the service industries can attest, interacting with the public can be quite trying. The thing that continues to amaze her is the disparities in knowledge about gardening and plants that she sees displayed by her customers.

Asian women, English women , and generally any foreign born woman knows plants, knows gardening, knows what they want, and can talk about it intelligently.

American women – especially younger women with children, are clueless about gardening. Their attitude is one that demands instant gratification without having to develop any understanding of the underlying realities of plants. They drive into the garden center and say “I have a yard, give me what I need to make it pretty – and it must be pretty now.” When asked what they are trying to do – they don't know nor really care. They just want to have someone provide it.

Now are American women just plain stupid? Maybe. Or is it they have grown up in a society of instant gratification without ever having to work for it? Do they expect satisfaction as birthright? In any case, it seems to be a disturbing microcosm of sickness in American society.

Posted on The Human Stain