• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

  • About
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Shop
    • Gardening Humor
    • Children’s Books
    • New – The Halloween Hare
  • Speaking
    • Upcoming Speaking Engagements
  • Social
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
  • Gardening Humor
  • Children’s
  • All Books

May Dreams Gardens

The Theory of Hortonnection

October 3, 2009 By Carol Michel 16 Comments


Sculpture at the North Carolina Botanical Garden

I am developing a new theory, the Theory of Hortonnection.

My theory is that gardeners are more connected to one another than the general population is connected to one another. Maybe it’s because we all have a drop or two or gallons of chlorophyll in our blood, so we all hang out at the same places? Or maybe it is that phenomenon of “hortotropism” that attracts gardeners to each other and causes us to just strike up conversations with others who look like gardeners and if it turns out we were right, it takes off from there.

Soon we discover all kinds of garden-y connections to one another, which I call hortonnections. (Horticultural Connections)

For example…

Last week I traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to attend my first Garden Writers Association Symposium. Like any good infrequent flier, I arrived at my departure gate at the airport with oodles of time to spare and after wandering around the terminal sipping my iced green tea and admiring how beautiful our new airport is, especially the mural of Indiana wildflowers in security that I didn’t take a picture of because my focus was on not looking like an infrequent flier as I navigated through the security process, I decided to sit down and not think about flying.

Ooommmm, I would think about the fun of meeting up with other gardeners, and not about flying. Ooommmm. Flowers. Ooommmm. Plants.

Sitting there at the gate was a woman with a bag imprinted with “master gardener”. Within a matter of a few seconds, the chlorophyll in my blood rushed to my head and I thought “gardener” “flying” “Raleigh”… could she be going to the same symposium? So I asked and she was! She was none other than Carolee from Carolee’s Herb Farm, which I had heard of but have not visited, yet. We introduced ourselves and talked a bit about going to the symposium, and Carolee talked about how she was going to meet up afterwards with one of her former employees who had moved to North Carolina.

Whatever mechanisms are used to determine seat assignments must have figured out we were both gardeners and put us in seats across the aisle from each other, giving us the opportunity to continue our conversation as we flew to Raleigh. While sharing tidbits of information about gardens, gardening, and gardeners we knew, we figured out that Carolee’s best friend lives next door to my sister’s sister-in-law and I had actually visited her best friend’s garden about ten years ago and had lunch with her.

And that’s a great example of a hortonnection between Carolee and I. It sure is a small gardening world.

I had a wonderful time at the symposium which included a brief stop, among many garden stops, at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. When I stepped off the bus there, someone saw on my nametag that I was from Indiana and suggested that I should find Sally, who was also from Indiana and now worked at the garden. After wandering around a bit, I happened to hear someone talk about her friend from Indiana so I stopped and asked her if she was Sally from Indiana, and she said yes, she was indeed Sally from Indiana. But she was not just any Sally from Indiana, she was Sally from my hometown, Sally from my high school. She graduated a year before me and we laughed about what a coincidence it was that we should meet some xx years later in a garden in North Carolina. Yet another hortonnection!

Now fast forward to earlier this week, when I got an email from Carolee about having dinner with her friend in Raleigh, her friend Sally, who turned out to be the same Sally I met in the garden, the same Sally I went to high school with. Yes, another hortonnection…

Have you got that all straight now?

So based on these meetings, and other meetings of gardeners, my theory, the Theory of Hortonnection, is that all gardeners are connected much more closely than the Six Degrees of Separation that we are all supposedly connected by.

Maybe these connections are because of the chlorophyll in our blood, or the tiny leaves entwined around our DNA? Or maybe it is indeed because our shared obsession with plants and gardening takes us to many of the same places? Whatever it is, I am no longer surprised when I talk to other gardeners and find out the close connections, the hortonnections, that we have in common.
My theory needs a few more examples to test it. If you have a story of a hortonnection, please let me know!

Update

Thanks to Hoosier Gardener, Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, I now know that the mosaic mural at the airport was created by Dixie Friend Gay. It is a beautiful mural! She sent me an email with this picture of it.

Autumn Prairie Morning

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: gardeners, humor

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy says

    October 3, 2009 at 4:17 am

    I try real hard not to look like an infrequent flyer myself. But on the trip home I somehow left my cell phone in my pocket and set the buzzer off. Now that my worst nightmare has happened perhaps I won't be so nervous about airports anymore.

    Reply
  2. Lisa at Greenbow says

    October 3, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    The closest I have come to doing this is when I was touring Buchart Gardens in Vancouver and ran into a lady that worked at the same place I did. I didn't know she was into gardening and certainly didn't know she would be in Vancouver the same time.

    Reply
  3. Marie says

    October 3, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    What a wonderful story. I think gardeners are connected with some kind of dirt magnet.

    I met up with my cousin in a horticulture class. We hadn't seen each other in years and neither one of us knew the other was a gardener. We see each other a lot more often now.

    Reply
  4. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    October 3, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I like your theory. I can't think of any examples at the moment, but I'm sure I've had some. The mural is wonderful. What a great thing to help calm the nerves of infrequent fliers.

    Reply
  5. Rose says

    October 3, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    This is such a neat story, Carol! I can't think of any examples of hortonnections right now, but I'm sure none of them would be as close as yours. I wonder if the next time I get my cholesterol checked, I should ask the doctor to do a chlorophyll screening, too:)

    I love the new Indy airport–it is beautiful! But I didn't notice the mural–I'll have to check that out next time I visit one of the daughters. I try to fly out of Indy whenever I can–much, much more user-friendly than O'Hare.

    Reply
  6. healingmagichands says

    October 3, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    I think your theory rocks. Not only our chlorphyll and tendrils connect us, our roots intertwine deeply connecting us beneath the earth as well.

    Reply
  7. Colleen Wms says

    October 3, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    Great post, great theory.I agree. I also love the mural!

    Reply
  8. teresa says

    October 4, 2009 at 3:13 am

    Wow, it is a small world. Those are big coincidences that might even be destiny. Very fun post to read. I love that mural!

    Reply
  9. Sweet Home and Garden Carolina says

    October 4, 2009 at 4:23 am

    Well, I never ! If you were asked to make up the biggest whopper ever this one would be the winner. The fact that it's true makes it even more surreal.

    I think your theory is on the level of Einstein's. You may need a few more examples, but hey, thus far your experiences appear to be on track.

    Reply
  10. Town Mouse says

    October 4, 2009 at 5:02 am

    What a great story! I can't wait to meet up with all the gardeners I'm secretly connected to.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    October 4, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Love this theory and truly believe it! Just popped over to congratulate you on Blotanical's Best Writing blog!

    Reply
  12. Corner Gardener Sue says

    October 5, 2009 at 1:19 am

    I love that mural! I'm glad all these connections were made, and you were able to get the photo.

    We know that people who are not gardeners really aren't interested in talking about plants and such, so whatever is in our blood, draws us to those who are interested. My new question now, is if a person blogs.

    Reply
  13. Jill-O says

    October 5, 2009 at 3:57 am

    The mural is beautiful! I can't think of any interesting connections but I do know that I am more likely to chat while in line at a checkout at a garden nursery than in line at a grocery store.

    Reply
  14. garden girl says

    October 5, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    That's a great new word you've coined Carol. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. How fantastic to have had such good company in the airport and on the plane.

    Oh my gosh, that mural is so gorgeous! Thank you for posting the photo.

    Reply
  15. Layanee says

    October 5, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    You are so right concerning Hortonnection. Plant lovers love to share information. That is quite a beautiful mural. Maybe I will see it in person someday at the Indiana Spring Fling.

    Reply
  16. Mary Delle LeBeau says

    October 5, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Those ole hortonnections. Great word you've coined. The world becomes smaller, more manageable when we love the same things.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Categories

  • Blog (3,047)
  • Internal (2)

Blog Tags

annuals Blogging books bulbs dr. hortfreud embrace fairies fall family flowers fruits garden bloggers bloom day garden bloggers book club garden design gardeners gardening gardening geek gardens hoes holidays hortense hoelove houseplants humor indoor gardening insects lawn letters to gardening friends perennials rabbits reviews Secrets seeds shrubs spring tools trees vegetable garden vegetable gardening vegetables weather weeding weeds when a gardener wildflower wednesday winter

The Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Footer

Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Connect

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • maydreams icon

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Books
  • May Dreams Gardens
  • Podcast

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Newsletter Archive

Copyright © 2023 · CarolJMichel.com · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

Book purchase links are affiliate links and Carol earns a small commission if you make a purchase.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT