I have a flower pot next to my desk to serve as a reminder of my failure in horticulture. I have never been able to maintain a plant for more than a couple of months in it.

But in the last few weeks, I have once again forgotten my deficiencies and decided to try growing some Pansies. They were selected by the kids committee, and my only criteria was that they must be edible by Guinea Pigs.

The plant seem to flourish but I am now seeing aphids. My youngest with the full gravitas of her seven years on Earth tells me I need ladybugs. I told her since I didn't have any on hand, I'll just have to use tweezers.

Let's see how long these flowers last.