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I have only started gardening seriously last year. I'm 59 and have two beautiful daughters.
A funny story:
I had always said my daughters didn't know me because they gave me live plants for Mother's Day. The plants always died and I had a black thumb.
Three years ago a friend asked me if he could grow flowers on my patio because mine faced south and received sunshine. I agreed but said I would have nothing to do with them.
Within two weeks I had purchased several plants and took over the care of his. I was hooked. I wouldn't let him buy certain plants because the color wasn't right (I'm a little obsessive).
He still tells the story around our apartment building. He buys plants for shade now.
My thumb is getting greener, but I have a long way to go. There's so much to learn. Last year's patio garden was beautiful, but come July the diseases started in. It's very disheartening.
I would love to learn how to prevent, if possible, the loss of plants to spider mites, and downy mildew.
I have successfully brought some sad looking African violets that were given to me last to beautiful bloom. I'm trying seeds this spring. Wish me good luck.