A few weeks after I transplanted some Gerbera daisies into a small area of mulch in front of my house, the flowers died off and the green leaves were full of holes. I bought them because I thought the bright pink and red flowers and pretty green leaves looked so striking agsinst the brown mulch, gray concrete and red brick on the house. Disappointed they looked so shabby so quickly, I thought about replacing them. After all, they were in a very visible spot, and it would be nice to have flowers there that looked good longer than a couple weeks.

But I resisted the urge to dig them up and toss them out — and I’m so glad. New flowers have come and gone several times and the greenery has grown quite nicely. I’ll make sure they’re watered regularly (and fed every once in awhile, too), and I hope the daisies keep flowering. Patience (not always my strong suit) has paid off. They’re a nice addition to the house’s curb appeal.