There’s a great story in today’s New York Times about green home design with quotes from various sources on the importance of living around growing things. While there’s some debate about whether walls like these clean the air or create molds that might cause allergies, the future looks bright for this kind of connected-to-nature style.

If you’re the sort of person who says, “Oh, plants just die on me,” please stop labeling yourself that way! Give yourself a break and try to nurture something green this fall. Buy a plant, water and spritz it, and keep fostering the mutually-beneficial relationship!