A new gardening question of the day appears every day of the year on the front page of Almanac.com. Below is the answer to one of the questions from our Gardening Questions and Answers Archive where you can find over 400 more gardening questions (with answers!).
Can you tell me how the expression "green thumb" originated?
According to James Underwood Crockett, it comes from the fact that algae growing on the outside of earthenware pots will stain a person's thumb (and fingers) if he or she handles enough pots. Hence, a person who is always working with flowerpots has a green thumb. Another theory is that it originated during the reign of King Edward I of England. He was fond of green peas and kept half a dozen serfs shelling them during the season. The serf who had the greenest thumb won a prize.
Make money for your school, church, or club with the NEW Almanac Fund-raiser program!
Yankee Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 520, Dublin, NH 03444, USA, (603) 563-8111
Copyright ©2009, Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
Interactive features developed and maintained by Reinvented Inc.
