They let me know about it, too, in both email and snail-mail. They call me all sorts of names, impugn my character, and generally imply that the best place for someone like me is a place much hotter than the one I now inhabit.

Do I mind? Heck, no! I love to get hate mail. Here is one of my favorites.

A little background. Back when I was writing “According to Steve” for Southern Living, I wrote about a trick involving rose petals that I was taught by the folks at Witherspoon Rose Culture in Durham, North Carolina. I described it thusly:

“Take any petal of a hybrid tea rose, place it over the crook that your hand makes when you form a fist, and slap it with your other hand. Pow! It sounds just like a cap gun going off! What better way to introduce children, so naturally fond of explosions, to the fascinating world of gardening?”

Given the fact that the Discovery Channel has two shows, “MythBusters” and “Smash Lab,” that are pretty much dedicated to blowing things up, I thought my logic was both flawless and borderline amusing. (Note to PETA – “Smash Lab” does not involve canine violence, so go have some more veggie Alpo and chill out.)

However, Janet from Pensacola was deeply offended. She wrote, “I was shocked by your article in Southern Living magazine, May 2007. I think you must be quite demented! To think it’s a good idea to introduce children to gardening by destroying a beautiful hybrid tea rose!”

She continues. “I didn’t know children were ‘so naturally fond of explosives.’ I see no relationship between gardening and explosives. With all the violence on TV…do we need someone like you showing children how to destroy and lovely flower? I think not.”

Well, Janet, all I can say is you have me pegged. I am demented, quite seriously so. Let’s keep in touch. But instead of exchanging letters, let’s send emails. They won’t let me keep any sharp objects in here.