“Plant so that your own heart will grow.” – Hafiz
Gardening at its heart is all about finding beauty in change. Seasons come and go. Some more quickly than others. Unpredictable rain, snow, ice and relentless heat can test even the most experienced gardener. Yet, I have found that there is something about the challenge and those fleeting moments of beauty that keep me planting.
The art of gardening is using that change for good. Every spring I find myself waiting with great anticipation as my yard comes to life with hundreds of tulips blooms. I plant mid and late season tulips in an effort to extend the pink and orange blooms as long as possible.
Then as May comes to a close, I am hard at work again pulling them all out and preparing for summer. My boots and gloves are covered in mud as I pause to reflect and plan. Spring was beautiful but summer has its own sundrenched charm.
The canopy of trees that covers my backyard is beginning to fill in. Now there will be rainbow of hostas, hucheras, and impatients.
The dahlia tubers are growing in pots and anxiously awaiting their turn. There are tiny wavy zinnia seedlings that will soon be growing to towering heights. One might wonder about my front garden when you see it in late May. However, the end of July brings an abundance of flowers hummingbirds and butterflies.
All those intricate petals and dazzling layers leave me memorized. Surely there is a touch of the divine in all of those details.
Nestled behind my day lilies lies a small vegetable garden. The cucumbers that my daughter and I planted from seeds are now overflowing with fruit.
The green tomatoes are sunbathing and turning a brilliant red. Our herbs are beginning to overflow their little blue box. August brings an abundance of garden gifts to share as I begin to think ahead and order bulbs for the fall.
No day, season or year is ever the same, but that I have found that is the gift. Because gardening has a way of growing wisdom with time.
Its practice has taught me to give thanks for small joys, to use change for good and to find a peace in the power and rhythm of nature.
Thank you for “The Gift of Gardening” I love it. It would be nice to see more ideas for container gardens as I had to move to a condo and only have a small deck off of my living room. I get full sun in the morning hours.
Thank you for your note! I love hearing what you would like to see more of. Container gardening can be lots of fun because I feel like it give you the freedom to add more color and variety than a traditional flower bed. I will have to post more seasonal flower pots soon.
Happy fall gardening!
Amy