I was out for a walk the other day, revelling in the perfection of a sunny spring day, when I noticed an elderly woman working in her yard. She turned to greet me and I said, "Beautiful day, isn't it?" She must have misheard me because she replied with, "Thank you". It was then that I realized that she had a beautiful front garden on the other side of her walkway, jam packed with perrenials coming into bloom. She must have been used to compliments on her garden, which explained her reply. "It will look much nicer in a week or two," she said. "I'll be sure to walk this way again," I said. As I picked up my pace once more, I felt a glow inside my chest. I am truly inspired by people who can create and maintain a beautiful garden.
From my observations, you either have a green thumb or you don't. Mine is somewhat beige. My middle sister's is a bright shade of Kelly green. She only has to touch a plant and it seems to thrive. When I lived in a house with a yard I did my best to create something of a garden. I did alright with flowers, but my vegetable gardening was limited to a few containers of tomatoes, cucumbers and basil on our south facing deck. I grew some mildy successful garlic in the ground, and, with my husband's help, maintained the raspberry canes and rhubarb that were planted before we lived in the house, but that was it. Once upon a time I had tried to grow a vegetable garden, but I learned that my back didn't respond well to garden work, and I wasn't very successful in any case. Now, on my condo's small deck, I grow a few culinary herbs and some pretty, easy care flowers like geraniums, petunias, and marigolds. In summer I like to eat supper at the little table we have on the deck and enjoy the flowers.
Even though I don't garden myself, I can see how satisfying it is to grow your own food. I belong to a veggie co-op that was started by a farmer friend. She is an excellent gardener. Both her thumbs, and probably her big toes, too, are bright green. Her daughter has inherited her love of growing food and is now making it her life's work. I feel so lucky to benefit from her hard work and her aptitude for farming. By the end of May I will be picking crunchy lettuces, mild, sweet spinach, and crisp red radishes, not to mention long ruby stalks of rhubarb.
I live in a very rich food-growing area, famous for its berries. Soon there will be luscious strawberries followed by plump raspberries (my favourite) and toothsome blueberries in abundance for sale in the many stands along the rural roads of my region. We are blessed to have a long season of weekly farmers markets with everything from fresh veggies and fruit to baked goods, canned jellies and jams, local honey, and flowers. Even though I sometimes wish I had the ability to grow my own food, I would say that I make many a local grower happy by purchasing from them. That has to count for something in the food chain.
I have a niece who is an accomplished gardener. I asked her once if it was possible to both love gardens and loathe gardening. She said, yes, that's why she is employed by people who don't want to or can't do it themselves. When I had a yard to care for, I had a love-hate relationship with it. I wanted the results, but the ongoing work to maintain it was a challenge. On the other hand, I had a friend who loved working in the yard so much that as she aged she decided she had to set a timer for one hour so she wouldn't overdo it. Another friend was so dedicated to her garden that she got up every day in summer at 5:30 to beat the heat and work in her garden. I am a little bit ashamed that I am never going to be one of those people. If I were wealthy and had a house again, I would tend a little patch of flowers and leave the rest of the yard to the professionals.
If you're a dedicated gardener, I salute you. I'll walk by your house and feel that glow in my chest that comes from appreciating the beauty of your work. I hope you know that.
'til next time,
Rebecca
