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There is nothing quite like the feeling of growing something.
Of planting a tiny seed, barely visible to the naked eye,Covering it with soft, dark, rich, Earth and
Waiting.
There are few Things in Life that are true surprises, really.
But gardening? Isn't is always a surprise when you see the first tiny sprouts? The tiny flowers of success?
I always think holy shit I didn't kill it yet.
Isn't it a pleasant surprise to walk past the garden one day, on your way to move the location of the sprinkler or rescue a ball from the neighbor's yard, or pull the bills from the mailbox or catch a lightening bug and suddenly, there they are:
Your vegetables. Your flowers. Your fruits.
The things you planted weeks and weeks ago with numbing fingertips turning purple and blue, beside your youngest child, his eyes wide with wonderment, his grip on the shovel never wavering in confidence, for he, he is sure these will be the biggest tomatoes in the World. These things that you blanketed with barely awakened spring soil under the mist of the chill of your breath as you cursed the confusion of Spring, with it's warm Sun on your back, and it's early morning frost.
Yet now, here they are, and all those weeks suddenly feel like one magical night, for you are sure it was yesterday you cursed the Confusion, and today, today in the oppression of this thick, suffocating summertime heat, a burst of Life, lively and light and breathing and
Yours.
Your Earthly Surprise.
Baby Watermelon
Cherry Tomato
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Jalapeno
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Very gorgeous Earthly Surprises! I've never grown watermelon before; you'll have to tell me how that goes. But I am growing bell peppers and I see some baby ones! I've been taking pictures of my veggie garden, so if I just have some time to post them... Gardening is such rewarding work. Yes, I marvel at myself for not killing them, too. =) Keep taking the pictures! They're lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra! I tried to grow baby watermelon once before, and I only had one ever start growing and then one day it...stopped...and sort of faded away and my littlest guy was so disappointed.
DeleteThis is only my fourth year (I think?) gardening, and I knew nothing about it, as I didn't grow up watching anyone else do it, etc. So, each year, I see myself getting better and better. Each year, my gardens ( made up of 3 diff. garden beds in two diff locations, plus two containers) gets bigger than the year before.
This year? Cherry tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes,sweet green peppers,jalapeno peppers,baby watermelon, cilantro, basil, snow peas, sugar snaps, green beans, asparagus, cucumbers, and strawberries.
Because,you know, I need something else to do. I especially need more things that rely on me to stay alive.
I must have forgotten to subscribe to this comment thread, as I didn't see your reply until now. Before this year, I've only ever grown herbs and tomatoes. I'm going to expand next year--ripping up some grassy areas to grow more veggies! That's a long list of things you're growing, and that's so awesome. I agree that each year we learn a little more than before, and get a little better than before. Maybe I'll try watermelon next year.
DeleteI planted herbs and tomatoes for the first time this year. I've never been able to keep a plant alive. Not even those viney ones that need no care whatsoever. So to see herbs growing, to see one little tomato growing and doubling in size overnight(that's all I have right now but we have lots of flowers popping out)it is so rewarding. I watch the growth daily and it makes me happy. So not who I thought I was. Next year, I am going to get a little more ambitious.
ReplyDeleteYou did? Yay!!
DeleteI only started four years ago, and I too, have never kept a single plant alive until I started gardening. In fact, one of the best ( as in 'funniest') things my Hubsters has said is:
"I'll tell ya', Kim. It's a good thing you take better care of our kids than you do of those plants."
Well, HA. I guess that motivated me. 'Cuz if you browse the comment above, you will find a rather impressive list of items are now in my veggie garden. And I've got FLOWERS TOO! .
If you are like me ( note the sarcasm, because, DUH) then you will add to your garden each year...each success will bring further ambition...also, these plants, they don't talk back or ignore or color on walls, or anything too annoying. So, that helps. :)
ps..."so not who I thought I was"....hmmm...
I definitely have bigger plans for next year's gardens. I am inspired to try more veggies - cucumbers, more tomatoes, maybe some peppers. I do have a crazy grapevine, strawberries and blackberries that were here when we moved in. This year we picked 2 strawberries and maybe 2 dozen blackberries but I need to get out there with the kids and pick some more. As for the grapevine - I had no idea what to do with it. So I researched and found lots out and tried it and I'll be damned, it looks like we'll have some grapes too this year.
DeleteAs for the "so not who I thought I was" comment, I never wanted to get married (in fact when my husband proposed the 1st time I puked in my mouth and broke up with him for 6 years. thank god he's persistent). I never wanted kids. I never wanted anything domestic and I NEVER saw myself gardening and enjoying it. Well, it turns out that I never knew how happy the things I never wanted could make me. I like who I've become, I just never would have predicted it.