I love to garden. For
so many reasons I’m not sure I can remember them all. Being in my garden gives me a sense of
accomplishment and reward. It’s not an
easy task, and at times can turn very disappointing. Most gardeners would love to tell you they
have the perfect garden. Many will be
honest enough to tell you they don’t.
I gladly share pictures of my garden. Why not?
I put a lot of work into it. I visit
it every morning and every evening. I
check for subtle changes, new growth and possible flowering buds for a promise
of vegetation soon. I’m proud of my
work. I’m pleased that I can feast from
my harvest and enjoy the rewards. What I
don’t share are the flaws. Yes, I will
admit it, they are there. I’m not
ashamed of them. They come with the
territory. The yellowing leaf that can’t survive the environment, or has
perhaps been over watered. The potato
leaf that has a few bug nips on it. The
pepper that I transplanted into the garden and didn’t quite handle the shock.
No, gardening is not perfect. There are so many elements to battle. They can become overwhelming if they are not dealt
with on a daily basis. The bugs, the
weeds, the environment and animals.
There are sensible, safe, and friendly ways to protect your crops and
handle these challenges. Time and
experience are the only safeguards you can count on when it comes to doing the
right things. Listen to Mother Nature
and let her do the talking.
That yellow leaf is not a disaster. It is however a warning sign. A calling card you might say. Mother Nature’s way of saying “hey I need
some help here”. You may not always have
the answer right off. You may need to
try a few different approaches. A little
less water? A little more shade? If one
technique doesn’t fix the problem don’t give up. It’s your best tool. The three “P’s” of gardening. Persistence, patience and practice.
No, gardening is not perfect always. But ya know what is? Watching a young seedling mature into a full
grown productive crop. Seeing the first
buds of peas sprout from the vine. Digging a basket of new potatoes and picking
the first cucumber. A green bean and
squash casserole fresh from the garden. Broccoli
and Brussels Sprouts steamed on the grill right beside the Chicken Breast. To me that is about as perfect as it gets.
