Control and Chaos

         The fantasies begin during the dark season, while snow lies deep in the fields and the woodpiles dwindle daily.  The January arrival of all the catalogs I subscribed to willy-nilly makes it worse. I try to focus. To be present in this season.  I really do love winter and cold and snow. But my mind wanders.  I sit through the long evenings circling and marking the things I want...all the newest flowers and all the tried-and-true vegetable seeds.  I do the math and do a lot of editing, wishing someday I could afford everything and imagining the resulting chaos of color! 

        As the warmth of the February sun increases, I reach for my pen and graph paper and begin planning my garden.

         I blame my mother for this seasonal disorder. 

        And my grandfather. 

        And various other irresponsible adults from my childhood.

                     #metoo if this is your story.  

                     I'm here to tell you it's ok. 

                     And there is no help. 😂

         I did not always love gardening. As a kid, I often thought I would be found dead at the end of a long row beside a pile of weeds.  Somewhere along the way that changed, and the joy of growing things took hold. (or took over)

        Every season has its own challenges and benefits, and each offers life lessons out there in the dirt. The most important is this. Ya gotta roll with it.   I make plans and draw them but often I have to change them. Or I decide that a different way works better when I'm out in the actual garden. The weather, the bugs, the chaos that sometimes comes... seasons too short or too long and plans that get trashed...it's all a part of it, and the learning and doing never stop.  There are things you can control and things you can't.

        Like your memory.

        Once I bought two bags of gladiolus bulbs on a really good deal at Walmart in February and when it was finally warm enough to plant them, I couldn't find them! Since I got them way too early, I thought I had put them in the root cellar to keep...but they were gone.

        So, the next time I went back to the store, I grabbed two more bags. I was determined to have a beautiful circle of them!  Of course, I found the other bulbs in another cool place - the bottom of the restaurant-sized cooler in the back room! It was a lot of work, but I planted all 120 around the farm and garden!   They were gorgeous! Note: I do not view this as a waste of money. 

        Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting, I hope you know the satisfaction of a well-planned and executed garden, a fine growing season, and an abundant harvest. 

        And may sunflowers surprise you and grow wherever the squirrels plant them!  

These are two plans I have for this year. 

I am planting an apothecary garden! 

And trying a few new things...like gourds and luffas

and I want to make a tunnel for the squashes!

(I may be addled by Pinterest!)  I'll let you know what happens!

      I would love to see your plans in the comments! 

       And what is your favorite bean or tomato?

       

     Keep believing in Springtime and Harvest!

        Keep planning and being flexible!

      Keep growing toward the light.