Why do I garden, you ask!
As I have searched my heart to find out why I am so drawn to the garden, I began to think about my childhood and the time that I spent on my grandparent's farm. My grandma always had a huge garden and I can still almost smell the fresh breeze blowing through the trees as grandma and I sat in lawn chairs snapping the peas that we had just picked from the garden. Those summer days seem to drift on endlessly. Grandpa would often show up with a watermelon that he had picked from the garden. We would cut it up and partake of its sweet juiciness right there under the trees. There on the farm, the garden was the center focus of my days. It was a happy time. A time of getting my hands in dirt and enjoying the harvest.
As I grew up, I got away from the love of gardening. Oh, we would have a few tomatoes and green beans but not anything that I put my heart into. It actually became more of a chore than a love. One day I visited my sister in law's house and although she lived in the city, her love for flowers was reflected in a mass of sky blue Morning Glories that she had planted behind her house. She and I discussed flowers and plants over a cup of tea. My love for gardening grew as we thumbed through the pages of her coffee table book on perennial gardening. It was as if I was the seed that had dried up and she had watered me. I could feel my love for gardening began to grow. It was only a few days ago that I visited her and although it was a cold, wet day, we were both content to sit on her patio and gaze at the plants and flowers that were coming to life in her garden. We still share our love of gardening to this day!
My oldest son worked at a local nursery and he introduced me to Baker Creek's Seed Catalogue and my fate was sealed! All of the beautiful, colorful, seeds and so many things that I had never seen before. I was destined to become a seed addict!
Since that time, I have become a relentless gardener! I love a morning walk through the garden with my cup of tea when the dew presents itself like a tiny little magnifying glass intensifying the green veins in each leaf. This is a time where life seems to slow down and even the most stressful days find a backseat to the music that drifts from a nearby tree sung by a beautiful red cardinal accompanied by the soft melodic buzzing of bees.
As I stand beneath my sunflowers, I find it an absolute miracle that such a small, dried up seed can grow into such a large beautiful flower! Every time that I plant seeds, I am amazed when those tiny green sprouts begin to poke their heads up out of the ground. I have planted hundreds of seeds and each and every time that one sprouts, I want to do my happy dance. I am enamored by the garden and the life that springs forth! Perhaps the garden satisfies that place that God put in my heart that longs for the garden of Eden. A place where where my mind can be still and pray, and listen that small voice that speaks to my heart.
I hope that if you have never experienced the joy of gardening in the past that you will find a pot and plant a seed. A garden can be as small or as large as you like. There are no rules and it should suit your needs as well as your space. I am sure that you will experience satisfaction and wonder when that first little sprout springs forth life from your container of dirt. I hope that in some manner this inspires you to step outside and plant a seed..... or two.....or a packet.....or maybe more.....or maybe you could end up like me.....a seed addict! Happy gardening!
I was love to hear your stories about gardening! Please share them below!
Julie Atkins
Milkweed Farms