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Had I known when I was younger, that gardening is so rewarding and gratifying, I may have saved myself taking the long walk to go such a short distance. Life is like gardening in that we all complete a circle of life. We do what we can while we are here and when we are gone, hopefully we left something worthwhile behind. Sometimes we know exactly the direction we should go and sometimes the path is not so clear. In the end, I believe we end up exactly where we should be.
I'm reminded of the Robert Frost poem with the line "Two paths diverged in a yellow wood, I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference."In life, we sometimes chose our path and other times the path may chose us.
I lived in suburbia all of my life but often spent weekends and summers with my my elders in the country. I grew up around farmers and people that grew plants as both a means of income and a way to feed their own families.They also grew flowering plants as a way to brighten their days.Most were plants with no value as a food or a sale crop but nonetheless, they earned their place on valuable land.
How I wish someone would have shared the joy of placing that single seed in the dirt so I could have seen what it could do and what it would become!That single seed goes through so much change in its life whether it is a short life or a long life and it completes its own circle of life.If it's cared for and nurtured, it thrives and knows exactly what to do.Even if tossed aside or dropped on the dirt, it may still go on or it may struggle and possibly even die, but it doesn't know that it should just give up!It was not taught to quit.
This is something I've tried to share with my own children.Sometimes no matter how much we care or try, things may have a sad ending. Other times, over caring for things can cause them hardship.More times than not, that little bit of time giving and nurturing, will give us back something worthwhile and maybe even something spectacular.
Although pulling weeds may not be fun, it is necessary for the life of the plants around them.Sometimes it is a burden to drag the hose across the yard in the heat of the summer but the fish in the pond, the small animals we raise and the plants we are growing, need that water to survive. Even though we have to feed and water the animals in the rain, snow, heat and dark, they give us back manure that is good for the plants.They teach us to be responsible and to take the time to say hello or give them a little nuzzle. Taking two minutes to carry coffee grounds, egg shells and vegetable waste to the compost are worthwhile because we can feed that compost back to the plants and make their lives better.That makes our life better and it makes our life easier.
Anything we do no matter how big or small, to make life better is worthwhile.And it's rewarding!
I often think of a time a few years ago, when I was outside rooting coleus.I let the extra leaves and stems drop to the ground.My eldest daughter was fairly young and she grabbed up the little pieces and leaves, asking me why I was throwing them on the ground, almost demanding that they had the right to live.I told her those little pieces and leaves would not grow and showed her all the cuttings that I had already started and told her how they would all be likely to survive as I had chosen the best plants and the best parts of those plants for rooting.She would not give up.She got her own cell pack and her own seedling mix and planted all those cast offs I had deemed unworthy.She watered them dutifully and kept them in the shade and checked them often.I think every single one of them rooted, grew and flourished and they were her plants.I learned that day that I did not know everything and also that I didn't give them a chance to be what they were.
While this might not be worthwhile for growing on a large scale, it did show me how awesome life can be if given a chance and not to discard things so quickly.I also came to the realization that she had her own ideas about things and that would not change just because I tried to discourage her.How neat it must be to see things through the eyes of a child and to be open to the wonders of the unknown!
Life is busy and crazy when you have children and often there is not much time to slow down and listen and enjoy the simple things.When they are interested, I try to take the time to hear them, encourage them and let them learn things on their own and help them when asked. The hardest part is not interfering when they do not want my help.I let them start their own seeds, do their own planting, choose their own crosses and I let them chose to pull weeds and water, or not.It is a wonderful way to teach them to nurture what they have and encourage them to seek out and learn about other things.They've learned also learned what happens when things are neglected because we were too busy or had something more important to do.
I've learned many things myself.Sometimes I am the teacher and sometimes I'm the student.I do not know everything.Some things cannot be learned in a book or on the internet.Kids that do not want to pull weeds should not if you want to keep plants around them.Kids love to look at catalogs and have opinions about what would or would not be good to grow and trust me, they feel very strongly about it!Mostly I've learned to listen to what they say as well as what they don't say.
You have already planted the seed and it has started to flower.Raise that gardener on their terms and see just how spectacular it can be!Now is a great time to get started with all those wonderful catalogs sitting there.My children love to look at those beautiful catalogs and make thousand dollar wish lists that make me cringe.I make my own thousand dollar wish lists that make me cringe!They know and I know, we can't possibly buy them but that is why they are called wish lists!It's the stuff that dreams are made of and sometimes dreams come true.
Imagine all the things we could do or might have done, if no one had said it was not worthwhile!
About Michele Meyer
I usually describe myself as a combination of Martha Stewart and Rosanne Barr. I can do most anything, know a little about a lot of things and I'm never without my odd sense of humor. I'm the proud married mom of 6 young girls and that sense of humor has been invaluable. We packed up and left the city 3 years ago for a 7 acre farm, so we could open a small nursery for daylilies and more. It's been an adventure!
Posted by cedarcullen (from Dexter, MI) on July 1, 2008 at 7:23 AM:
just what I needed as I struggle to go through my emails and newsletters with my clinging 3 year old daughter on my lap on this sunny birdsong early morning...I'm inspired....
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Subject: Wow
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 28, 2008 at 2:00 AM:
This is such a sweet article. It reminds me of when my girls were younger and still at home. Tending a garden and raising children are much the same. What a great article.
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Posted by cactuspatch (from La Luz/Alamogordo, NM) on June 30, 2008 at 10:26 AM:
I agree. I grew up with my parents and both sets of grandparents all gardening, I loved it and have always loved to watch things grow. I think it is great that you moved to a farm to raise your daughters! They will all have such wonderful memories I am sure. ; )
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Subject: Beautiful Article!
Posted by msrobin (from Caneyville, KY) on June 25, 2008 at 8:06 PM:
Chele, this was an absolutely beautiful atricle! It brought tears to my eyes. The moral of your story is so clear and can be applied to everything in one's life....acceptance, plain and simple. Robin
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Subject: Wow! 6 young girls!
Posted by roseone33 (from Southern Mountains, GA) on June 25, 2008 at 2:59 PM:
It's a wonder you have time for anything else at all. Amazing. Keep up the good work!
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Subject: Such wisdom!
Posted by Marcy_1 (from New Madison, OH) on June 25, 2008 at 12:02 PM:
Such wisdom you have for a young mom!!! Must be all those girls!!
This was a great article Michele. I loved it. Thanks.
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Posted by SoCal (from Huntington Beach, CA) on June 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM:
Michele,
I really enjoyed reading your article this week and hope you continue to grace us with some more of your gardening wisdom.
I have learned a lot from you over many years and I hope many others will be able to do the same.
It has also been wonderful to see how your children have grown into such lovely young ladies and to see that they have learned from you too.
Continue to grace us with more interesting articles...please. :-)
Donna
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Subject: A sweet article, one I can relate to :-)
Posted by Calif_Sue (from San Jose, CA) on June 25, 2008 at 11:28 AM:
Sure enjoyed your article Chele and seeing how fast the girls are growing! Like UniQueTreasures mentions, sometimes it skips generations, my two grandkids again living with me are being taught the wonders to be discovered with plants in my garden that I hope will keep their interest as the grow.
This message was edited Jun 25, 2008 8:28 AM
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Subject: Sometimes it skips a generation
Posted by UniQueTreasures (from Beaumont, TX) on June 25, 2008 at 9:09 AM:
Neither of my daughters has shown any interest in my gardens. But my oldest granddaughter, now 4 1/2, always wants to go see what's new in Maw Maw's yard. She's learning the names of the plants and has helped me plant some seeds. She never leaves here without a Gardena (that's how she says it) up against her nose.
I try to keep lots of flowers she can pick and the plants will still look good. Things like Lantana and Portulaca are some of her favorites.
Thank you for this wonderful article. Kids do teach us sometimes and we can teach them too. The love of gardening is a very lovely thing to pass along for future generations.
Janet
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Posted by robcorreia (from San Diego, CA) on June 25, 2008 at 1:31 PM:
Thank you for such an endearing article!
Janet, I agree with you. I got my love of plants from my grandma. Today, my greatest joy is to see my 7 yr old boy following my steps in the garden. I also learn a lot from him! Your coleus story reminded when I wanted to show him how to start beans in a cup filled with moist cotton. He was adamant about his own techique of doing this inside a ziplok bag instead...and guess which one thrived? : )
Roberta
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Subject: For sure no badseeds :)
Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on June 25, 2008 at 5:29 AM:
Wonderful article Chele - had no idea you were writing now. Please keep it up, another facet of your many talents shines through.
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Posted by Wvdaisy (from Buffalo, WV) on June 25, 2008 at 9:43 AM:
Great job, Chele, keep it up :) Love the pics of the girls in the garden!
Lana
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Posted by Terry (from Murfreesboro, TN) on June 25, 2008 at 3:51 PM:
Way to go 'chele and her sixpack! Great article!!!
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Posted by GrammysGardenAZ (from Cochise, AZ) on June 25, 2008 at 8:01 PM:
Fun to see your girls! Show us more! I know I'm not the only one who remembers when you had 2 houses and no plants in the ground! You have really made progress!
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Posted by gardenwife (from Newark, OH) on June 25, 2008 at 8:11 PM:
Chele, this is great! I wish I'd realized earlier how fulfilling and fun gardening can be. I thought my mother was crazy for going out in the heat and being eaten up by bugs...And that was just a small garden, then. I'm so glad I've come to love gardening.
GREAT job on this. Please write more!
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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on June 26, 2008 at 12:45 AM:
Wonderful story! My love of gardening was from an Aunt I spent summers with. I think of her often and hope to pass on the love of plants to my Great Nephew that is just now turning four. He loves the outdoors and wants a garden! Perfect timing of your article Chele.
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Subject: Wonderful!
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on June 25, 2008 at 12:59 AM:
Love the pics of the girls tending to the gardens. I can tell they love living things, and it must be a lot of fun teaching them and learning from them, too. Gee, I didn't know coleus leaves would root--how cool!
Very nice article, Michele!
How I wish someone would have shared the joy of placing that single seed in the dirt so I could have seen what it could do and what it would become!
