Friday, May 15, 2009

Gardening: What's NOT to Like?


The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw, The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God, 1932

I spent part of my morning out back in my garden. It's interesting how people react when I mention that I'm heading outside to the garden. Some automatically translate it to mean a vegetable plot, and ask when I can expect a harvest. Others picture their own own flowerbeds, and initiate a chat about all they need to do to whip it into shape.

No matter what kind of gardening one likes, I think we can agree that there's nothing quite like the sun on your neck and a gentle breeze cooling your forehead. That's part of the enjoyment. Before I had flowerbeds, back when we grew grass that required mowing, my flowers consisted of 6-7 containers for the patio. I hadn't caught the gardening bug yet.

Gardening is a taskmaster. No ignoring it, or the weeds will creep up to my bedroom windowsill. It's a commitment of time and resources, but once it's established, watch out. I never expected this much enjoyment three years ago, when I decided to dig up my backyard . I just figured I'd change the look. Whoaboy. Did I ever.

When I was a kid, I hated to weed. I complained that weeding was a big waste of time, because weeds always return (like dust). Funny what we learn when life ambles a few miles up the road.

I like how Mirabel Osler sums up the wonders of growing a garden: There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.

Today I'm smiling. Are you?

Seedplanter
Follow me on Twitter
Enter the world of Seedplanter's Designs @Zazzle


Have you visited Photo Buffet?

2 comments:

THOMBU1 said...

My wife just planted some bell peppers, squash, zucchini and some beautiful Petunias. How great is that? Not only can we behold the beauty of The Masters Touch, but can fill our bellies as well!!
Have a beautiful evening.

Unknown said...

Neat post! Like your beginning, I have most of my flowers in pots on the deck. My basset hound tramples everything I plant in his kingdom.

Gardening for me at this moment is in my small patch by the driveway and in three pots nearby. I overplanted the veggies and had to move the flowers this week. I hope they survive! (The great heat has begun in the SE USA! and it is not even summer yet!)

Love--yes, LOVE your work.

Mickie