I
see a pattern forming in how some of the most important things I do in my life
develop. I wanted to write for years, but couldn’t muster the courage or belief
that I had anything worth saying. In those intermittent years, I read
everything I could get my hands on about authors’ processes, their strategies,
and their successes and failures. By the time I started writing seriously, I
had a firm handle on what was required of me: persistence and discipline. Those
two things were what I could control.
This
summer taught me that the same thing was happening as I looked outside my
back windows season after season. While I didn’t know a lot of technical things,
I knew what I liked and what I wanted. I knew that I wanted flowers and plants
that remind me of my beloved home state of Kansas.
The
afternoon that I decided to take the leap and turn part of one cleared area
into a flower bed, I chose zinnias and sunflowers for my starter garden. I had
no idea what would come of it. Did I have even a remote chance of inheriting my
grandparents’ green thumbs? Would the seeds take?
I
borrowed my neighbor’s pitch fork and tilled the ground and then added potting
soil on top of the dirt. I read the instructions on the back of the seed
packets and planted the seeds. I watered religiously and in four days I saw
zinnia sprouts. I was thrilled. This early success built momentum.
I purposely started with a small bed. I was more interested in a little bit
of success than biting off more than I could chew or losing interest. Plus,
even if none of the seeds sprouted, I was only out $5.
The
plants made steady progress, and one evening I took my daughter out to see the
sprouts.
“I'm
proud of you, Mom. I can see your hard work.”
There’s
nothing better than the admiration of an eleven-year-old. I was delighted with
my garden’s progress and motivated to keep watering and capturing its progress
day by day.
 |
| Sprouts appeared days after I planted the seeds. |
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| I could not believe the progress I saw from day to day, week to week. |
It's kind of magical to watch, isn't it? I'm glad you're taking photos as you go. It feels so good to look back and see the progress.
ReplyDeleteYou are so inspiring me for next spring. Love the photo of Work in Progress and the memories you are building with your daughter. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteZinnias and sunflowers are wonderfully cheery plants for a starter garden. This series reads like a mystery book. I need to stay tuned to find out what the end of the story holds. LOVE your reminder quote that this garden and you are a work in progress.
ReplyDeletePraise from an eleven year old can be hard to come by! Congratulations! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love gardening. It is one of the things I miss since my arthritis made it impossible for me. Congrats on the rewards for your hard work.
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