Rushing Through The SeasonS

As the weather heats up the garden takes on a life of its own. No more watching and waiting patiently and excitedly for things to sprout, grow, or green up again. Now it’s off and running, and we are chasing after weeds , overgrowth, garden bullies, deer, bunnies, and more bunnies, deadheading, and again the bunnies (large sigh and eye roll). Sometimes I feel as though I am rushing through the season. Anxious to flip the Spring beds into the Summer crops. How many things can I get planted in a day? Seedlings bursting out of their trays waiting to be planted (unless the bunnies get them first), and don’t get me started with the squirrels ripping out newly planted flower seedlings from their neat and tidy rows because they are sure I planted them over their walnut haul from last year.

Sometimes we need to tell ourselves to slow down and take in our gardens in that exact moment of the season. Because gardens are ever changing, your garden will never look as it does in this moment again. Usually I will attempt to do this in my own garden in the evening right before dusk. I try to make myself be still and feel that moment in the garden. I say “feel” purposefully, because to simply “look” would automatically drum up 10 more to do lists in my mind for the next day. I think this is very true for most gardeners, but also on a slightly larger scale anyone running any kind of business as well. Do we ever really see what we have created, or just see all that still needs to be done?

Making myself feel that moment and really experience it , and observe everyone else that is enjoying the garden around me, from the bees and pollinators, to the birds, to friends and family, and yes the even the darn squirrels and bunnies, as long as they stay out of the rudbeckia!