PATIENCE MONTH: DAY 9: “Don’t remorse over dead flowers. Have the patience to plant seeds again.”― Sarvesh Jain
I have to practice SO much patience in my gardening. It sometimes takes two years or more for certain plants to come to fruition. I grow them anyway.
On one property, I planted 25 trees. A big fan of re-treeing the world in responsible ways. With trees that are good in the area where planted and sustainable for the environment where I plant them, along with indigenous and healthy for that place.
Someone came to see my gardens there, some of the most beautiful I have ever created, and remarked that I had planted 6 oak trees, 3 live oaks and 3 scrub oaks. I said, “Yes, I did. Aren’t they sweet?” And they looked at me and said, “Well, they are only a few feet tall and will take many years to mature.” And I knew that when I planted them, which does not matter to me. I celebrated every bit of growth they developed while I was there. Along with 6 redwood trees, and several varieties of pine. I don’t care if I see them fully grown in my lifetime, the idea is to keep planting them anyway.
Sometimes I cut trees down that are unhealthy or that do not thrive in the place where they are growing. It is all part of being a responsible grower of anything. I plant artichokes, which take up to 3 years to really produce well, depending on where I plant them. And asparagus because it is pretty. But it takes a few years for it to develop into good production also. I don’t care. I just plant them.
Gardening has taught me great patience. I remember a story about planting seeds and being so impatient that the person kept digging them up just as they were sprouting and killed all the plants that way. I get it, but I also got that message. Some seeds take longer than the others. I let it all be done in Nature’s way on Nature’s day. It is good for me to remember who is truly in charge. When I lose a beloved plant or tree, I know its life is done, just as mine will be one day. I just let it go and move on to another plant.
Dolphin Hug 