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May 26, 2003 Well we just finished up another glorious weekend. One of my favorite hobbies is gardening. There is something about getting your hands in the soil and planting things. Call me a nature girl at heart, but it brings peace and balance in my life. Normally I am a very stressed out and constantly worried person. Add onto that I am a woman, a mother, girlfriend, a full time writer and currently on a diet. Yes, life can be crazy! Sometimes I forget to look at things little by little and just see it as overwhelming. Of course when I do that I get myself into trouble. So it is nice to stop and smell the roses so to speak. Or perennials, marigolds, or even the daisies. We went to the local nursery and picked up several items. Our main priority was herbs. We bought thyme(I wish I could buy time personally), oregano, basil, chives, sage, rosemary, savory, and about three tomato plants. After finding some nice soil and some planters, we were set and drove to another nursery. Hours later we came back with a beautiful hanging plant, several marigolds, violets, and petunias. Last we drove to Walmart to purchase some more planters that were on sale, some plant food, a small dowel, and a watering can which I have to say I picked it out and is adorable. Its the kind that you attach the little sprinkle part on, just had to have it! Luckily as we were leaving I noticed a pair of gloves with blue butterflies on them which had my name on it. Yeah, I spoiled myself with a watering can and butterfly gloves both coming to under ten dollars. I am easy to please. Once we got home we eagerly set to work making our back area a pretty place. This is a place I plan to gain some inspiration from while I write. When I surround myself with pretty things, flowers, and color it does wonder for my imagination not to mention my psyche. Just planting the herbs the way we did, it smells like when you walk into an Italian restaurant, mmm mmm good! Wow. I got hungry just planting them. My son wanted to plant his own flowers and is responsible for taking care of them. I cant wait to see how big the tomato plant gets! After watering them thoroughly we barbecued steaks and potatoes. Dinner was a bit of a feast with strawberry smoothies to round it out. Next up on the agenda is planting some vegetables but we will need to do some work before that happens. I am hoping the good weather holds up, at least for the weekends. I dont know what it is, being outside, one with the soil, because the birds were singing, or the focus on new life developing, but it just calms me. Before I would listen to people talk about gardening, I couldnt for the life of me figure it out! One day I tried it. Now I get it. There doesnt really need to be an explanation either, its healthy to get outside and do the things we love whether its gardening, bicycling, golfing, swimming, taking a walk, or whatever. Just breathing the fresh air, the breeze against our face, the sun on our skin, the colors of spring in full bloom, being part of nature, helping to make things grow with our bare hands (or in my case in blue butterfly gloves) it is doing something we love. You cant get better than that. I enjoy it more by sharing these things with my family. I hope when my son grows up he will keep an open mind about gardening and share it with his loved ones. For now Ill just see how much responsibility he will put into his own little flowers. When we have our own home, one of the first things I plan to have is a garden of strawberries. My grandfather, the most wonderful person Ive ever met, grew the juiciest, most beautiful red strawberries Id ever seen. To this day though he passed away years ago, he is still uncontested in my eyes. In honor of him and what a great man he was, the strawberries will be for him. Of course I will grow other things like broccoli, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, onions, peas, and zucchini but the first will be strawberries, guaranteed. So even if you dont like gardening, take the time this spring or summer and plant one flower or one herb. Put your hands in some soil and pat it down. See if you dont feel a little something stir inside. I bet youll finish up and have a smile on your face. You will have done something for yourself, helped create a life that will grow, spent a little time outside, and will be rewarding in so many ways. Maybe plant a tree or a vegetable, anything you choose, but just try it and see what you are missing out on. It is a fulfilling task and never feels like a chore. And no matter what, take time out in your day to stop and smell the flowers. ------------ About the author: Nancy Jackson is a full time author and poet with works in Literati, Twilight Times, Anotherealm, Sonny World, and various anthologies. Her pasttimes include spending time with her loved ones, drinking wine, and lots of writing! Email Nancy Jackson: coryann93@yahoo.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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