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March 8, 2003
nature and nurture
Today was warm and promised the return of milder weather. I can feel the sap flowing already, all over. The sun is shining outside again and it's time to plant.
As soon as I put my hands in the soil the processing begins. I'm like my mother that way: discount Scandanavian psychotherapy through solitary manual labor. Whereas mom processes via plaster removal and drywall additions (No, I don't think she's a dyke - I asked already) my dirt is dug up when gardening. One could chalk it up as the magic of the Earth Mother or something, but I think it's just the busying of the hands that frees the mind. I've been doing it as long as I can remember.
This year we're doing away with the whole Amazon floodplain theme, and going subtle and simple. I don't think it's going to be a harsh summer. This is the year to try something new, yet challenging. No more pernicious and extreme climbing gourds or monstrous castor bean plants. Just small flowers and grasses and things. Pretty and nice.
As opposed to perfect. The processing continuesÖhe would set up the perfect backyard arrangement for the perfect display for the perfect party, and then walk away from it all. Once it's set up, the maintenance was forgotten and left to me. No watering once the appearance was established. It looks good enough for presentation, and there's more goals to achieve elsewhere, so half of the initial plantings would die. Later in the summer when the humidity hit the roof at a hundred degrees, the surviving plants would wither and many more would perish. Watering and weeding was left to me. Much like our relationship. He never understood the importance of ongoing maintenance and nurture.
I'm filling up the peat pots with soil and seed. Alyssum and achillea, wildflower assortments and more. Some of them won't even germinate, but it's a start.
Posted by jimbo at March 8, 2003 10:39 PM
Comments
Too bad you're not doing more gourds this year. We'll still keep you on the pumpkin party invite list :).
Posted by: Fitz at March 9, 2003 9:13 AM
how 'bout some cannabis?
Posted by: hexed at March 9, 2003 11:11 AM
Cannabis starts with a 'c', so I'll have to wait until spring 2005 to plant that. I'm doing alphabetical gardens starting this year (a). Next year will be black-eyed susans, baobab trees, berries and bluebells.
Posted by: jimbo at March 9, 2003 9:57 PM