Yesterday, we went to a local flower and garden festival with some friends. Earlier last week, I decided to join a local horticultural society, so the festival came at a good time. Or a bad one.
Let me explain.
I am decidedly NOT a gardener. I don’t really like dirt under my fingernails, or worms, or ticks, or (worst of all) little, harmless garden snakes. I don’t enjoy spending hours in hot sunlight, though I love being outside, and I will get a horrible sunburn in less than ten minutes. I’ve never been able to reliably keep a plant alive, much less help one grow from seed to bloom.
But, I’ve always loved flowers. I love nature. I love the sound of buzzing honeybees and the earthy, sweet fragrance of lavender and roses. I love the way light dapples through green leaves, and the feeling that everything around me is breathing and part of something bigger, something that will last long after I’m gone.
All of that to say, I am NOT a gardener, but I WANT to be.
I am surrounded by amazing gardeners. Graham’s mother is so talented, and her back garden looks like something out of a fairy story. Many of our friends care for boxwoods that are over a century old. We never have to look far for vegetables fresh from someone’s back yard vegetable patch, and they really do taste so much better.
Meanwhile, the state of our garden is mostly…wild. I’m being kind to myself here.
The honest truth is this: I’m intimidated by it, and so I’ve let it grow untamed and unkempt for most of the time we’ve lived in this house.
I’m not proud. In fact, I’m mostly embarrassed, and a little ashamed. But it amazes me that even without any help, any human hands nudging things along, it is still a beautiful space, and flowers still grow, like clockwork, every year.
I spent a lot of time thinking about that yesterday, as we walked by lots of stalls full of little green stems and leaves and colorful blossoms that I could not identify and would not know the first thing about planting. On the one hand, knowing that the earth will do what it does, regardless of my meddling, is something of a relief. On the other, I can’t help but imagine what our garden could be if I just learned to try, to get over my worry and my fear that I’ll do something wrong, and just…garden.
I don’t trust myself, but I do trust nature.
And so, I think that this will be the year. This will be the start. I’m going to learn to plant things, and nurture them, and help them grow. I’m going to be patient with myself, but I’m not going to allow myself to make excuses. I’m going to try. I’m going to go for it, because it’s worth going for, and because I know I can, with a little effort and time. I’m going to do it, even if it’s hard.
I’m going to be a gardener.
A Virginia Writer's Diary 
Big [green] thumbs up!
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Thank you! It’s always good (and always important) to try and to learn new things, right? 🙂
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I’m right there with you. It is time to learn more about the garden! Make sure you keep us updated.
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Will do! Should be a fun spring and summer, I think. 🙂
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I love gardening! And it’s just so comforting to watch those beautiful flowers and feel their scent in the air. Nature is amazing!
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Yes it is!
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Happy gardening, Katie! Loved the pictures.
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Thank you! 🙂 I’ll have to post updates after I get to work on it.
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I love that your taking on gardening! I kill everything no matter how hard I try not to. I still keep trying though! Love beautiful plants and flowers and can’t wait to read more.
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I’ll definitely post updates! It’s going to be a learning experience, definitely, and I’m equal parts excited and nervous. But I’m really looking forward to getting started!
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I am not good at gardening but my father is, it’s his passion
He spends hours in his garden and I contribute with him.
We have around 80 plant species. I know I am not good at gardening, but I contribute in every manner possible.
I’ve also plant many saplings, vegetables and I love to see them grow.
Keep sharing and best wishes, you got this
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That sounds amazing! 80? That’s so cool! Does your father have a favorite plant that he grows? What about you? Sounds like you help out a lot!
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He don’t have any favourite, but he is trying hard for vegetables. My contribution is to water them actually. We have a garden and many trees so it takes some time 😊
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I believe it! And I feel like a garden should take time – it’s one of those rare opportunities we have these days to slow down and literally smell the flowers. 🙂 I plan to work on vegetables, as well. I really want to grow tomatoes and cucumbers, so we shall see if I’m successful.
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Share your progress.
Also spinach takes very less efforts, you can try it for a starter
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I’ll add spinach to my list! And I will. I think it’ll be fun to write about.
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Please let me know if I can be of any help 🙇🏻♂️
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Thank you so much!
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Even i want to try gardeninggg badly!! One day or the other i shall do it too. Happpy that you are gonna take a step towards it 😉
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I’m excited! It will be a journey of many steps, I think. And you should! I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and super interesting, too. There’s so much to learn.
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Look at it
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