Journey Versus Destination

While encouraging a group of second graders to walk in a straight line down the hallway from point A to point B this week, I was reminded of how important the little things in life can be. As I watched them push each other to and fro in order to be closer to the line-leader or to stand by their friends, I could not understand why they were so concerned with where they were in line. After all, isn't the destination -  be it lunch, recess, or English class -  the important thing?

About midway through our excursion, we saw another class walking toward us. As the students passed each other, some waved frantically back and forth, some exchanged haphazard high-fives, and a handful simply stared blankly at the floor. A few seconds later, we passed a popular teacher, and several students stepped out of line to give her a hug. Next, the students noisily navigated the stairs that led to the classroom. Quickly, I unlocked the door and ushered them inside.

As they took their seats, I observed the students as a group. Their faces were animated as they whispered to each other about all they had experienced during our short excursion. It was then that I realized life isn't just about reaching a particular place or position, it's also about the journey, and what we encounter along the way.

Today, as I reflect on the connection between a journey and that journey's end, I can't help but share what I feel is an important lesson for those of us who garden. We start out with a vision of what we want our gardens to look like, and an idea of how we will get from point A to point B. Along the way, we make mistakes, celebrate successes, and have a few days where we just turn our unfocused gazes upon the horizon. And although we enjoy reaping the final product - a beautiful, bountiful garden, we become better gardeners as a result of the journey.


 

The Poinsettia

Poinsettias are traditionally used in holiday centerpieces and floral arrangements during the Christmas season.  They have big green leaves, and their bracts, sometimes referred to as the flower of the plant, can be red, pink, white, and yellow.

In Mexico, its native habitat, the poinsettia grows outside as a perennial shrub, while in colder areas, the plant is kept inside and typically blooms for four to six weeks, then dies back. With special care and attention, it is possible to get a poinsettia to re-bloom.

In my personal experience, the best way to keep the soil of a poinsettia plant evenly moist is to water it with ice cubes. Once a week, or as often as needed, I place three to four cubes around the base of the plant and let them melt.

Although reports differ as to whether poinsettias are poisonous to pets, most sources agree that animals who eat the plant may vomit, drool, itch, and /or develop an upset stomach. So, to keep your pets healthy and your floors and furniture puke-free, display your poinsettia in an out-of-reach place.

Reduce the Waste

In the "Helpful Hints" section of a cookbook I was recently given, cooks grating the peels of citrus fruits are encouraged to use a clean toothbrush to dislodge stuck fragments of the peel from the grater to avoid wasting it.

Although I rarely grate the skins of lemons, limes and the like, I can appreciate an idea that helps one recycle and reuse. So, I would like to contribute my own helpful hint and suggest that in a world where excess is often the norm, planting a garden is one of the best ways I've found to reduce waste. Moreover, gardens are good for the environment, good for the body, and good for the soul. Plant yours today!

What Now?

What's a gardener to do now that the days are getting shorter, and the weather is getting colder? Here are a few tips and suggestions that will keep you in touch with nature and your green thumb.

>Start planning your garden for next year, taking into account what worked this year, and what did not.

>Start shopping online for seeds. The pictures of seed packets and the plants they produce will keep you inspired.

>If you run or walk to keep in shape, take your workout outside, amid all things natural. Taking a hike on a trail at your local park, or running a few times around the track at the local high school will not only keep you physically fit, it will also help clear your head and improve your mood.

>Clean up any debris that has accumulated on your property. Rake and bag leaves, pick up broken tree limbs and branches, and bag any trash that has blown into your yard. If you want to burn refuse instead of bagging it, follow all fire prevention guidelines for your area.

>Look for end-of-the-season sales. Many department stores still have Summer items, such as flower pots, gardening tools, wind chimes, plant shelves, yard ornaments, and outdoor furniture that they are trying to get rid of.

>Wash and store your seedling pots and trays, your flower pots, and your gardening tools.

>Invest in a few new houseplants. Repot and shape-up your existing plants.

>Use your gardening photos and nature pictures (we all have them!) to make a photo book. Order several copies - one for you, and a few extras to give out as Christmas presents. Who knows? You might just inspire a friend or family member to start gardening!

There you have it. A small list of things to do while you're waiting for Spring. Be sure to respond with your own tips and suggestions. And as always - remember to sow, reap, repeat.

Tuned In

When we were kids, my sister and I loved listening to music. One year, my Dad bought each of us a little AM transistor radio with a corresponding ear plug. To keep us from mixing the radios up, my Mom took two pieces of masking tape, wrote my name on one, my sister's name on the other, and stuck the pieces to the back of our radios. For days, we walked around, vinyl ear plugs stuffed inside of our ears, grooving to our favorite songs.

Eventually, my Dad realized we were both listening to the same radio station. When he suggested we use one radio and play our music out loud, we looked at him like he was an alien from another planet. Even though we were separated by only three years, sharing was not something that came natural to us. We had our own bikes, our own dolls, our own toys, and our own records. And although we shared a bedroom, we did so reluctantly. It never occurred to us that by listening to one radio, we’d hear the same music and extend the juice in our batteries. It also never occurred to us to change the station. So,we just kept walking around, bopping our heads back and forth to the same beat on different radios.

Procuring gardening advice is oftentimes like listening to the radio in that we look for those who share interests similar to our own. We want to connect with and hear from someone who has successfully planted what we want to plant, grown what we want to grow, and harvested what we want to harvest. In order to learn something new, however, it's a good idea to switch to a different station every now and again. Maybe read a book on how to grow a cactus. Or, ask the neighbor down the street about their sunflower garden. By expanding our network, we'll increase our knowledge. So let's take out our earplugs and tune in! 

My transistor radio, front and back.

             

Trailer Park Snooze

When I was a baby, we lived in a trailer park. My dad was working at General Motors and my mom was a housewife, which was a pretty typical setup for the time period. I don’t remember much about the trailer park, but I do remember an elderly couple who lived there who took a liking to me. The wife had lost one of her legs to gangrene and was in a wheelchair. I don’t know anything about them other than that, but I like to think they were a good influence on my parents, who were young and just starting out. 

During this time, my parents started taking me on car rides in the afternoon to put me to sleep. This resulted in me not learning how to put myself to sleep. I’m not sure how long this lasted, but on the night my mother decided to put a stop to it, I rebelled. Well, I’m not sure if I was old enough to know that I was rebelling, but in any event, I caused a fuss. I mean a real fuss. So loud in fact that the neighbors in the surrounding trailers began knocking on my parents' door, asking if I was okay. Some wanted to know if I was teething. Others, I’m sure, thought something dreadful must be going on inside our home.

Despite all of the neighborly concern, however, no one called Child Protective Services and after a few nights of constant crying, I learned to put myself to sleep. Still, to this day, a good car ride still makes me nod off. 

 

The E.K. Rogers Family

Image taken from the Heritage and History Calendar, 2013, which is sponsored by the Veteran's Museum, Hinton, WV.

All That Glitters

The ad tagline that popped up in my email read "Make sure your yard SHINES!" Caught somewhere between "it's the end-of-summer and I miss my garden" pangs and the "I can't wait for spring" blues, I took the bait, hovered, and clicked the button on my mouse.

Instantly, my computer screen came alive with colorful pictures of Christmas inflatables and glittery yard ornaments, all set against a backdrop of fluffy snow. Well, not real snow but the fake stuff, all white and clean, not dirty, dense, and clumpy like we get around here.

Realizing this wasn't an advertisement for anything gardening related, I sighed and exited the screen. Then, somewhat reluctantly, I resigned myself to the idea that in order for my yard to be shiny this winter, I may have to plant a few reindeer, and possibly a gingerbread man or two. Oh well, at least I won't have to water and weed!  

Me standing in front of a shiny Christmas tree.