Lessons From the Garden

This summer, in the face of terrible drought and record-setting heat, we stopped watering our garden and focused on saving our trees and shrubs. For the most part, the plan worked--though we did lose one tree planted early this year. Given the losses experienced by farmers in the area, ours was a minor tragedy.

After a year of writing and thinking about home gardens, it was tough to just stop. The plants and experience of tending them had been so intimately connected with my writing that I felt as withered as they did. Yes, my garden writing dried up... though I did manage to crank out one article about Central Texas community gardens for Country Lifestyle. Curiously, I did find time and energy to write about other topics for DailyYonder.com, so financially I actually came out ahead because of the drought. So, there was a bit of fruit born out of my wilted summer garden after all.

Of course, the nice thing about vegetable gardens is that a clean slate is often just around the corner. As I mentioned over at RW&G, our fall garden is back in place and looking well. Coming at the close of a long, depressing summer, our current weather conditions are divine--rain keeps coming through and the days are comparatively cool. The golden light shining on the new veggies, the breeze... they remind me of a major reason why I got back into gardening again: to connect with Mother Nature one-to-one.

In agreeing to "roll with the punches" delivered to us by the weather, we gardeners gain a deeper understanding of Nature's many faces , particularly the ability she has to giveth and taketh away. This year, throught learning to live with compromised expectations, I'm finding gratitude in the experience of having things return to "normal." For instance, watching those little cabbage plants grow up this fall, it's hard not to feel inspired once more by my tiny plot's resilience--and maybe a little surprised by my own willingness to rebound right along with it.

Curious about the little graphic up top? It's one of several signs available for download from DinnerGarden.org, a San Antonio based non-profit supporting home gardens.