I think I’d like to be a meteorologist because it seems you don’t have to know what you’re doing. You just make random guesses and put it out there. And people accept it as truth until they wake up on the Monday morning it was supposed to be sunny and 17 and it’s only 6 and raining.
In any case, rain is springier than snow and to quote everyone trying to be optimistic…. We DO need the moisture. It would be lovely not to have water rations this summer. But we all know it rains all of June, ruining all the plans of end of school field trips and sports days and picnics and weddings.
But on a cheerier note…. Spring has sprung. As I was driving my mother home last night just after 9 p.m. it was still light out. And the grasses are turning greenier. And I did not spot one speck of snow anywhere. Not even lurking in a shadowy side alley. Trees are starting to bud. The tulips are tall enough already for the deer to come by and munch on them. Oy vey.
And so it begins. The never ending struggle with nature to grows things. Why shouldn’t we all be able to have lovely gardens and blossoms wherever we live? Why is it such a fight to make my zinnias thrive? Or my dahlia plants have flowers? Or to overwinter roses or any other perennial? Why do I have To grow everything worthy to be seen in the confines of the backyard so the critters won’t eat them. Thus, the secret garden. At this point I’m basically growing flowers so I can photograph them. And some people do that for a living and a hobby so maybe I’ll just have to change my dream of a flower farm to one of an Instagram photographer?
However, some green thumbs have figured it out as I pass their blossom laden yards and drool in envy. I’ve deducted it must be my soil. But even the price of dirt is prohibitive these days. I bought nasturtium seeds this year because the package says to sow in poor soil. I have plenty of that. I don’t actually like nasturtiums but if they’ll actually grow I’ll give it a whirl. Another flower I don’t particularly care for is the marigold but apparently they stave off deer, so I may have to plant the damn things.
Nobody wants to listen to my gardening woes. Especially when I haven’t even started. Ha. It’s just refreshing to see the signs of a lighter, warmer and more colourful existence. Did I mention I work at a school and get two months off in the summer? Who cares if nothing grows. I can read a book or take a walk. Or lollygag on the deck. Drive myself to someplace where things ARE growing, like the zoo or the garden centre. Or my neighbor’s back yard. What?
I’m looking forward to going to the mountains and my aunts cottage on an idealic little lake in BC and paddling out into the middle of it to just breathe in the clean mountain air and listen to the loons and watch the clouds. And pretend I’m not living in a world gone mad.
Maybe my gardening issues are just the earth groaning waiting for the promised land. Yes. That must be it.
I’m waiting too. But in the meantime, can’t I please just grow one lovely, large, luscious zinnia plant? A girl can dream.
The Red Plaid Apron 