It’s difficult to be hopeful and positive these days, but perhaps if we focus on our upcoming gardens, we might be uplifted. The British poet Alfred Austin once said “ The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” With all the worries in the world, our hearts and souls need a little extra richness!
So let’s follow Alfred’s idea and imagine we are out in the garden, with our hands in the dirt and our heads in the sun. Doesn’t that sound glorious right now? So let’s be positive that it will happen, and think about this coming year’s garden. By now, you know that when I say “garden”, it is your own version of a garden, be it an actual garden patch or a collection of containers. Either way, you are gardening! Someone once said to me that she didn’t have a garden; she just had all her veggies growing in containers. My dear, that is indeed a garden! And good for you for making the most of the space that you have!
I hope you have received some seed catalogues in the mail. Make a cup of tea and spread them out on your kitchen table and start browsing. The reality of those beautiful seed catalogues seems more real now than it did back in January!
We have catalogues from T&T and Lindenberg; you might have your own favourites from other great seed companies. Looking through a seed catalogues is like going to an amazing buffet: you want to try a little of everything, but really, we have only so much room! So we must choose wisely.
Thankfully, there are now many varieties of vegetables that do well in regular gardens or containers, so these give container gardeners a chance to enjoy their favourites.
It is interesting to see that many of the vegetables that Mom always used to plant are still available and still listed as solid choices. Beets: Detroit Dark Red. Carrots: Nantes. Cucumbers: Straight Eight. Lettuce: Ruby Red Sails. Peas: Green Arrow. When I read those names in the catalogues I am instantly back in Mom’s wonderful garden, seeing her standing there with a handful of seed packets, sorting through them as though they were precious jewels, her garden hoe leaning against her shoulder, and a smile as bright as the sun on her beautiful face! How she loved her garden! And to this day, we still usually plant those dependable, tried-and-true favourites.
Please continue to plant flowers to attract bees and other pollinators. Even a short row will bring these important garden friends into your yard. Zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, poppies, bachelor buttons, sunflowers…all easy to grow, beautiful to look at, a welcome treat for the bees.
I know you have your favourites for your garden, and now we can start thinking about exactly what we would like to plant. Just as a mental boost, order some seeds and let’s look forward with hope to this gardening year. If you are interested in obtaining heirloom bean seeds, visit our hort society website at www.yorktonhort.ca and get more information.
An anonymous but wise gardener once said “Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years.” In these troubled times, the words are even more important. Let’s say a prayer for each other that when gardening time comes, we will all be healthy and happy, puttering around outside and enjoying the healing power of our gardens. Take care and have a good week.
