For most of my life I've been focused on growing edibles in my garden. This was the case even when I had only a patio to garden on, often growing several tomato plants and herbs in pots.
This is the first year that I have been drawn to do otherwise. Thanks to my daughter, I am much more fascinated by the birds, bugs and the flowers than I am about growing tomatoes.
It used to be that I'd spend my time searching for tomato horn worms, pulling weeds and starting seeds. Now, I kind of just want to sit and look at every bloom and every bug and ignore the bermuda grass that is slowly taking over my pathways. Thankfully I always have company.
"I think that is the bluest flower I've EVER SEEN", says my daughter about 'Blue Diadem' shown above. These bachelor button flowers return faithfully every year, so perhaps I've grown too accustomed to them to enjoy their beautiful color. We took a few minutes today to check them out, and pick a bouquet for her bedroom.
I used to be so rigid, I always worked from a "plan", and I planted my vegetables in rows in raised beds. Now the vegetables are directly in the planter beds, mixing with perennials and
Dr. Suess-like oddities that my daughter has picked out from various nurseries.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my edibles- but my daughter has shown me there is so much more to gardening than to JUST plant edibles. At the same time she's taught me that I need to relax more and I don't need to grow everything myself from seed. My time with her and my family...and my garden.... are much more important. Buying plants from a local, reputable nursery can be soooo much easier than trying to grow the plant myself from seed.
So the lawn that I ripped out just two years ago in order to grow more edibles, has become heavily blurred by color. This is no longer "my" garden, it's just as much hers as it is mine. And as much as I always said I would never change my life when I had a child, I'm realizing that I have, and it's not a bad thing.
Last night I went to check on her after she had gone to sleep. Next to her pillow was a stash of
honeywort seeds that we had harvested earlier in the day. At that moment I had to give myself a pat on the back, for teaching my child that seeds are magical. Growing life is magical.
I'm so glad that I have her to share that with.
For most of my life I've been focused on growing edibles in my garden. This was the case even when I had only a patio to garden on, often growing several tomato plants and herbs in pots.
This is the first year that I have been drawn to do otherwise. Thanks to my daughter, I am much more fascinated by the birds, bugs and the flowers than I am about growing tomatoes.
It used to be that I'd spend my time searching for tomato horn worms, pulling weeds and starting seeds. Now, I kind of just want to sit and look at every bloom and every bug and ignore the bermuda grass that is slowly taking over my pathways. Thankfully I always have company.
"I think that is the bluest flower I've EVER SEEN", says my daughter about 'Blue Diadem' shown above. These bachelor button flowers return faithfully every year, so perhaps I've grown too accustomed to them to enjoy their beautiful color. We took a few minutes today to check them out, and pick a bouquet for her bedroom.
I used to be so rigid, I always worked from a "plan", and I planted my vegetables in rows in raised beds. Now the vegetables are directly in the planter beds, mixing with perennials and Dr. Suess-like oddities that my daughter has picked out from various nurseries.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my edibles- but my daughter has shown me there is so much more to gardening than to JUST plant edibles. At the same time she's taught me that I need to relax more and I don't need to grow everything myself from seed. My time with her and my family...and my garden.... are much more important. Buying plants from a local, reputable nursery can be soooo much easier than trying to grow the plant myself from seed. 
So the lawn that I ripped out just two years ago in order to grow more edibles, has become heavily blurred by color. This is no longer "my" garden, it's just as much hers as it is mine. And as much as I always said I would never change my life when I had a child, I'm realizing that I have, and it's not a bad thing. 
Last night I went to check on her after she had gone to sleep. Next to her pillow was a stash of honeywort seeds that we had harvested earlier in the day. At that moment I had to give myself a pat on the back, for teaching my child that seeds are magical. Growing life is magical.
I'm so glad that I have her to share that with. 
What a wonderful, sweet post! I think ALL the changes in your life has turned out beautifully (child and garden!) That is so great your daughter has influenced your garden so much. If she likes seeds you should grow Love in a Puff for her. Each seed has a heart on it! Cardiospermum halica-something. Annie's grows it. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post. Yes the tomatoes and edibles are nice and people that grow them are great folks. But oh, the beauty and wonder of the ornamental garden. Don't you just love the bees and butterflies and hummers that are frequent guests of the garden? And the wonder of a child. You're giving your daughter the best gift ever. Outstanding photos!
ReplyDeleteI love your yard, it's so much fun to see all of these flowers and different, unique plants.
ReplyDeleteYou can't have edibles without pollinators and beneficials. Bring on the good bug hotels! Oh, and save me some echium seeds, too. thanks.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Carri!
ReplyDeleteA post from the intersection of Mom & Gardener. Very, very nice.
ReplyDeleteKellye
Loved this post! Being open to change is such a great thing in life...and it's awesome that your "guide" to growing in this way is your daughter - for whom you've now instilled the wonder and magic of gardening and she is in turn gifting it back to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your reflections about life with your daughter. This is precious.
ReplyDeleteLovely post...you've shared some great observations! It's nice to experience the joys that colorful flowers bring us--wildlife being right up there at the top;-)
ReplyDeleteThis completely brought tears to my eyes. How beautiful and wonderful. My mom and grandma always let me grow something somewhere that was mine. Brought back good memories.
ReplyDeleteSo very well said. My daughter isn't yet old enough to have really influenced my gardening choices (gardening with her is basically damage control) but I look forward to the day when she does. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAWWW. What a lovely, lovely post. I'm looking forward to the day when I, too, can be changed by a child. Isn't she lucky to have a mom like you?
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post this is. It is great that you have your beautiful garden to share with your daughter. It sounds like she has actually made you a bit freer with how you garden than before. She will carry these memories with her forever. Believe me I know.
ReplyDeleteYour yard looks terrific!
ReplyDeleteCarri, you absolutely rock! Your clear adoration for your daughter and ability to put your shared experiences into a story are both amazing. The garden is pretty cool too!
ReplyDelete