Growing a Gardener

I found through my own growth with the plants, and watching my children and others, that gardeners are not born. They are grown just like everything they produce. Somewhere along the line of seed is planted and it was necessary to root or not. If not, a gardener nurtures. Hence if the gardener fails or wilts really depends on them.

There are also as many species as there are gardeners plant species. A gardener can be happy with a couple of pots of flowers and decorations and a glass or two of wine to enjoy the view. Some shoots and diggers and builders, winning landscape and sculpture to his will. Others are repeated, they have a plan that works and they followed him from season to season. They are content with consistency and a proven success. Others, such as gardeners we add every year, means pulling something new spot, bored with the usual and the same things that were posted last year, meaning a long time and a lot of repeat next season. I can not seem to help. It just overtakes me around February and March, while looking through the window at something in the backyard and suddenly you think .... So it's not true. It can not go in there and then the activity starts. Moving, changing, adapting ... It can be mind numbing to that moment when suddenly you find the right place ... then yes! That's it! PERFECT! Well, at least until next February

It is important to determine what kind of gardener you are. What are your expectations? What do you want?

I found growing in 30 years as a gardener, what I need, what I want and what I can reasonably have. It was not from some special profound self-realization mind you. It was out of necessity.

My husband's career required us to move a lot. Therefore, I had to adjust my love of gardening with a resolution that I only have limited time in one area and I have to accept that what I create will be there for someone to enjoy. I can not plant a tree in honor of the new baby and watch it grow and grow with them. My trees will enjoy other people's children.

So, I started my growth as a gardener, seeing my parents in their backyard in the suburbs in CA 6os during the 70-ies. They are tree, shrub and flower people. Every season we followed the rituals digging, fertilizing, planting and mulching, watering, mowing ... usual. Pots, including some macrame hangers so popular at the time, spotted garden in the corner here and there and it was very nice. Very controlled.

When I got my first apartment in Alexandria, VA, I began my adventures with the pots. I built shelves on my balcony and started with a simple potted bulbs and colorful flowers. squirrels like pots and bulbs are usually dug into them to hide seeds and nuts from the trees around us.

Because of our fun with the relocation of moves I had to learn to garden in almost every possible climate and living situation. Mojave Desert, where I learned the absolute necessity of the importance of planting indigenous species are to survive the water bills! Letting made planting in containers need, because most landlords frown on tearing out bushes and replaced them with their own selection. We have lived abroad, where cultural ties with the plants on a whole new meaning. Owning a house on one acre in North Carolina has meant that I could finally build a raised bed garden with more vegetables and herbs than I had ever grown before. mini farm families.

somewhere along the way, my focus turned to herbs, food, gardening and wildlife in the garden and this is where I stayed.