Spring Awakening

So what shall we talk about? It is that question that is responsible for the extended silence on these pages. While I am very fond of my metaphor, I had intended to write about the tiny dance motifs of our lives and yet I only managed to pen momentous moments or revelations. New Beginning - new approach. It is spring and I am going to write about my garden and my students - sometimes together because I am forcing the latter to do the former - but more often separately, as one is often tonic for the dealings the the other.

Today it is garden. I have begun a new plot (ha! fitting double entendre!)
The area on the side of the house was let go last summer, despite garden glory in the rest of the yard. Tim was immersed in creating the perennial garden in the front, the cutting garden in the back, the compost heap in the corner and, of course, the many rotating vegetable crops. It was quite enough for one individual to take on and he did it beautifully. The rebirth of his gardens, was the rebirth of Tim. I watched with unbridled happiness as both emerged, but for reasons I can't quite grasp, I didn't participate much. Oh, I weeded, cut and arranged flowers, processed and froze the steady stream of heirloom tomatoes, and thoroughly enjoyed the display. But after a blazing display of wild flowers from seed broadcast along the fence in May and June, the side yard lay fallow. In fact, when the wild flowers faded, we fenced in the area and put in a sand pit where Penny could indulge in her need to dig to China. That was a bust - to say she was minimally interested in the "legal" spot to dig, would be a massive over-statement.

Now - from the distance of a year, I think the problem was a conflict of philosophies. I garden quite differently than Tim. My approach is to start with a big picture and create in small steps. I like to begin with a blank canvas and fill in. Tim is very much a proponent of the chaos theory of gardening - put something together and see how it works. While I will carefully dig out every weed before planting - and then diligently guard that none return - he will only remove those that are in his way. I mulch the area with careful border lines, he only mulches what would benefit from mulch. Both our systems have value, but since we are so far apart, we really aren't much use to each other. Last year, I suppose, I was so delighted in his energy and productivity, I was not willing to impose any of the minor rancor that invariably results when we attempt to co-farm. We are talking about a very small property here. Our "back forty" is forty feet!

However, this year I just laid claim to the side yard. I scoured the nice, organized garden magazines Tim refuses to read (but then he digests the huge botany tomes I would use for pressing flowers.) I sketched out my plans and bought my plants and assured Tim I would not impose my views regarding anything he was doing if he would not give me a hard time about the way I proceeded. We agreed - but, of course, we both lied.

I am giving him part of my fence side for two tomatoes - so we are actually going to have to co-exist. And we will do fine. It is April 19th and already the yard is a neighborhood walk "destination." I'm so glad we are both attending this garden party.