Gardening is an amazing experience. I am always amazed when the seeds of an endangered plant break the surface with a tiny touch of tender green.
The rare and endangered plants tend to be very slow to germinate and abundant sowing compensates for a low germination rate. Once the first struggle is successful and the soil parts with a little band of light green they seek to grow within their own personal eco-system preference. Not a lot of information is available or easy to find on individual endangered plant needs, old-time gardeners are my best source. Some gardeners plant in a variety of growing mediums under a variety of growing conditions and document everything.
When I went to a dog breeder to pick a puppy, I sat down amongst them. 21 puppies from 5 weeks to 2 weeks wobbled and waddled and tumbled about. I was enchanted by the mass of furry bodies, all on the move. I saw a variety of size and colour and playfulness, but as soon as I had sat down, one little 3 week old struggled up to me, though I did not see her until I felt her lying on my shoe, she happily kept me company. When I visited the next week the same thing happened. Amongst the bustle and activity of 21 puppies one came up to my shoe and stayed until I picked her up again, then she was happy in my lap. My Ella chose me from the very first moment; she was waiting patiently for me.
I garden the same way. I try not to over analyze, I do not go through great feats to create an environment of utter perfection before each seed is placed to germinate, though I do plan and document what worked and what didn’t. I watch closely and am rarely disappointed. These wonderful rare and endangered seeds peep through to my excited amazement that these plants “chose me” to grow and flourish for.
Gardening is a perplexing experience. I plant some varieties, especially tomatoes, year after year and I have my favourite recipes ready for preserves even before they germinate. Then, along comes a spring when the reliable standards struggle and sometimes are completely unsuccessful; right beside a tray full of healthy endangered seedlings.
Gardening is a humbling experience. As much as I plan, document and prepare, some parts of the environment will not be compatible. An unexpected drop in temperature, electrical outage cutting the essential lights out or simple miscalculations and the garden I plant outside is far different than the garden I expected.
Sometimes in life we choose and plan our path with great thought and attention, sometimes it chooses us and sometimes the most unexpected plan or opportunity emerges to leave us amazed, perplexed and humbled.
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Being a former resident of Northern Ontario I do share with you how quickly our plans get redirected due to factors out of our control. Now, being here in Texas, I find that all I learned about gardening in Ontario doesn't mean much. Weather conditions so predict the outcome of your garden...and sometimes all your efforts are thrown out the window when mother nature chooses to pummel you with baseball size hail. However, I am endeavouring, with gritted teeth, to teach my grandchildren here how to grow a garden and harvest seeds for I honestly believe the time will come that they will have to grow their own food and will be incapable of purchasing the resources they will need to be successfull. I have taught them to harvest the seeds from the squash, so far, to make them understand that you don't have to buy seeds...that they will be readily available to them if they are cautious. Today I harvested two broccoli heads from the garden....I haven't figured out yet how they go to seed. I imagine if you let them flower and go the nine yards that you will get seeds from that. What do you think Susan..??
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly right Shelley. Let them flower and collect the seeds. You are so right about Mother Nature, hard to predict and you can't change her mind! Sometimes we come across a tip or hint that just makes it a little easier though. I know a gardener who had very little space, a maple tree in the backyard, and weather issues, so he built a raised bed under the tree and grew squash and watermelons by training them up into the branches. The tree protected the fruit. It looked really, REALLY odd but it worked for him. I think a good layer of mulch tends to make life a little easier though. Good luck in Texas, I am sure your perseverance and patience will pay off. I don't envy you your summer, I find the north quite hot enough! You could grow orchids quite well there if you could increase the humidity for them.
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