The organized gardener is a happy gardener. It’s great to know where the plant markers and the pruning shears are. Better yet, some plant enthusiasts keep a tool belt of such things handy!
They will know almost precisely when the bulk of the tomatoes will come in, so that they can mark their calendars, blocking out days in which to fire up their canners.
Alas, my life is not so well laid out – nor so rigid. Some of us live by the adage, “make hay when the sun shines.” If the weather forecast calls for rain, that’s when my like-minded garden buddies get together. The mild, sunny days are spent in the garden! We are free spirits as far as the garden chores, but they do get done. It’s just a different method than the super-organized approach.
My father was one of the more regimented gardeners. He followed the Farmer’s Almanac on correct planting times, rather than hurrying to plant when the ground was “friable,” or had good moisture content.
Last week I got a message from a friend about going to a local event, a craft fair at one of the beautiful antebellum mansions in our area. She had tickets to give us, but my husband was working that day. Hers was, too. I suggested we go together, even though I was having a procedure that might make walking a little challenging.
So she invited a mutual friend, and we met for lunch first at a little restaurant. The food was great, but the company was even better. We laughed and carried on until some guys at the next table good-naturedly said they wanted to have what we were drinking. Of course it was only water – we three are cheap and sober. Heather replied that we were high on friendship. Then we spent the next few hours in laughter and fun, despite my slow shuffling.
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24b, ESV).
In our case, three sisters spent quality time together.
The day was entirely unplanned and unorganized. In fact, “Crystal” had to leave early, before the mansion tour. She missed the part where Heather enthusiastically admired the antique burled-wood baby grand piano – and then was encouraged by the tour guides to play it! The day was an absolute treasure to all of us.
My Dad, one of the best organic gardeners that I knew, was not interested in planting flowers, because they were not “useful.” I am beginning to realize that I have more of that methodical character trait in me than is healthy. While I don’t mind cultivating fun plants – in fact, Crystal had given me cotton seeds that day – I don’t always take the time to cultivate the fun in life that keeps the garden of life lively and interesting.
Are we cataloguing our lives in neat rows of utilitarian spinach and turnips, whether we like them or not? I’m not advocating skipping the vegetables. Of course, they are good for you. I’m just considering repenting of my workaholic days, the times when I could only justify an activity if it was useful. This parallels the way my Dad could only find room for edible plants. Good thing my Mom thought differently, and kept up the charming old perennial plants that her parents had planted long ago.
Mix up your garden of life. Take time to plant fun just once in a while.
“A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 22:17a).
–by Christine Berglund