People feel a lot of ways about their gardens, whether it’s the delight of tomatoes turning red, anguish over squash vine borers, or satisfaction in watching a perennial garden change with the seasons. If you love your garden on most days, you’re happy to embrace the good and the bad, right?
Today’s piece “I LOVE my garden,” by Jean Morgan is not just about the love of gardening, but also plays the tune of the old adage, “you’ll never work a day in your life if you do something you love.”
“Whenever there is a spot of dirt big enough for a plant, I show up at Mikl and Eve’s nursery in Boulder and yell, “Hi, it’s the drunk in a bar!”—and get one of every native I don’t already have!” writes Morgan. “I love to visit them each month to see what’s blooming, so I can have different garden interests the whole season.”
As a former mostly-vegetable gardener, I appreciate this story a lot, because I too have evolved over the years to adore my ever-changing perennial flower gardens, and rolling into the gardening center all season long to pick out the bloomers. I love my garden more each year because I always find a flower out in my travels and say, “hey! I haven’t planted THAT one yet!” and right onto my “plant next year” list it goes. Gardening really is a patience game, isn’t it? But today’s story is a nice reminder that if you love your garden, it’s worth it!
Love Your Garden Even More
This story comes from our archive that spans over 30 years and includes more than 130 magazine issues of GreenPrints. Pieces like these that inject the joy of gardening into everyday life lessons always brighten up my day, and I hope it does for you as well. Enjoy!
I LOVE My Garden
By Jean Morgan of Louisville, CO
My garden started in the early 1970s on a tiny lot in Louisville, Colorado, when my neighbor, Grace, gave me some hen-and-chicks. I still grow and adore them (they remind me of her) even though my garden has evolved into a mostly native, xeric display, thanks to the availability of local natives these days. And this garden is packed! Whenever there is a spot of dirt big enough for a plant, I show up at Mikl and Eve’s nursery in Boulder and yell, “Hi, it’s the drunk in a bar!”—and get one of every native I don’t already have! I love to visit them each month to see what’s blooming, so I can have different garden interests the whole season.
When people come to my yard, sometimes I can only recall the Latin name of a plant and not the English. Folks think I’m really smart. Not so, only forgetful!
When I hear people say, ”I have to go work in the garden,” I smile. That’s not true for me! How many times have I gotten hungry while gardening, decide it must be time for breakfast—and go inside to discover it’s 11:30?! ❖
By Jean Morgan of Louisville, CO, published originally in 2020, in GreenPrints Issue #123. Illustrated by Russell Thornton
Do you love your garden? Does this remind you of a similar story you’d like to share? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear it.
Gardening friend I am curious how you and someone else only eat one meal a day? My husband would revolt.
I ‘feel’ God in my garden. Before I run in to make a quick dinner, I grab lettuce, tomatoes, basil, purslane, onion & garlic scapes for a salad & make the quickest & easiest meal I can think of.
Me: I’ve gotten hungry while outside and I sip on water since we normally don’t eat prior to dinner.
Garry: “Elaine, have you thought about dinner?”
Me: “What time is it?”
Garry: “6:30”
Me: “Yes.(???? think, Elaine) Clams & spaghetti! I’ll be in in 10 minutes.” LIES!!!
My garden is my therapy. When noise of the world, children, responsibilities, is nagging, I can go to the garden and dig. As the soil coats my hands and rests under my nails, and desired plants pop up untangled with “weeds”, I feel stronger to go back to the other areas of my life and dig there too.