Steady as she goes.

Steady as she goes

We’re past the equinox so we’re on our way to warmer days and all the wonderful things like sun warmed tomatoes fresh from the vine, outdoor living without the need to rug up, beautiful flowers, long days to potter in the garden and evenings to linger with friends.  There are good times ahead.  I’m not completely oblivious to the fact I’ll probably spend as much time bemoaning the heat as I do in the winter bemoaning the cold, but for now, the good things ahead are my inspiration and driver.  I need to get things ready so I’m ready for the summer.  There is a lot to be done, and I’m here for it.  This is my busy season.

The hardest part of this busy season is that spring is the most tumultuous season when I’m eager to get things done and in particular this season with a joyful spirit only to be hamstrung by the weather.  One sunny day is enough to fill my spirit with all the motivation to last the entire season only to feel it drain away  with the very next rainstorm! 

And speaking of hamstrings, the temptation on a sunny day is to do it all with a body not yet hardened to the effort required to whip a garden into shape.  I need to be kind to myself while I’m in the garden.  I need to get help lifting heavy things, and mix up my tasks to avoid a repetitive injury and as the sun climbs higher in the sky and the days warm up  and I swap beanies and jumpers for shorts and tee-shirts, I need to slip, slop, slap and be way more diligent with being sun safe and sun smart.    Aside from avoiding long term damage, I also need to be mindful of not causing physical damage, which looks like not racing into tasks unprepared and making sure to use the right tools for the job at hand to make things easier.  I have recently finished months of physio to my finger of all things, where I damaged a tendon trying to rip out a stubborn weed barehanded when the tool I could have used was right there.  These days I’m super cautious around how I do things.  I don’t want a repeat of that.

Once again gardening is supposed to be a calming, joyful occupation, so it is important for me, as my chosen occupation, not to let the joy slip away.  It would be a sad day when I didn’t delight in watching young seeds emerge from the warm damp earth or feel that sense of achievement from a garden bed cleared of weeds and the pleasure of meal planning in the midst of an abundantly rich garden and all the other wonderful things gardening provides. 

So, with a weather forecast telling me the day is to be full of showers, but the view out of the window is cloudless and sunny, I’ll take what I can get, and carefully and wisely throw myself into the day and get stuff done… You never know what tomorrow will bring in this crazy season, but I do know that before long it will bring us to the doorstep of summer, and I’d love to be ready for it!

Come again soon – I’ll let you know what I got up to.

Sarah the Gardener  : o)