A Garden in Disarray
Debbie Teashon
Because my garden is in disarray, I envy other well-tended gardens. I cringe when I see weeds obscure the beauty and bones of my garden, which suffers from maladies such as bramble-itis, weed-uenza, OGPS (Over Grown Plant Syndrome), and horsetail-osis.
How did my fine-looking garden grow out of control? Life has a penchant for throwing down a gauntlet of mishaps and adversity. The last few years dealt me a succession of life-altering events. I cared for my gravely ill father who eventually died from his illness. While still grieving my loss, my marriage broke up. Many other setbacks, coupled with an agonizing, slow-healing, shoulder injury kept me from performing many chores. All these difficulties added up to not having the determination to tend my neglected garden. I lost my mojo.
I love to putter around in the garden, a private place to go when life delivers what appear to be impossible-to-overcome obstacles. When overwhelmed, one of the greatest things to do is walk amid the plants, commune with the birds, and take life’s disappointments out on the weeds. I frequently think about the garden; it’s my inspiration, perspiration and meditation space. During meditation, my mind’s eye perceives it as sunny and warm—a flawless garden where plant life grows to perfection. Nevertheless, life repeatedly reminds me, there is no such thing as perfection. Weed seeds consistently blow into the garden and sprout. Thorny brambles root, grow rampantly and take over. If we don’t take care of problems as they appear, they can become overwhelming both in life and in the garden.
I know I didn’t lose my mojo permanently, just temporarily misplaced it; sometimes it is hidden like a lost trowel obscured beneath garden weeds. My garden appears to be a reflection of my life. Now that I’m sowing seeds for the future and rooting out all that is not working in my life as well as in the garden, I uncover the beauty that is always there. Tending a garden is tough work, a reminder to breathe in the moment and plant for the future.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton
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