In the Garden Again.

Put it in the dirt someone wise beyond her years once told me. The dirt can take your pain she said. I did not realize in that time that gardening would become my cure-all in the days turn to years of grieving, sadness, anger, confusion…I could go on. I did not realize losing myself in gardening and working in the greenhouses alike would become a level of therapy and calm I not only love but crave.

…until grief found me again. Again in friendships that hold open wounds I fear are gonna leave an ugly scar. Again in death of a dear loved one who left this earth to walk another plane (or in this case, ride off tipping his cowboy hat with John Wayne).

So, in the rain I tooled around in my greenhouse cleaning things up, digging the vibe I had going on with music and incense burning. I let tears fall as I thought about how much our lives mirror gardening. How are relationships often need that next level of attending. How some need to be completely tilled up to understand why we are planting a Sugar Moon rose bush, Mexican Flamers, Passion Flowers, Candy Corn vines or something like Tulip bulbs to bloom during another season. All of which need tending to, the both of us. We can’t be a stubborn bitter root not wanting to let go of it’s soil. We, together, need to understand this garden needs both our hands getting dirty, pruning, weeding and watering in order to bring about beauty.

For if you are putting all that healing on one person, your garden is not gonna bloom with them. And they are gonna let it die back to watch it overgrow with some seriously hard to kill away gnarly weeds and poisonous vines.

Garden with me. Not against me. Let’s not be afraid to get scratched by the rose bushes, super dry hands or sweat buckets (who couldn’t stand to lose a little water weight anyway right?). Instead let us put some Florida Water on a cold wet towel and wrap around our necks to keep the blood pressure chill. Let’s build a garden that makes others gawfaw with green envy. IT IS TIME TO YANK THAT BITTER ROOT OUT! IT IS TIME TO HEAL AND GROW!

Love, your gardening waiting in the greenhouse…just follow the music and incense burning, I’ll be there.