This is another one of my garden metaphors.
Last summer, a volunteer sunflower showed up in the garden. As I do with all feral plants, I left it alone, but made sure it could grow and thrive. It did.
When it finished growing, I collected its seeds, and spread some of them around the yard. Some of them grew into flowers, and I collected some of their seeds. I kept them in a safe place, until the ground was ready to receive them earlier this season.
I planted those seeds into my actual garden, and I have tended them with the rest of my plants. Sunflowers, I have noticed, don’t really want or need much intervention, so mostly I was making sure no pests were damaging them, and I did remove a couple of stalks that were struggling. What is left have grown into this beautiful sunflower patch that attracts so many bees and other pollinators that are beneficial to our entire garden, as well as our local ecosystem in general.
I get to look at these flowers every day, and absolutely love everything they bring to my garden and to our local ecosystem, and when they are done, hundreds upon hundreds of seeds will emerge, because I kept an eye on a single seed about 25 moons ago, and mostly left it alone; I simply cared for and gently supported and protected it, until it was strong enough to bloom.
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Meanwhile, I’m over here unable to get grass to grow!
I hope that’s not a metaphor for me!
I love this. 🙂
As a Kansas, just let me say (in my best talking chihuahua voice): Welcome, my brother.
Correction: “As a Kansan” — I am not an entire state.
LOL! Great correction!
Love the post Wil. Well said.
The worst garden experience I ever had was with sunflowers. I had a problem but not the plants, the flowers were doing so well and looked so good. So good in fact somebody, leaned over the fence and cut off the flower heads and stole the flowers. Still pissed.
Nice story! And well done, your sunflowers look great! :–)
My mom and dad’s house had an easement in the back, and when the summer was over one year and the sunflowers had died, my mom made me throw them back there. For another ten years or so, the whole easement for an entire couple blocks was full of sunflowers 🌻.
Now Wil. Wouldn’t you agree that doing this type of thing is so self rewarding and fulfilling? I enjoy gardening so much. It’s an awesome hobby that keeps me busy and entertained.
How lovely! So many ways to apply that metaphor! Thanks… ☺️
These are lovely!