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closefrom the editor: Gardening proves to be a challenge
Heather Meier
Here’s my dirty little secret: I can’t garden.
It is a personal deficiency that until now meant nothing to me. But now I have my own home with a yard full of gardening possibilities and not an ounce of talent.
During the winter months, I became a domestic goddess, whipping up a chocolate cake on a moment’s notice and constructing the Ikea furniture.
As the days began getting warmer, I knew I couldn’t keep up the charade much longer. It was only a matter of time until I would be expected to do things in the yard, like keep plants alive. Let’s face it, a garden bed full of dead tulips is a telltale sign of a failed gardener.
I don’t want a yard that makes everyone else envious. But I do gaze longingly at other yards during evening walks and read our gardening column, “Local Roots,” always wondering what they have that I don’t. Recently, it came to me: A green thumb.
So, I tried to revert back to my college days, stocking up on gardening books and magazines to cram before summer. I understand photosynthesis better than gardening basics. I find myself reading and rereading the same paragraph over and over, confused by the time I reached the fifth page. Everything I get my hands on seems to assume that as the reader, I have a basic knowledge to build on. Unfortunately, I don’t.
But that’s OK. As a journalist, I’ve spent my career learning on my feet. I used my reporter skills and headed to the local nursery, prepared to absorb all the information I could just being in the environment. At first, it was exciting. I mentally jumped from one project to the next, imaging how my garden will look after some hard work. I quickly discovered that without all the knowledge I should have acquired in the dozen books I own, there’s very little I can do.
Still, this past weekend I braved the elements, bought some overly priced dirt because the bag looked pretty and grabbed a bunch of flowers I can’t identify. After several hours, I had completed four pots and two planters.
I’m proud of my work, but it’s nothing compared to our many gardeners who are highlighted each week in The Herald. They have visions of their dream garden and aren’t discouraged when it takes more than one summer to accomplish. For many, even after years of deadheading, mulching and edging, their gardens still aren’t complete.