Stories from Home: Air Plant Killer to Chaos Gardener
When we bought our house, my interest in gardening was minimal. I was infamous in my family as the “air plant killer”. No plant, large or small, was safe in my presence. Nevertheless, I was at a point in my life where work was stressful, kids were crazy, and mom needed an excuse to get out of the house and out into the sunshine every now and then. I had no idea what I was doing and any clear-cut plans were quickly dismissed as “too much thinking”. My initial attempt at a garden that year resulted in more weeds than anything else, but dammit…I had fun! My family affectionately referred to our garden that year as the "chaos garden". That term has stuck.
Something happened the following year. As I started to learn more about gardening, my family realized that it could be so much more than just a chore. It could be a way to play in the dirt, connect with nature, and with each other. We started to add new plants and experiment with different techniques. That year we added a large dahlia cutting garden to our backyard and the girls were so excited to give away bouquets to their teachers, friends and family. They proudly told everyone who would listen that “I grew these all by myself!”. Ah, yes, because clearly, my efforts in the garden were just a figment of their imagination. But who needs recognition for their hard work when they can bask in the glory of their children's adorable lies?
Each year, we added to our knowledge and skills, and our garden grew in size and scope. We learned about companion planting, soil composition, and the best times to plant certain crops. We even started to explore different types of gardening, such as vertical gardening and container gardening. We high-fived each other for every successful harvest and pretended like the failed ones were just our way of conducting highly scientific gardening experiments. We were like a bunch of mad plant scientists, minus the lab coats and with way more dirt under our nails.
As I gaze out my window, taking in the aftermath of our latest April blizzard, my mind can't help but wander to all the new possibilities for our “chaos garden” this year. The snow may still be blanketing the earth, but in my head, seeds of inspiration have already sprouted. My "hunny-do" list seems to be expanding at an alarming rate with each passing minute.
Who knows where our gardening journey will take us next? But one thing's for sure - we're all in it together.