Garden's Big Three

This post is the observation of an Amateur Horticulturist.

March brings the season of spring for the Northern Hemisphere. Meteorologists divide the calendar into four sections and say the official spring season always begins on March 1 and continues through May 31.  For us folks, in the Northern Hemisphere, the scientists say the spring vernal equinox, an astronomical phenomenon, arrived on March 20, 2017, at exactly 6:29 a.m. EDT. WOW! I guess even if it snows, we still call it spring!

A good friend asked, "What are you planting this spring?" The question boggled my mind; causing my thoughts to delve into the following three topics and do my best to search for beauty in each category.

Fantastic Soil

The first necessity of a garden is known as soil.  Now, soil is often referred to as dirt -- that is a terrible mistake.  Dirt is what you find on dirty cars, or dirt in your fine carpet, or dirt on your kids hands.  Soil is not dirt; it is organic matter, air, nutrients, rock, clay, or sand.  The bottom line is we would not have our fancy gardens without rich soil and its magical powers of life giving energy that promotes growth.  For further information about soil go to:

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/10-easy-soil-tests

You know, it does a person good to have a little soil under the fingernails while crawling among the natural nucleus of good Mother Earth and smelling the musty order.  I say the golden rule of gardening is to pay attention to local conditions of weather and precious soil. Let us never forget to give thanks for fertile, workable soil; it is a beautiful thing.

Fun Worms

Another necessity of a fine garden is the ugly, snake like worms.  You know the slippery, creepy-crawlies making you squeal, "YUK!" If you pick one up in your hand you will feel its slimy body wiggle and coil in an effort to get away.

I remember, as a kid, singing a gobbledygook song with words . . . oh, the worms go in and the worms go out . . . would you believe these silly, joyful lyrics always brought a playful mood to my soul?

Now, in my more mature years, I consider the mighty worm as the cultivator of my garden. Let them be and they perform a most valuable service.   They worm their way here, they worm their way there, in and out, round about, as they aerate and lay down rich organic matter known as defecated material, or "poopy poop" as you might call it.

Whenever I meet up with wiggly worms, I give thanks for their hard work, and pray they multiply. Let's give the worms a break -- their work is beautiful.

Foolish Weeds

The last subject I wish to write about is the garden's intruder, known as the weed. What is a weed? To me, it is a plant in the wrong place, and it intends to stay there. For example, the dandelion you think you have eradicated, but then find a few days later it is up and going strong as all get out. It is in full bloom; eye-catching as can be; and thriving as only a dandelion can in the face of adversity. Perhaps we could say a weed is a ding-a-ling plant whose virtues have not been discovered; unless you enjoy the taste of dandelion leafs in a salad. However, to have some tolerance toward the weeds in your garden, we might remember what Winnie the Pooh said, "Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them." Weeds might be beautiful if arranged in a cluster.

I feel a fondness for a good-looking garden.  I truly do.  

Everything is Beautiful!

From the Amateur Horticulturist to you, my dear readers, 

enjoy the spring and cherish the beauty in God's creations.

Our next post will feature "April Fever" and "Calling the Seagulls."

The Lord loves all of us.