I have great news: it's MAY DAY! I love this day as it always holds fond memories of celebrating spring with that tradition of leaving baskets full of flowers and treats on neighbor's doorsteps. So this is it- my gardening season commences. Yay for free therapy.
My lovely mother in law and I went up to Amish Country (not far from where I grew up!) last week for our annual flower shopping trip. My favorite greenhouse in the entire universe is located in New Paris, Indiana. Aptly named "Country Garden Greenhouse," this 9-house operation was started by 8 amish sisters less than a decade ago. True story! The girls have turned what was once just a few rows of petunias and perennials into a thriving little business that now has an 800 number. I like to imagine their father being overcome with pride these days as he once probably panicked about the lack of help he'd receive on his farm with 8 daughters and no sons. Now, I've been to a lot of greenhouses in my day, and let me tell you- you've never seen anything like this. Simply gorgeous, healthy, and an enormous variety of annuals, one sole house for perennials, and this magic potion called "duck mulch" that they sell for $2.99 a bag. Duck much is a fine mulch made of peat and well... shit from cleaning out the duck pens at their farm. Slightly gross, but amazing for soil nutrition and keeping the weeds down.
All this to say, I cannot wait to get out and dig. There is just something about that gentle toil of preparing the soil, the smell of the earth, and giving these living things a new home. I usually crank some Bob Marley on my headphones, and definitely sneak in some yoga while gardening. Hunching over in Malasana, I reach, I dig, I grow... thoughts lost in earthy bliss, this is my meditation practice.
Check out some of my loot from this week's trip:
Pretty plants! I don't garden, though I have given it some thought. : )
ReplyDeletePeace Love JOY
Amy