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A New Tradition for Mother's Day

5/12/2015

6 Comments

 
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I once came across this quote about gardening from Michael Garofalo:

Gardeners must dance with feedback, play with results, turn as they learn. Learning to think as a gardener is inseparable from the acts of gardening. Learning how to garden is learning how to slow down.

I remember thinking at the time how much gardening is like writing – writers have to dance with feedback and play with results, too. And, thinking like a writer requires actual work as a writer. Over the weekend I helped my daughter, Ann, plant a garden in a space she cleared in her front yard. As I reflected on what we accomplished, I realized that our process resembled a writer’s process in many ways.

First, we gathered the tools we would need – gloves, spade, shovel, wheelbarrow, mulch. Then, with paper and pencil in hand, we sketched and talked about color and space, listing the plants and flowers we thought might work best. Having a plan helped as we shopped, but we weren’t afraid to revise the plan as new possibilities arose.

When we returned from making all our purchases we were ready to draft, or plant in this case. We got to work making small revisions as needed with the mulching, digging, planting, and watering. So there we were, going through the whole process – the editing would come in the continuous care of weeding and feeding.

As with writing, the best part came in the sharing. We were so proud that we couldn’t wait to share our little garden with the world, and we didn’t have to wait long. As people walked by in Ann’s small neighborhood, they stopped to admire or offer a comment of praise and encouragement. We decided right then that creating gardens should be a new Mother’s Day tradition for us.

 


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6 Comments
arjeha link
5/12/2015 07:22:11 am

Rose, I love your analogy. It makes perfect sense. The end result is beautiful. You and your daughter can be proud of what you've written I mean planted.

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Sara Renae link
5/12/2015 08:16:24 am

Two of my passions: gardening and writing, so your post was a wonderful treat :-) I especially love how you included the sharing part, because oftentimes, we forget to do this!

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Tammy and Clare link
5/12/2015 08:17:03 am

Rose - I love everything about this -- the quote is perfect. I love gardening with my mother in law. You should definitely make is a new tradition. Thanks for sharing.
Clare

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Lee Ann Spillane link
5/12/2015 09:09:37 am

I love the daffodils (and the metaphor)! It's too hot to grow them where I live, but they are such cheerful missives from spring. What a great Mother's Day tradition that will be, gardening!

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Elsie
5/12/2015 12:17:42 pm

What a perfect comparison! Now your daughter has a spot she can admire and remember working alongside her mom.

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Dana Murphy link
5/12/2015 12:47:15 pm

I love the comparison between gardening and writing. I'm starting to learn that writing is like so many other things in life! Love the finished product, too - it's beautiful!

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