For a garden to thrive, it takes planning, knowledge/study, and engagement. To still find joy in it, one must also surrender to the vagaries out of our control. Sure enough, every year, with variations in weather and seed/root/plant stock, some things will be especially prolific, and others —perhaps our favorites—will fail despite best efforts.
In the late afternoon, after it did not really rain again in this pocket of the DMV, I went out in the garden to get fresh herbs and greens to go with tomatoes picked earlier in the day. This was what the clouds were doing. I was called to pause and, with awe and appreciation, observe.
The cherry tomatoes keep coming. After 32 summers gardening in the same spot, I have observed the shifting weather due to global climate change.
It’s full of biting, stinging, and plant-munching beings. I mostly live and let live.
I practice the physical yoga postures to enhance and maintain the flexibility, agility, balance, and strength I need to get about my daily life, for example clambering about the vertical garden. Balance beam in high school was also helpful preparation.
One of my stay at home projects was to expand the garden to the sleeping porch, making for a lovely practice area off the room that serves as the yoga studio. Strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and green beans are arriving.
