GARDENER WOES

This  isn’t my actual acorn squash plant, but it resembles mine quite a bit. I’m a novice gardener by no stretch of words or imagination. I’m one of those people who expects to plant a seed or small starter plant and nothing will go wrong. The sun and rain will automatically nourish. I’ll water when needed, pull out some weeds…maybe. 

In the fall of 2022 I saved a seed from an acorn squash. I actually taped one tiny seed to a 3×5 card and tucked it away in a drawer. Spring arrived and I put my precious seed in some potting soil inside a red plastic drinking cup. Set it on the window ledge above the kitchen sink and waited. I didn’t have to wait long! My lil guy sprouted and when I thought he was healthy enough I moved him to the back of the garage next to my cucumber and tomato plants.

I anxiously watched as my lil sprout gained strength…added on vines and leaves….observing when several orange blossoms formed and behold!–there is a beautiful squash on one of the vines. Success! Pure joy. Makes up for the lilies, geraniums, beets….

I love the deer who visit our yard, but they’re on my “naughty list’. They’ve managed to eat every last potential lily bloom … .have devoured budding geraniums…cleaned up the beet greens, thus, no mature beets for this gal to enjoy cooked and nestled in fresh greens or roasted in the oven.  Thankfully, they’ve left the yellow beans alone as well as my green peppers. 

Gardening is a lot like life. We have our best intentions. We lay out a plan. We begin to follow it and then “life happens”. An unexpected illness. Relationships get fractured. Friendships change. Expectations for a successful project go awry. 

But God.

He is constant. He is faithful. Like the sunshine and rain that automatically nourish my lil garden plants, He showers me with love, grace, hope, and encouragement. He sees my need for protection from elements that could cause me harm….He holds back stormy winds and steadies my boat. He doesn’t only do this during a short growing season like that of a plant, He does it every day, every hour…most often when I’m not paying attention. Why? Because I belong to Him. I’m His child.

As I watch my cukes, squash, beans, peppers and herbs grow I am waiting anxiously to enjoy their bounty. Each summer day brings me one meal closer to a bountiful harvest–although I will admit I’ve enjoyed a few cukes already and a picking of fresh yellow beans rounded out of my lunches this week. Somehow I’ve squeaked out some radishes, swiss chard, and arugula, too. 

Yes, I love my little garden plants. Deer? Well, not so much right now. I think I like them better in the winter when all that’s left to dine on is dead plants and pine needles from our trees. God? I like Him year round.