When Time is Not of the Essence

 

 

I suppose we all have those periods of time when we simply cannot get out to our gardens.  For the past week and a half, the weather and I have been at odds.  When it's been clear and sunny, I've been occupied elsewhere and on those days when I have had some wonderful gardening time set aside for myself, the sky gave in.  Even more startling were those days when the weather was stormy and I was too busy to even check on my garden's welfare.  Here in southeast Texas, we haven't had the flooding the Midwest has been hit with, but we've had lots of rain and severe thunderstorms.  On our property, that means fallen branches and lots of mess.  At the same time, it also means rainwater -- a lot but not overmuch -- for which we are very grateful.



So today, between cloudbursts, I zipped outside to take a peek at the garden.  To my horror, a huge
branch from a pecan tree had fallen onto my small vegetable patch.  A closer inspection showed that only a tomato cage was slightly damaged.  What a relief!  Everything still looks intact.

Moving along around the perimeter of the house, I noticed that lots and lots of weeds have popped up in the flower beds, the grass on the front lawn is getting tall, and our field is filling with wildflowers once again. On a more positive note, the two-acre-long trenches my husband dug on each side of the house, near the fencelines, are working just fine.  Water has been moving with surprising rapidity into the drainage ditches at the front of the property.  I am proud of those trenches, which were created by my lone husband's strength and determination.

But most of all, I noticed that nothing has gotten out of hand quite yet.  It's still too early in the year.  Thank you, gentle Spring.  A few plants do look a little water-stressed, but that condition won't last. For the most part, the garden looks fresh and green; it's showing promise.  It's a good reminder for me that in more ways than one, while I might have my uses, the world could carry on without me.  It's also nice to see what a thoughtful sowing and nurturing can set into motion.