Pay It Forward - With A Garden

The concept of Paying It Forward is not new. Humans have been paying it forward for generations in all sorts of ways.

One of my most personally rewarding ways of Paying It Forward is by gardening.

Autumn is a dichotomy for me. The spectacular beauty of the trees changing colors and the brilliant blue skies make moods soar into outer space with over-stimulated joy

- contrasted with the somber greys of the rain days... the fog...

the bean soup simmering on the stove and the cornbread browning in the oven. The big fat novel waiting in front of the fieldstone fireplace for the winter read.

It is in these days that the Optimistic Gardener awakes. The vision of blossoms bursting forth through frozen tundra in scant sunlight... the allure of wild, colorful Springtime blooms is too much to ignore - so once again I CAVE IN and buy the huge mesh sacks of spring bulbs.

I may be optimistic, but I am also a REALTOR - therefore I am a procrastinator.... big time.

Now it is December 6 and "they" are predicting major snow. And there is that mesh sack of 200 gorgeous red tulip bulbs now YELLING AT ME from the garage... "YOU BOUGHT US IN SEPTEMBER!! WE NEED AT LEAST 12 WEEKS IN FROZEN GROUND TO PRODUCE!!" My vision was to have a carpet of RED in front of my darling little cottage in the woods - which is really a 1950's ranch on a busy road. But I am also a dreamer and only see the cottage.

SO - I don my warmest coat, arm myself with my sharpest digger, tote that sack of bulbs, and head out to the center of my circular driveway where my son's locust tree reigns. By now it is dark, and the driveway light barely covers this part of the territory. For the next two hours I hack away at semi-frozen soil to get these precious dreams planted, all the while envisioning the results.

Fingers and toes feeling frozen, nose running uncontrollably I finish with complete confidence that my efforts will be rewarded in April - and they are. The full effect of 200 red tulip bulbs in close proximity blooming at once is overwhelming, only to be outdone by the ONE WHITE BLOOM at the very FRONT of the circle - facing the street. How?? Who cares. My optimism, even though tempered with a high degree of procrastination has been rewarded - year after year. I cannot find a photo of this beautiful tulip garden right now, but here is a photo of my darling little cottage in the woods - taken a number of years ago.