Let The Gardening Adventure Begin: Chapter 3

While watering the garden this morning, I loudly sang my favorite Hammerstein classic, "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin".  My husband told me that his father's father, a man whom they called Nono, used to sing old Italian classics in his garden, which he felt encouraged growth.  In a study conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society, research demonstrated that plants did respond to human voices, and it has been hypothesized that sound waves stimulate the plant's cells.  When the cells are stimulated by sound, nutrients are encouraged to move throughout the plant body, promoting new growth and strengthening their immune systems. I have never spoken to my indoor plants before, but I often sing each morning and so I am treating these leaves as my new audience.

We have had lots of summer rain in the mountains this year, so God has taken some of the watering responsibility off my plate. This Thursday, we will depart for two weeks to celebrate the Fourth of July with our family at Lake George, so we affixed a timer to our hose that will automatically water the garden once daily.  I have been a bit concerned about making sure the garden is taken care of while we are gone, and then a blessing arrived yesterday.  Our niece Taylor will be housesitting for us and watering all of our indoor plants and the garden.  I'll ask her if she is comfortable singing in the garden but won't have any expectations.

One of the first things I do each morning when I head into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face, is look out the window that faces the garden to see what is new. There are a few leaves that have sprouted up around the garden, including the squash, Papa Bruno's lettuce, and just a small sprig or two of spinach as well as the seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, and basil. I was a bit nervous this project would become an unwelcome choir because I watched all the hard work my husband put in to build the garden's frame.

Now that that concrete pouring, and yellow tape measuring is behind us, I get to enjoy the site of possibility. It does not feel like a real labor of love yet, probably because I haven't eaten anything produced from our garden. Some of the hands-on experience has been removed by the timed watering system my husband installed. Slowly some of the tactical sensations that I fantasized about, like getting my hands dirty, are no longer part of the equation as I now sit back to watch things grow.

It seems as though I have entered the long period of waiting between planting the seeds and watching them grow. I suppose I will keep an eye out for any unwanted weeds or unwelcome "guests" (such as rabbits or deer) that may want to snack on our goods.

While singing in the garden, it occurred to me that this would also be a lovely place to meditate, so I may invest in a small bench to rest on. There is a wind chime hung on the well house, and a bird feeder strung up in the trees nearby, both create a lovely morning soundtrack. It is such a peaceful corner of our yard, and a welcome addition to my daily routine. I will do as much relaxing as I can before the rewarding work of harvesting begins.