I believe that gardening is rather like parenting; both require patience you never knew you had, and despite the many books written on both subjects you learn about them on the job, by trial and error.

How often have you devoured a catalog and fantasized over the future of your garden? Lists are written, orders placed, preparations made and packages awaited. Months go by until the proper planting time in your area, and then one day when you are really busy a few boxes arrive on your doorstep that say, "LIVE PLANT MATERIAL. PLANT IMMEDIATELY." Now it's a scramble to remember what each plant was and where you planned to plant it. Thankfully the instructions say that you can place the plants in water and leave overnight; you do this immediately and vow to get to them tomorrow. However, it takes a few days until the weekend before you are able to deal with your new acquisitions which don't look quite as attractive in little 4 inch pots as they did in the glossy catalog. However you refuse to voice this opinion to anybody, as you spent a fair bit of money on these plants with shipping and handling added. Keeping quiet about your misgivings, you get up very early on Saturday morning to get started on the project, and by lunchtime you have everything in the ground and watered. The result is hardly noticeable. You flinch when your spouse arrives home and asks when your plants are going to arrive.

Those little plants are rather like the small baby that you bring home from the hospital after giving birth; they are but a promise of what they are going to be. Fortunately, in both instances, the results are usually rewarding. There are things that don't thrive despite your loving care either because they really aren't suited to your area and conditions, or because one of the various garden pests got to them, or because you over or under watered them. There are an infinite number of reasons why plants fail to thrive, and in my experience it is best to pay heed to what your garden is telling you. Go with what thrives in your area, and specifically on your piece of planet earth. Nothing succeeds like success and seeing the fruits of your labor is an inspiration to continue.

I have found that I prefer to visit my local garden shop and buy plants there. You can see what you are buying, both the size and the color, and there is always someone to answer questions you might have. Catalogs and online shopping are inspiring and excellent sources for hard-to-find items, but there is nothing like a trip to the garden shop to get energized and enthusiastic. Besides, everything is immediate; purchase what you are going to be able to plant in a reasonable amount of time and you won't have to wait until early Saturday morning to get going after a busy week.

And as you walk around the garden shop, you will see many fellow experimenters for that's what gardening is. Creativity is flowing and visions are forming, soon to be followed by a good dig in the soil. Gardeners are never at a loss for new ideas and things to do. They are just like parents; ever hopeful that things will turn out well and extremely happy when they do.

Learn more about this author, Glynnis Hayward.
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