Spring seeds

nostalgic, sentimental, and filled with springtime hope

Dear Friends,

I find that in the early hours of spring I’m inspired to hold my breath, afraid that too much excitement may blow away the coming changes. May cause the snowdrops to recoil, waiting in the dirt another week or two. Or that my pure gid, for the warm sun, the damp air, the lengthening of the light, may indeed invite winter to throw down in a jealous, negative-attention seeking rage. Which I would completely understand. We all backed out of the room slowly on winter, sneaking down the hall without a goodbye. There’s really nothing to say to each other: emotional exhaustion hit weeks ago. We run down the concrete stairs slamming through the cold metal doors, to spring’s eternal youth of yellow daffodils and sunshine, only to make statements months later like “Oh, no, I love winter, I get all my best work done in the cold and solitude”. #yeahright

We can be such fickle friends.

I had one friend this winter, his name: Monty Don. Our relationship is complicated, to me he is, one part mentor, one part old-man crush, three parts mind numbing tv-meditation, .3 part educational, 10 part aspirational, and all the other parts escapism. Do you know him? Monty is the host of a BBC gardening program, “Gardener’s World” and primarily he walks around his farm, Long Meadow, planting, pruning, and talking you through the jobs for the week. #swoon

I get it when Monty tells me that although the old rose varieties bloom only once a year, and for a couple weeks, they are still his favorite. I smile and nod when Nigel, one of his two golden retrievers, wants to get involved with the planting of potatoes. I shake my head when yet again the spinach bolted or the birds found the soft fruit. Monty laughs and talks us through taking failure with stride, learning to plan, to prepare, and to let life happen. Monty loves new potatoes. He prunes his grapes to have 29 berries and even though it’s tedious, he has big hands and soft smiling eyes. The jewel garden, the pond, the wildflower passage, I’ve watched it evolve and change and age with Monty. I admire the life work that a garden requires…and although I think my speed is much more Monty than Martha she did say:

"If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. And if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden.” Martha Stewart

I respect how hard-core that statement is.

In high school, I took a multiple choice test in the computer lab to help discern a career path. In front of the boxy monitor, with bated breath, I hoped for affirmation, to be seen by the circles and dots, to finally piece together all my skills, desires, to have a (clear) path (cue sparkling font).

My results: 1. Actor 2. Gardener

At the time I found this wilding disappointing. Acting and gardening…how does that fit together? But now I know, it's Monty. It’s joy in expression and beauty, it's the desire to cultivate and care. It’s holding space for moments, and details, with a broader understanding of how things come together. All the while leaving space for the unknown, for change, for surprises. It’s taking action and tending to my dreams.

And literally if someone wants to sponsor my garden show, lmk.

So my turtle doves, to wrap it up, I’d love to offer you some early spring prompts, to honor the coming blossoming. To have a minute to reflect, to bend like grass, to collect glimmers of your past to slingshot you forward. Personally, I'm cueing into beauty, care, and expression. What gems will you carry with you?

Activity disclaimer: these divining prompts are for fun. Take what you can and leave the rest. You can participate formally with pen and paper, tablet, computer, or quickly in the infinite filings of your mind. The activities will take many forms, writing, drawing, irl dare, all with the intention of taking about 5 minutes of your day to center yourself and have a pause for the week ahead. This will be a paid add on to the newsletter you already subscribe to above. In honor of Monty I’ll be calling this subscription “Jobs for the Week” the first prompt is “Spring Seeds”, a spirited fill-in-the-blank.

Thanks for supporting my many musings.

All my love,

Kate