Dear Front Garden,

Dear Front Garden:

   

Is it wrong to say I love you? Well, I do. I love that  you are growing and blooming and spreading your blossoms everywhere without any help from me.  You've been a long time coming and we've helped you all the way. We've taken down trees, dug in compost, pickaxed new beds, weeded, and mulched, mulched, mulched. We've spent a trip to Italy on plants and bushes over the years.

Now, after all the time, attention, and money we've spent to get you to grow up and out, you are doing just that. We haven't had nary a minute to do more than pull the weeds as we walk past you on the way to work, or set up the sprinkler, or throw a little fertilizer your way. Despite our inattention, you have shown your good stock and breeding and are just flourishing on your own.

 

Good thing, then. It's okay for us to take time away, to not hover, but just make sure you have the right amount of nutrition and watering.  To tell you we love you as we pass by and your spicy lavender fronds tickle our legs.

Family is like that.

It's okay to let things grow on their own. Sometimes you just have to. And if you've put in the time, the bushes grow full, the trees grow straight, the underplantings fill in the bare spots, and the weeds don't have a spot to take over.

 

A lesson I keep repeating to myself:  Plenty of food and water and sunshine and they grow big and strong and the weeds can't find a crack to take hold of.

A lesson I'll remember, come September.

Families are like that.

Good thing.