This is my favourite time of year for gardening. The weeds aren't out of control and the insects haven't started to bug me, yet. I realize it isn't a time to enjoy the sweet scents and vibrant colours or tasty treasures from the earth. It is a time to plant and plan, to hope and even wish.
Mother's Day is the start of the season for me. My father passed away later in May but in his last month he twice reminded me about his tradition of buying my mom a rose and planting it in the yard on Mother's Day. I've taken it as a responsibility as eldest child to buy "Dad's rose" for mom each year and in the last few years, I've also bought one for myself. The bushes are wonderful for a season but I've never had one last the winter. They are fleeting in their beauty and remind me of both of my parents and the delicate nature of our lives.
My birthday falls on or near Mother's Day and, as I age, time seems to pass so swiftly I hope I will have time to do many of the things I want to do. I don't always finish what I start but I do love to plant seeds. Whether or not they grow isn't as important to me. In my work as a parent and volunteer I also plant seeds and I hope they will thrive, but I trust by planting I am doing an important job.
In our community volunteers brighten the public areas with living gifts of flowers. The Communities in Bloom program has elevated pride in villages, towns and cities of all sizes and has encouraged healthy competition where everyone wins as every region becomes more beautiful.
In this season lawn mowers, rakes and roto-tillers have replaced snow blades on quads and shovels and the neighbourhood buzzes with bees and neighbours doing their part for the blooms to come. Even tiny children want to take part in the planting, clutching shovels and moving fertile soil, wanting to plan their own garden patches, impatient when they can't see the growth happening fast enough.
Those who have lived in the same place for a number of years know exactly where the first flowers will emerge and enjoy the beauty even as they plan and plant for another season.
One of the greatest things about a flower bed or beautiful yard is that it is a gift to a whole community, seeds planted bearing beauty everyone can enjoy.
