i threw a garden party for my birthday 004
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i’m a spring baby, may 19 to be exact. it’s often confused with summer, and i was one of them. i couldn’t understand how anything to do with the sun and water wasn’t part of those glorious summer memories of running outside, drinking from the water hose, and longer days. childhood birthdays included above ground swimming pools, sprinklers, and slip n’ slides.
as i’ve gotten older and, — not going to lie — not until very recently, have i come to accept and appreciate spring as it’s own glorious season. one that ushers in rebirth, vibrancy reflected in the leaves and petals, and renewed energy as the sun fuels longer days. in celebration of all that spring brings, i threw a garden party in my backyard. we moved into our home last fall, so it’s been two long seasons of bare trees and blankets of snow. we didn’t even have a chair to sit on when i came up with this idea.
we began the transformation back in late-march, creating seating areas and bringing in plants to warm up a very gray space. per the party invitation, folks brought plants and seeds. one section of our backyard is reserved for our future vegetable, fruit, and herb garden. as part of the celebration friends and family dropped the first seeds, and i barely have the words for how beautiful it was to hear the chatter about where to plant arugula, carrots, basil, lettuce, kale, and peppers. it’s now been a couple of weeks since the party, and we’re already witnessing things sprout. peas are starting to shoot, rosemary is starting to bud, and the arugula has sprung.
signed,
a black girl in her garden
citations
»a friend sent me this homesteader some time ago, and now since starting the garden all i watch is homestead content. i used to be so intimidated by the idea of having an outdoor garden — i think i subconsciously felt safe from failure in the “controlled” environment of my home. in addition to learning to grow my own food, i’m learning to be in alignment with the seasons, the elements, and other living creatures.«