When I began gardening, many moons ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had this idealized picture in my head of what gardening was all about. A picture of a smiling woman, straw hat on her head, garden trowel in hand, a cute little apron tied around her waist. She walks down a beautiful cobbled pathway, admiring the flowers, herbs and veggies placed in the beds beside her. She stops, bends down to sniff a fragrant flower – Screech! Bugs!!!

Insects. I never knew there would be so many insects. Nor did I realize how many failures I would have, how much trial and error are involved, and just how many weeds would rear their prickly heads. My idealized image popped like a child's balloon, leaving me with the reality all gardeners face. Gardening is not for the timid.

As a gardener one must accept that there will be insects. Everywhere. Both beneficial and destructive. It takes time to learn how which is which, how to control the destructive ones and to cultivate the beneficial ones. While you may never become bosom buddies with the wolf spiders jumping around your petunias, you can at least learn to appreciate what they do for you in your garden. We must get over the “ick” factor and become appreciative of all the little miracles insects make happen. Pollination, breaking down decaying matter and wastes, and providing food for many other species. Yes, some will eat your plants, destroy your tomatoes, and burrow into your fruit. However, these tiny destruction machines are fewer and farther between than the good guys. 

Being a gardener means that you must embrace failure. Plants will die. Often. You can do everything by the book, and they may still wither and fade away. Instead of focusing on what is going wrong in your garden, take a step back and focus on what is going right. I cannot seem to grow a decent dill 

plant to save my life. I have tried by seed and by transplant, in pots, in the ground, and in raised beds. That darn dill looks great for a week or two then shrivels and dies. When I step back and look at my garden, I realize that I can raise other plants many others seem to have a hard time sustaining. Where I have one failure, I have ten successes. That is what I focus on.

Finally, gardening is hard work. We must prepare the beds, sow the seeds, or plant our nursery transplants into the soil. Gardeners weed down on their knees, hands pulling and tugging. They hoe, dig, trim, water, and harvest. We toil, strain, and swear – sometimes a lot. Yet we do this happily despite the sweat, grimy fingernails, dirty knees, and sore backs. For we are happiest out in our gardens – in the fresh air, sunshine, and gentle breezes. This is our paradise, our pride and joy. Whether it is a patio brimming with bright colored pots filled with flowers and a tomato or two, or a sprawling two-acre homestead, the garden fills us with joy. Our garden is where we share a piece of our souls with the World. No, gardening is not for the timid. But we gardeners would not want it any other way.