Growing Things

My backyard is a little oasis. When I say little, I really mean it, but I’m just as sincere about the oasis part. I’ve thought so ever since I bought the place, feeling rather enchanted by the small patio that rounds into a rock bed with stepping stones, the whole thing surrounded by fruit trees, succulent bushes, and tall bird of paradise fronds. The fruit trees are the easiest to maintain, since they were already here and already producing healthy amounts of fruit. The lemon tree in particular keeps me constantly busy. I’ve taken to baking various lemon treats and giving them to friends and co-workers just to keep up with the tree’s output.

The trickier thing has been those that I have added to the mix, or tried to, mostly in the form of flowers. You may recall my bulb experiment of 2022 where I planted 30 gladiolus and iris bulbs in the soil around my fruit trees and succulent bushes, and while all of them grew nice, tall green stalks, only 3 of them actually bloomed. I’ve learned that my oasis, calming as it is, does not produce enough sun amidst the trees and bushes for flowers to thrive. This year, only 1 of the bulbs bloomed, the red glad pictured above, although—and I hope you’ll agree—it was particularly gorgeous.

Then there’s the other thing I have attempted, the one that’s gone completely off the rails. It’s the planters I put all around the patio and filled mostly with flowers, aside from the one planter I decided to fill with herbs. It’s the tomato plant that has turned into a cluster, and I know what you’re thinking. Tomatoes are not herbs. And you’re right, so I can’t really explain what came over me when I was planting, except to say that the teeny tiny tomato plant was the same size as the herbs I planted, and I figured it would get maybe a foot taller and produce like 2 tomatoes. Instead, it’s turned into what you see above, completely picking up the tomato cage with its growth and toppling over. And despite this size, which they really should warn you about, I can only see 1 tomato growing. It’s become a bit of a science experiment at this point, and I’d like to be able to eat that damn lone tomato for all my troubles, but clearly the tomato plant will have to go.

This is all to say that I am enjoying this test and learn approach to growing things, and equally enjoyable is celebrating small victories, even as small as a single flower blooming. I’ll close with a mention of writing, which is something I enjoy doing outside by the way, with the scent of jasmine and roses wafting over from the planters. I’m 75% done with a new manuscript, another small victory of progress and growth. If you find yourself planting anything new, or baking/cooking things from your spoils, or really creating in any space or genre, enjoy every word, every flower, and every loaf.