Don't worry - no details or secrets about the bestselling romantic novel
will be disclosed in this post! Rather, let's use it as a jumping off point for
a discussion about gardening.
Christian Grey, the main character in the trilogy, is a man with multiple
layers to his personality. He may be young, but he has issues. Sounds like
a few of my tomato plants. He's moody to extremes and often described as
mercurial. Did I mention that Christian Grey is really good
looking...drop dead gorgeous?
At first glance, that's what I'd say about the garden, too. Young and fresh
and absolutely beautiful. Upon closer inspection, though, the frailties
and imperfections become apparent. Some are quite obvious while others are
quite subtle. Some seem to appear out of the blue without warning and others
are more predictable.
This morning, as I surveyed the garden, the temperature was mild and
comfortable – for about a minute! The sun came out from behind the clouds and
in a matter of moments, it was hot and bright. Then, just as quickly, the
clouds shifted, the sun was again completely hidden, and a cool breeze began to
blow. Conditions in the garden change, sometimes very quickly. It can be
cool and moist at one moment and in the blink of an eye, sunny and hot or dark
and gloomy. Weather can play havoc with young plants, causing curled or
burnt leaves, allowing the ideal conditions for powdery mildew to set in or
creating the perfect conditions for a hostile takeover by damaging
insects. These are things that we just cannot control. Plants react in a
variety of ways, often in ways that we cannot predict. I shudder to
think of Christian Grey as a gardener!
The key is not to panic and over-react to every little thing as it occurs but
rather to embrace them as part of the greater gardening experience. Sometimes,
those little things that happen aren’t so bad after all. If you can look at the big picture, you’ll
find gardening to be much more pleasant and satisfying. And, in the end, those Fifty Shades create
something quite wonderful.
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