“Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us, and see the beauty in ordinary things.”
~Thomas Merton
I pour a measure of warm water into the half-full bag of seed starting mix, reach in and begin mixing it with a gloved hand. As I massage the soil I become intoxicated with the aroma of the earth rising from the bag. I pause in my work, and hold the bag out toward Gerry who is puttering in the garage where I’m working.
“Smell this!”
He takes a whiff but it’s apparent that the heady smell doesn’t affect him the same way it does me.
I fill the little pots with the damp seed starting mixture, drop two or three seeds into each one (only the strongest will ultimately survive), sprinkle a light covering of dry soil to cover them, and insert the stick labels I prepared in advance. Fifteen pots of tomatoes, five different varieties; none pots of peppers, four different varieties.
I set the filled pots on a tray and carry them into the house and put them atop the heat mats that have been warming. I cover them securely with plastic wrap creating miniature greenhouses and step back to survey the sight.
Gardening season is officially underway. I am happy.
Your quote reminds me of a slender book I read recently I think you’d like: Small Graces by Kent Nerburn.
Thank you, Marian. I’ll check it out.