My grandparents were gardeners. My parents were gardeners. It was only destiny that I was meant to be a gardener too. Right?!!
I’ve heard the stories about the work it takes to keep up a garden. I had even heard the horror stories about the pests and plant diseases you may have to combat.
But little ole’ beginner me didn’t think I would have to worry about any of that with my small starter garden and plethora of essential oils and natural remedies. Hahaha yeah, so I thought 😌.
For the first few months everything was going well, growing fresh and brightly and not a sign of any plant dangers. That was until my kiddos spotted a rabbit. Then the next day a friend of the rabbits (I guess word spreads quickly in the woods 😒).
Our little white picket fence was merely for looks as I knew any animal could get around it to feast on our feasting. So I did what any beginner gardener would do…try to scare the Hop out of those rabbits. Did it work? Of course it didn’t.
This is the response they gave me…
There will be no harvesting of broccoli for your family.
REALITY CHECK
Instead of me scaring the hop out of them they hopped right on my hopes and dreams 😢.
It was unreal. Each day I noticed the broccoli and lettuce plants getting smaller and smaller. Then my kids started checking on them more and reporting
Mama, we see more holes from the rabbits. Thanks for feeding our pets.
😠😠😠
Yes, my kids were secretly happy about us feeding the whole forest. My eldest daughter has always wanted a pet rabbit. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one that told them where our garden was 🤔.
Pausing this post to go ask………………………well she claims she didn’t 🤨😂🤭.
After seeing my hard work being shred to pieces I begin to realize I had my work cut out for me.
Me being the strong trooper that I am of course I didn’t give up. I kept going and taking care of the plants I had left.
Between the rabbits and the pesty worms my lettuce and broccoli supply were dwindling. To add to the trauma in my life I started noticing a white powdery substance that was resting on the leaves of our broccoli and cabbage. Eventually I found out it was a plant mildew, one of the problems I had wished to avoid.
REALITY CHECK
At this point I was feeling defeated and wanting to give up.
It took awhile for me to heal our plants but I’m so glad I kept fighting. With a solution I sprayed once daily on the plants, which included neem oil, they begin to thrive and flourish again. I realized I had to stop waiting till night time to water my plants because they were getting way too much moisture which caused the mildew to form.
These reality checks humbled me. As they taught me my kids also got to watch and learn as they witnessed me go through a roller coaster full of emotional pain and disappointment. The end result was that they saw I didn’t give up even when I wanted to.
These first reality checks of being a gardener will forever be the foundation of my never ever thinking again that these things won’t happen in my garden based on the supplies and tools I have.
The takeaway for me was to never say never but instead be prepared for whatever 😄.
Thanks to @buckaroobaby for inviting me to join this new launch of The Creative Garden Writing Challenge. I think maybe @kattycrochet might have a story or two dealing with her beautiful rose garden.
All photos are my own. No animals (can’t say the same for the plants) were hurt or tortured during the duration of my gardening journey 🤣.
