I have a new morning routine. After eyes, teeth, and clothing, I go outside and water my garden, all before heading to work, and I love it. In fact, I am typing this while sitting in my side patio staring at my garden, literally watching it grow. Ha! So today I muse over

Why a
garden?

My projects usually start the second day of Spring Break where suddenly I’m a chef, a painter, a dancer, a builder, a decorator, the list goes on, for 5 days. Well, now I’m a gardener. It began because I was building two structures to have in front of my house and changed my mind so I repurposed my materials. Now I have this beauty:

I started small. My half-joking goal was to have a guacamole garden. I bought a tiny jalapeño plant, a tomato plant, some cilantro and basil because why not. I bought a lime tree and dubbed it King Hentree VIII. DJ named the tomato plant potato and that was that for the week of March. Some water, some plant feed and BOOM! I suddenly had tomatoes, bunches of cilantro, and the jalapeño plant skyrocketed! I was hooked.

Without boring you with too many details, I now also have a lemon tree, pineapple sage, lavender, cucumbers, bush green beans, habanero, onions, parsley, lemongrass, mint, and way more tomato plants on the way thanks to a 40 second youtube video that showed me how to grow more plants with a few tomato slices and soil. TOMATO MADNESS! I’m so excited.

There is something rewarding about seeing food, actual food, grow beneath your hands. It puts our societal luxuries into perspective. I mean, wow! Some onions have failed [pro-tip, don’t move onions], some green beans have wilted, and I don’t know how I killed my cilantro, but that definitely happened. But I also brought my basil back to life with some proper pruning, I’ve stopped my cukes from choking out my green beans, my new marigolds are helping pollinate my citrus trees, and like I said before, tomato madness.

So, I’m happy. I don’t mind the soil underneath my nails
[because I forgot to put my gloves on again] because
my caprese salad was delicious.

I feel relaxed out here. I don’t mind the sweat beading on my forehead when I have this beautiful scenery to look at. Just me with my garden and a tall glass of lemongrass iced tea.

PS. Everyone needs to watch “Love Your Garden,” because it’s a beautiful
and heartwarming show.