Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 08:45:31 -0400 (EDT)
Random Thought: Another Lesson From My Garden

I received a message this morning from an e-friend who said that he would love to plant a flower garden, but (there's that barricading word) it takes so much of his time and he didn't like to sweat in the high temperatures or be bothered by "pesky critters." I told him nicely a take-off on something that I think I had read somewhere in Samuel Johnson. I have come to see over the years that contrary to a host of infomercials there is no magic garden tool or planting technique or gardening book. We don't understand ourselves, our basic nature, if we think we can have a blooming garden with a wilting attitude. What we can read and hear and buy and do, but unless we change our disposition, unless we water our drought-ridden attitude, little will flourish. Even a disease resistant plant wont have much of future in my garden unless I have a dis-ease resisant attitude. I told my friend that I have found that if I think gardening is laborious, if I think gardening is a delight, if I think gardening is hellish, if I think gardening is heavenly, I'm right and I will make it so and it will be so.

It's a good lesson from my garden for teaching.