Any gardeners out there?

Some of you may have read my 'seed box' story on one of my posts. The circle of life and death in a garden allows you to see how natural and inevitable death is for EVERY living thing, not just for us with cancer, but for all of God's living creations. As a life-long organic gardener, I gather the seeds of my plants each year as they wither so that I can complete the circle and plant a new generation of plants to replace the old ones. The oldest raspberry and rose canes must be cut to the ground annually so that the new young canes have the room and sunlight they need to be vigorous. Spent plants and vegetative matter I've cut back, food scraps, and fallen leaves all are composted (along with my bunny's poops!) to make the fertilizer for next year's flowers, fruits, and veggies. I think that because my grandchildren have helped me with these tasks since they were toddlers, that death is very natural and not scary to them. I think my peace with this cancer journey is because I also feel the naturalness and inevitability of death, and it holds no fear for me, none at all.

Soooo, this past week I have been collecting so many seeds from my columbine, dianthus deltoids, and Sweet Williams (Google the names if you want to see what they look like). I've saved all the seeds from these 3 plants that I could possibly need myself. If any of you want some, please post and let me know and I'll get your addresses by email somehow. If you take these seeds, you are making a statement of HOPE, because none of these seeds will bloom before 2011, and the columbine and dianthus may need until 2012 to be mature enough to bloom (Sweet Williams are a biennial and the other 2 are perennials). So you have to work hard at being well and LIVE long enough to see these blooms, okay????? COMMIT to it!! ((((Hugs))))

My gardens are 100% organic and these seeds are very fresh and will have an almost 100% germination rate so plant them thinly so they aren't over-crowded. God's plan is that these particular flowers drop their seed NOW, so when you get the seeds from me, choose a sunny spot and loosen up the soil where you want these to bloom, and plant them right away. (Just sprinkle on the ground and sift a fine very thin dusting of soil over them and water gently.) If you aren't familiar with their leaves, plant in a straight row so you'll be able to tell them from any weeds that spring up! I usually mark my seed rows with a plastic straw cut in half. This summer they will all just be tiny green plants. They all can survive being under snow all winter with no trouble. NEXT year some of the Sweet Williams will bloom and maybe a few of the others, but 2012 will be the year you really see what you've introduced into your garden. And if you collect the seed when these flowers go brown in your garden, my flowers can live on under your care for decades. I like that idea! And if that sounds like WORK to you, these are hardy plants that will self-seed to some degree and you can just let God take care of them and they'll still be fine!

Just so you know, I planted Red Maples this summer and a HICKORY TREE that won't produce its first nuts for at least 20 years!! Now, how's THAT for hope?? That would take a true miracle, but what the heck!