Attend to it, and it will flourish.

Do you carefully and lovingly prepare the earth, providing the nutrients that will enrich it and give your plants what they will need to thrive?

Do you carefully and thoughtfully pick out the plants, flowers and vegetables that you will enjoy because you love the colour, scent, texture or taste?  Do you adventurously and spontaneously plant something you have never tried to grow before just to experiment and have fun?

Do you carefully and tenderly care for your plants and flowers making sure they get enough water ; that they have ideal conditions to thrive? 

Do you keep an eye out for pests or disease that could harm them?

When you garden is in full bloom, at its peak, do you take the time to enjoy it?  To smell it?  To gaze upon it's glorious colours?  To feel it's textures?  To taste it? 

Do you tend to your life - your relationships - yourself with the same loving care?

"I mean, life is a garden, and when you do not yet see that your life is a garden you may not see your life clearly at all.  You are the garden, you are the gardener, and you reap what you sow.   

What will you make of the ground around that you - only you - can tend?  How will you share the place you never leave, the time you always have, and the peace only you can spread? 

You make everything true by bringing it to life, so be careful what you bring. Anger kills, bitterness poisons, greed spoils, fear stunts, and inattention withers.  Good gardeners cultivate a good earth. And where could that be but the very spot where you stand?"

an excerpt from Hand Wash Cold
Karen Maezen Miller