Your Heart's Desire

I went to my friend, Michelle's house yesterday to do a quick garden consultation. For whatever reason she thinks I am good at gardening and wanted my opinion. I don't think I am great at it, but I do think I am very interested in it, talk a lot about it and have boundless (almost) energy for it. There is a big difference between those qualities and being good at something.

Well, we started by her feeding me a green smoothie- part of her new raw diet regime. It sounds and looks disgusting- spinach, lettuce, banana, frozen blueberries, water and whatever else is haunting the back of your refrigerator put through a blender. It looked like algae sludge but tasted reasonably good for something that is suppose to be healthful. Perhaps it is what put a little zip (read manic energy) into my garden consultation.

I started by asking Michelle what her concept is for her garden ... lest I simply overlay my tastes onto her collection. She replied that she wanted a garden that I would think is good. Ack! How did I scare a budding gardener into shame and inferiority? I must admit I am a little free with my opinions and I can be a bit of a commanding presence (quite tall and VERY stubborn), but I thought I had always done my best to foster curiosity and passion about gardening- not dread!

So for those of you out there who have suffered at the hands of a gardening know it all- perhaps even my hands.... the immortal wisdom of Henry Mitchell (again.).... "It is more important for the gardener to be enchanted than for critics to be pleased. Your garden will reveal your self. Do not be terrified of that. You have as much right to live as..... well, at least one may always say 'nevertheless, here I am.' "

Michelle's garden was actually a pretty good reflection of herself. It is abundant, even overflowing, one good thing on top of another, color, anarchy and fun. I don't think there is a plant that she has ever said "no" to. It is charming, unique and embodies the dream of a Maine Cottage that she hangs on to in the middle of a big city housing development.

BTW- these are pictures of my garden because I was too busy standing around in my South American General's cape, cracking my whip and telling Michelle what to do while I was at her garden. Perhaps she can post some photos of our little tidying up day at Jardin Johnson.