“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."
Margaret Atwood
When the rains of the fall season started last October, my husband and I planted a small grove of deciduous trees. These were all cuttings we had received from friends, which I rooted in pots the previous spring. As of the last few weeks, I am happy to report that all cuttings have new leaves.
I love starting new plants, whether by seed, cuttings or simply dividing the root mass. Although, it’s the propagation of shrubs and trees over the years that really gives me a certain sense of wonder and satisfaction. There is truly something magical about planting a small tree and watching it thrive and grow. The soil on our place is made up of rock and clay. It is definitely an experiment in “tough love” when one plants anything in it. With my patient hands, and yards and yards of compost, I have learned how to give plants the love and care they need.
Of the many things gardening has taught me over the years, patience has been one of its greatest gifts. It takes patience beyond measure to watch a tree cutting grow into a mature specimen. I have taken this patience and spread its seeds into many areas of my life. With patience, I grow, I thrive. When one is patient, and smelling like dirt, life has a way of rewarding us one leaf at a time.
