WHAT YOU SOW

Here's to improvisational experimentation... from kitchen scraps to an early morning pre-breakfast treat, a visual journey of my first attempt at growing tomatoes from scratch.

"Life does not accommodate you; it shatters you. Every seed destroys its container, or else there would be no fruition." ~ Florida Scott-Maxwell

I had some wilted tomatoes on the counter destined for the garbage bin, but their seeds ended up in seed trays instead.

"For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like complete destruction." ~ Cynthia Occelli

Soon enough, they were ready to be transplanted...

"To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow." ~ Audrey Hepburn

And flourished alongside some Basil... 

"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity." ~ Lindley Karstens

Until they dominated the pot and trailed off in all directions. So, I had to stake them on some makeshift bamboo supports...

"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches entire trust." ~ Gertrude Jekyll

During the process of staking them, I first discovered their cheerful yellow blossoms and the promise of potential things to come...

"Flowers are the music of the ground from earth's lips spoken without sound." ~ Edwin Curran

I waited a long while, but like a glimmer of light, the first fruits made their appearance when I needed them most...

"We might think that we are nurturing our garden, but of course, it's our garden that's really nurturing us." ~ Jenny Uglow

And I watched in eager expectation as they slowly turned from spring green to a delicious red...

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace." ~ May Sarton

Then this morning, I got to appreciate my first harvest. 

I must admit, there is something so innately satisfying about picking and eating the fruit from the seeds I've planted, carefully nurtured and observed.

"Get your hands dirty and see what comes up." ~ A Little Chaos

WORDS: rhodenel©14OCT2024 

PHOTOGRAPHY: rhoderuth©2024