June and July have been challenging. Lots of anxious and sad moments, leading up to the reality of three close family deaths in one month. Writing hasn’t felt possible; grief takes over all enthusiasm and light in life.
It's hard to get things done when you don't want to do them.
Life really does go on though. Clothes need washing, dirty dishes confront on the counter, bathrooms are unrelenting in cleaning needs, and all of a sudden you notice that film of dust over everywhere in the home. Cooking is a big challenge, seemingly unimportant and even annoying. Grief is a tough thing to come to terms with.
Passion possibilities
(I literally take time to smell the roses - especially the yellow one here. Then I like to write about all kinds of things, as they come into my mind.)
To me, passion is a lot about a sense of self. It’s about a willingness to dare, to push yourself on, to innovate, while tending to basic principles of what has to be nurtured in your interest.
Have you ever thought about the importance of passion in your life? I mean have you found something so important you’re willing to build your life around it, feeling excitement, expanding on it, and accepting how it defines a clear direction of life as you want it, in the most joyful way.
Still others focus so narrowly on an interest that it tends to take control of their life.. When that happens, it seems that passion might have morphed into an obsession.
So you could say that passion is creative, leading to joyful progress, always expanding your thoughts and dreams. Obsession, on the other hand narrows your focus, becoming your sole interest in life.
If you have a passion it becomes the thing you enjoy more than anything; that fills you with delight in good times, and comforts you when life takes a downturn.
Passion moves you on when you don’t know which way to go. You can’t see it, because it is such an intrinsic part of who you are, or who you become when you discover its possibilities and claim them as your own.
You don’t have to be good at something for it to be your passion. Passion often isn’t a moneymaker. After all, who can put a price on doing something you really enjoy more than anything else in the world?
Growing them--growing you
Notice I’m saying doing something? That’s because finding your passion invariably needs you to actively work to truly enjoy it.. With it almost anything you want becomes possible.
Over the years I’ve discovered my passion. It’s simply enjoying time in the garden, and writing about my thoughts that come to me at that time.
This year I decided not to grow vegetables, considering the water shortage we have here. Instead, all the raised beds have been cleared and ready for the next saffron planting at the end of August.
Gardeners transfer their own evolving knowledge and nature into their gardens. They’re constantly pushing themselves to make changes, to expand their capabilities, to set goals and work towards them. Once reached they move on to the next one.
Friends in the garden
The crops ( all small) are unusual, challenging to grow, and in much demand. You need to have a personality that doesn’t mind delayed gratification, because this project definitely doesn’t give instant rewards!
- Saffron. The most expensive spice in the world. Survives in our climate.
- Australian finger lime. Huge demand by top chefs and bartenders.
- Sarracenia — very collectible marsh plant. Eats bugs. They are the fertilizer!
- Lithops —-unusual and collectible succulents, mostly from South Africa.
The grafted apple tree is laden with four different types of apples this year. The first ones are ready to use, for apple sauce, or even apple pies. This year I removed all the strawberries that grew underneath the apple tree, making more room for the new saffron corms,
But those strawberries don’t give up willingly. They started growing again, some of them even on the gravel path, so I may have to dig them and allow them back into that raised bed.
Main 'crops' for a backyard farmer
The fruits of these little limes are just as unexciting when you first see them. In fact it takes a while to understand their life cycle, and when they’re ripe,
No bigger than a finger,when ripe the fruit is squeezed out of the tough covering, and it looks exactly like caviar!
Inside your mouth the tiny lime balls pop with a surprise explosion of lime flavour, and are very delicious in drinks or seafood dishes.
Lithops are small, fascinating succulents. Their life cycle is complicated, and it takes you a while to understand their preferences! They require only tiny amounts of water, and if you give it at the wrong time they die. Your ability to be observant is key to growing them successfully.
Sarracenia are now among my favorite plants. They are marsh dwellers, love all the sunshine you can throw at them, and are ideal pond plants. They need lots of moisture, and will die if you fertilize them. Their life cycle is absolutely fascinating, and they’re beautiful to look at.
Flies are their food, and they give off a special attractive nectar for them. The flies get greedy for more and are sucked into the digestive void of the plant where they get slowly absorbed. Sarracenias are highly collectible and expensive. You have to propagate them by clumps or seeds from their flowers. They are also hardy in our climate.
I'd love your comments!
It grows with you, even when you’re unable to appreciate your own development as a person. And once you discover it, it’s part of you for life.
If you know of someone struggling to find their passion and joy in life, please share this with them. If this article interests you please subscribe and share with your friends. And as always, thanks for reading