My perspective on gardening

Every growing season brings it's good surprises and it's disappointments. I'm learning to apply my perspective on life to my gardening practices. This new approach is helping me see the pretty in the not so pretty results of my garden. The following paragraphs will give an idea of what I mean.

Have realistic expectations or,better yet, no expectations at all! Declaring “This will be the most flower filled and productive garden yet” sounds just as ridiculous as saying your next night out to the diner will be incredible and amazing! It's just not so unless I have a head gardener and drip irrigation. Instead I say that my garden will produce flowers enough to fill a vase and I will have delicious herbs to garnish my meals for each week.  That's more reasonable!

Another mantra I have is to try something new and embrace a whim. Some of my biggest gardening rewards came from whims. I've never been a marigold fan,  but this spring, I planted some extras left from a planting event. I ignored them growing until one day I  couldn't help but notice. These marigolds were full, bright and cheerful adding that finishing touch I'd been missing. So just like trying an exotic food try something new in your garden. 

Lastly, I  have an attitude that if something is not working for me it's time to let it go. I just love to wear makeup but I've found, as I'm in my 50's, that once reliable foundation is looking rather flat on me. Time to switch it up! Every fall I say that I'm never growing vegetables again but in spring  there is a cart full of vegetable seedlings at the checkout line

 I really want to be a fruitful vegetable gardener but it's just not working for me.  I had an amazing vegetable garden ,at one time ,when I had extra help from the kids. I think that next spring,  instead of spending energy and money growing my own food I will purchase produce at my local farm.

What life skills do you practice that can be applied to your gardening?