Winter Garden
As this year comes to a close, I awake to a winter storm, which has blanketed the yard with snow. Whatever shreds of greenery remained, will surely surrender today. Surveying the outside world, from the comfort of the house, I pause for a minute, switching my focus from the falling snow and blowing winds, becoming transfixed by my Cuban oregano, burgeoning tomato plant, and stalks of ginger, which are shooting up toward the light.
My garden is not what it once was. I try not to grieve too deeply my lost orchids, all of which had a story, and tell myself that one day they shall be back, as I instead surrender to buying cut flowers, for the table, and tend to the succulents and “house” plants, which I know live happily outside, in Florida, and thrive.
By and large, gardening in Maine has not been as successful as I had hoped or imagined. Yet, as I look at this most tropical of herbs, I cannot help but be pleased that it is indeed not only surviving, but dare I say thriving?
For Christmas dinner, I harvested several leaves of the oregano, for my black beans – what joy! I love cooking with my own herbs and vegetables. It has taken a while for this plant to take off, but he seems to finally be happy. I am glad.
I drink my coffee, read the news, and go back into the pool room, as the sun fully rises; I walk toward my bay tree, and stroke its leaves, perfuming my hands, and smiling at how it has not let me down, as it continues to zoom toward the sky. I have had a lot of failures in my Maine garden, but the bay tree has been faithful, allowing me to harvest her leaves weekly, I have a bright red tomato calling my name, the scallions are still standing, my rosemary has not given up the fight, and the Greek oregano looks like it is going to make it.
As with so many other things, my garden too has changed, and I am the one who must acclimate. On this snowy icy day, I am grateful for the greenery which hugs the windows and ever so slightly alters my perception of the not necessarily welcomed winter.
