I’m down and out, you might say. I’ve caught a terrible stomach bug that’s had me bedridden for several days. As someone who’s motivated by their day planner and to-do lists, it’s been a bit of a challenge to accept that I’ve hardly had the energy for anything but sleeping. Yet as I type this letter from beneath a mound of sheets, I see another soft reminder to slow down, atop my bookcase…
Before falling sick, I took an afternoon this week to sew seeds. I rescued a few plastic fruit and egg containers and (hopefully) created the first home for some flowering perennials. Over the years I’ve propagated succulents and pothos, grown lemon and avocado trees from seedlings, but I’ve yet to grow my own outdoor flowers from seed to plant. Last year, I accidentally drowned the few perennials I’d sown that managed to sprout. This year I’m hoping to have a gentler watering hand!
Creating the little indoor garden for these flowers was incredibly relaxing. The damp soil, tiny seeds, early springtime sunlight—it was quiet and tranquil. I could hear myself breathing, and the stillness of those hours carried with me for days after. There’s something so healing about nurturing the prospect of new life. And it’s humbling to admit that all I can do is my best—I’m no gardening expert and lead with my heart and intuition, and must patiently wait several weeks before knowing if my efforts will pay off.
So, I’m reminded to live with awareness and contentment now and not hitch my happiness to the happenings of the future.
The future may be unknown, but there’s magic in the mundane, the ordinary, and the unknown, ripe for the picking each step of the way.
We’ll just have to wait and see if my little seeds take root and grow! Regardless, they sure make me happy, sitting over there atop my bookcase, basking in the sunlight.
Photo by Samantha Burgett
Photo by Samantha Burgett
Photo by Samantha Burgett
Photo by Samantha Burgett
8 Comments
Michele Lee
March 18, 2023 at 5:25 pmSorry to read you aren’t feeling well. Hope you feel better soon. 🌻Growing plants, especially from seeds, is rewarding. Enjoy!
Samantha Burgett
March 18, 2023 at 11:19 pmThank you so much for the kind words Michele—we’ll see how it goes! Sending you a virtual flower 😄🌷
Michele Lee
March 19, 2023 at 11:00 amYou are welcome. Hope today is a better day. Thank you. 😊
Nicole Smith
March 18, 2023 at 10:17 pmI hope you feel better soon. My therapist wants me to plant something. As I am healing and growing, she thinks a plant will help as well.
Samantha Burgett
March 18, 2023 at 11:11 pmI think a plant would be a great idea for a healing journey! Having plants around has always helped me during my lows and my healing journey too. Sending you a hug! ♡
Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet
April 1, 2023 at 10:05 amSamantha, I always feel guilty about the plastic containers salads and other produce come in. We recycle, but keep hearing that a lot of plastic is not being recycled and still ends up in the landfill. What a wonderful idea to plant seeds in these containers! 🙂
I hope you are feeling OK now. <3
Samantha Burgett
April 1, 2023 at 10:28 amI’m with you! It hurts my heart a bit to buy the plastic I do, so I try to make use out of ‘em as much as possible. So far the containers have been great! Thanks to their lids, they have served as a greenhouse for the seedlings (which are sprouting a week early!). It’s been a fun experiment and I’m glad you’ve found it inspiring too!
And thank you so much! I’m back to normal now. Sending you my best wishes this April morning! ♡
Photography: Building a Propagation Station – Samantha Burgett
April 18, 2023 at 11:21 am[…] few weeks ago I shared about planting seedlings into old plastic containers. I hoped for the best (and did enjoy quite a few little plants!). But […]