Black Girl Gardening?

Since the break-in I’ve been looking for ways to get reacquainted with my house. It’s weird in some ways, almost like dating. All of the vulnerabilities with living in a new home come back, and you’ve got to get used to knowing where everything is, and importantly that it remains where you put it.

As a part of this exercise I decided to try my hand at gardening (please keep the snickering to a minimum). I’m a city girl so I’m wasn’t very acquainted with nature. By the time we did our “movin’ on up to the East Side, ” aka the suburbs, apartment living came with already manicured lawns so there wasn’t much to connect with. And of course I spent my high school days intrigued with a different sort of sport.

Of course, gardening is all the rage with my girlfriends and neighbors. I’ve always been proudly recalcitrant – until I bought my house. Even still, I couldn’t be bothered with the differences between annuals and perennials, or full-sun or partial sun flowers. I left all of those details to the green thumb-inclined. I did try my hand at a Chia herb garden. It didn’t work out so much, no matter what the instructions say.

So, after the break-in I found myself staring off into my backyard and noticing that some of the trees were starting to begin their spring bloom, and those “perennials” are starting to emerge from the dingy and dirty soil. I surprised myself at how excited I became. It is indeed true that spring brings with it a new birth. And that gardening is therapeutic for all that ails the heart and body.

Quicker than I could recall my poor gardening skills, I was off to the nursery picking out herbs and flowers to grow. My mother is probably reading this with absolute disbelief!

Once I returned home, I got deep in the dirt with my hands and thoughts. I found it incredibly peaceful, spiritual, and therapeutic in my quest to reconnect with my home.

I’ve planted hydrangeas in containers on the porch along with herbs and small vegetables. And I’ve recently added colorful lilies in the front and back. So far so good. Wish me luck…..

All of this with Jay-Z, T.I. and Lil’ Wayne providing the background instrumental.

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