Flowers, Part 3
Space in a market garden comes at a premium. What possible justification makes sense for sacrificing food growing space to flowers? They stole space from the vegetables that we and our customers eat. And so the odyssey into the unknown of growing flowers for table decorations for our middle child’s mid-summer wedding seemed to be cause for a loss in the market garden. The flowers were there for the wedding, plain and simple, until they weren’t.
Sometimes in life situations occur that leave one lessened. Yet we slog on. Personal loss is not a rarity especially as the years pass. Some years are worse than others and licking one’s wounds can morph into a regrettable pastime. And then there were the flowers. First was their beauty. It takes a cold heart to not succumb to lovely breezy cosmos, straight as an arrow zinnia, rambunctious globe amaranth, and cheerful sunflowers. Second was their uninterrupted industry…the original meaning of industry. No dull moments among the flowers constantly buzzing with activity. The bees and other pollinators loved them, always working the flowers, foraging, enjoying the bounty of their harvest. Third, for those of us who wandered into the garden unhappily licking wounds, was the peace. The flowers were certainly doing their own thing, but passersby were graced with their miracle.
Who would have known the benefits? Probably the botanists know. But something happened in the 2022 market garden that was totally unforeseen. A serendipity that has yet to fade. A restoration of human vitality. And the realization that flowers will be a part of the market garden forever. Every living being was happier and more content with the flowers in the garden, including the vegetable plants…Bezold Farms had the best year of production in 2022. Thank you, flowers!
And so the odyssey of the middle child’s mid-summer wedding came to a close. The celebration was a huge success, a grand party, and fun was had by all. The table decorations? The venue looked like a flower garden…the best place to be on God’s green earth.
At home after the wedding and still lovely