Every year I watch the commercial Christmas season creep earlier and earlier and, like all of you, I wonder where the creeping will stop. I hadn't, however, realized until today that the Spring planting season is also slowly moving forward year by year. A spam email from Thompson and Morgan today, advertising an extension on their Thanksgiving seed sale, opened my eyes to the new reality.
I dutifully opened the provided link to tmseeds.com, an action at least slightly better than the rapid deletion that recent commercial emails from Wayside and High County Gardens have received. A few brief glances at the website, however, were enough to convince me that I have no enthusiasm to shop for seeds yet. I haven't moved far enough past the disappointments of this year to even begin to dream of next year's glorious garden yet.
Plant and seed companies need to be more considerate of the delicate condition of North American gardeners right now. Those of us in the Northern climes are still in that "just-broken-up" phase of our relationships with our garden, fresh from the loss of daily intimate contact and too depressed to think about flirting with the next garden yet, let alone committing to a date with one. We need some time to let the emotional wounds heal, time to begin to believe again that the next garden could be The One, that perfect garden that we've hoped for and dreamed of all our lives. Twenty-five percent off all seeds for next year just isn't enough to make me put down the chocolate truffles and move off the couch yet. I need a cold winter of rest and the lengthening days after the Winter (Southern) Solstice to heal my drought-stricken, wind-beaten, sun-scalded gardener's soul.
Now that's a quote worth tweeting around the universe: Spam me again when I'm ready to romance the soil.
ReplyDeleteYou do have a way with words, Dear Prof. Here's to the simplicity of a non-commercial holiday.
Thanks Kate. I always appreciate your reading and thoughts about the blog.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. It's funny but I have the same seed packets you have pictured.
ReplyDeleteexcept the blue corn.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your take on us Northern Gardeners being in the "just broken up stage"! So true! I cannot bear to take down my tomato cages, even though the plants are long dead. It's just too final!
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