Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Worms, Growth and Gardening



"Worms, Nana....dig worms." A plea from a sweet two-year couldn't be denied, so we spent a happy time digging for worms in the as-yet-unplanted garden beds. 

"ooh, big worm, Nana."
"baby worm, Nana."
"Would you like to hold one?"
"No." Emphatically. 
"Yes." And his sister picked one up and watched it intently on her palm.
"bye, bye worm," as he sprinkled dirt over the earthworm. 

The next all three cousins were over and there was more digging for worms. And happy, dirty faces. 

If everyone is said to have to eat a pound of dirt in his/her lifetime, this little boy is well on his way.



In early spring, I wander out to the garden and am enchanted by the first uncurling leaves, the delicate snowdrops, and the sharp thrust of green-leafed bulbs through brown earth.

Then come the crocuses, the aconites, the daffodils, and my heart wells up with delight as the sun warms my back and growth is prodigious. One by one the plants come to life and flower in graceful procession, slowly, so I can keep track. 



Now, in full spring, it seems as though everything in the garden is racing ahead, tumbling over each other in the effort to bloom. The bluebells are beginning to unfurl, the first lilacs are blooming, and the wisteria is dancing in the breeze. In the front garden the variegated weigela is showing pink buds, the apple trees are in full bloom, and the rhododendron is ready to burst into blossom any day now. 

This mad rush to flower reminds me of my children learning to speak. First one word, then a few, and then more, but we parents could list them all. Then one day, the realization that we couldn't keep up - this young prodigy knew far more words than we could parrot. And so, just as in gardening, we sit back and enjoy the flood - of words or flowers. 

How are things in your garden? Just emerging or growing with abandon? 

29 comments:

  1. What a fun time with the little ones. Your gardens are so far ahead of ours. I do have some crocus in bloom though. Soon we will catch up to you.

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  2. Your story reminds me of finding my baby brother with a worm in his mouth--two ends hanging out either side. Our early warm weather hurried up spring here. We are waiting for the irises and peonies … and the knock out roses are going to town, but our azaleas are already faded due to the heat. Still the pansies bloom on, the heat hasn't affected them (and we did just have a freeze the other night--crazy weather!)

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  3. Cute mosaic, Lorrie! I'm loving your purple flowers. I was gifted a small potted purple hyacinth yesterday and hope to plant it in my garden next month...

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  4. Oh, I do remember the fascination with worms and other bugs but pocket pets rather grossed this grandma out. Sweet to see your grands digging in the dirt with you Lorrie.
    My spring plants are in the emergence stage and I can't wait to get my own hands dirty.

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  5. You never get too old for this kind of fun! We are digging up some old shrubs that are too big and then we'll plant something different. Hubby would say...he's doing the digging! heehee! Hugs!

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  6. Growing with abandon here. Everyday there are changes now. How fun to spend time with grandchildren and worms. I just love it, especially in the garden.

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  7. such cutiepies, digging....my grandsons all loved digging for worms, too...but the girls...not so much...:)

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  8. That is a wonderful analogy about Spring, Lorrie! It is true it begins so slowly and then bursts forth so quickly. It is nice to enjoy it all as much as possible.

    The photos of your grandson with the worm made me smile--true boy!

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  9. Such fun, out in the garden digging for worms. Those sweet children really made me smile. Emerging slowly I would say about my garden on the cusp of something bigger.

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  10. Yes, everything is in full blowing mode here as well. Lovely garden images.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  11. How many of our children and grandchildren have dug for worms over the years! I shuddered when my boys progressed to putting worms on fish hooks ('It doesnt hurt the worm, mum, honest')and set off to go fishing!

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  12. Such a wonderful snapshot into your day with the grandkids. They will remember these fun days as fondly as you do. I used to let my son play in the unplanted gardens until the flowers came up. He and his friend seemed to enjoy the dirt with their cars far better than the sandbox.

    Nothing much here yet. Just a few green shoots poking through, and a few buds plumping up. A good frost this morning, but sunshine too :)

    Wendy

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  13. I have to chuckle to myself, for my mom used to talk about her sickly cousin who thrived once he visited a family farm. She would say that a child needs to eat peck of dirt to be healthy. I love to see the little ones playing in the dirt and encourage them when they visit to help garden. The spring flowers are at their peak of glory. The fruit trees and flowering shrubs are blooming, too. I am enjoying it all I can as it won't last because it will heat up and the next wave of color will struggle to thrive. I hope you are enjoying your week.

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  14. just loved your pics they are joy to eyes ,
    spring is gift of God for the earth and its living ones ,
    smile of the nature which wash away the all kinds of frustrations and stress ,your blooms are at good job dear

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  15. What fun you had with your precious grandchildren exploring the garden bed for worms. We are just emerging here but only where the sun shines warmly on one bed, the other two are still cold and will take time. Enjoy your garden days Lorrie.

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  16. What a lovely post, Lorrie, such happy kids...
    Your garden must look absolutely wonderful with lilacs and the wisteria, weigela, apple trees and rhododendrons blooming. In our garden in Italy, there are these beautiful plants flowering now, but a family member is taking photos there, not me. Oh, how I wish I had had a digital camera when I lived there.
    Thank you for sharing the beauty!

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  17. Anonymous7:23 AM

    Enjoyed reading your great description of a Spring garden emerging. Also...what fun to dig for worms. I'm enjoying my pink dogwood and watching the lilac bush blooms as they are trying to reach their glory. Blessings.

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  18. Exactly what kids should be doing. Enjoying a beautiful day outside getting their hands dirty. (Is that actually dirt around the little guys mouth? :) I was such a tomboy and was always poking around in the dirt, picking up bugs and worms when I was little. Apparently my cousin and I used to make mudpies and we might have consumed our fair share of that pound. :) Have a good day rest of the week.

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  19. Ah yes...what better thing for a little boy to do? Your photos are amazing. My wisteria was more beautiful this spring than I ever remember but now it's just a dried up mess :(

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  20. Kids and dirt and worms...life is sweet! But, topped off with blooms, it's even sweeter!!

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  21. Such a sweet post - darling grandchildren, but I'm with you - no holding worms thank you. Your flowers are wonderful. Things are sprouting here almost faster than I can keep up - Golden Chain trees, Lilacs, Wisteria - tulips - oh the glory of it all.

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  22. Everything is still emerging. I went out this morning and saw that the wild violets are in bloom! So pretty.

    Love your story.

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  23. Things are starting to get green and new growth is on its way this spring!! We so badly need a good rain though..... Such cute pics of the grandkids, so much fun to see them learn and grow. We are enjoying little Tim's vocabulary grow,,,although some of the time it all seems to sound the same, or we have to take a good guess!! Enjoying spring and looking out the window to see my sweet neighbour boys enjoying the warmer, sunnier days!! Have a wonderful day!!

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  24. Who could resist those pleas. Great photos!

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  25. How precious - kids and dirt - a match not always made in heaven! Isn't it wonderful to see the garden come alive once more? Lovely photos and sweet little faces. Always love how you transport us with your lovely words. xx Karen

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  26. Just emerging. What fun the grands had in their joyful pursuit of worms! Was anyone going fishing or are they just helping you be sure of a fine garden?

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  27. Growing with abandon here too. It's such a fun time to be in the garden observing all of this new life.
    I smiled at the conversation going on with your grands.

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  28. THe little ones are just so darn cute...!:)

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  29. Fun with the little ones and how quickly they grow up.Garden wise I will be glad when the rain stops. Garden has been so much underwater but I have managed to get on between times with redesign work. Basically digging out shrubs and replacing with smaller easier to maintain ones or just covering over with turf. The time has come to make it easier to look after.

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