For those of us who are always doing something.
Recently, I bought another rose bush. Yes, yes, I know that I’ve not had a whole lot of luck growing roses. They’re aphid prone and very picky, but I keep trying. This particular species had such a delightful scent, and the rosy pink was such a happy color, and the tag promised they’re easy to grow, and, and, and, I could go on, but basically, I couldn’t resist.
So, after bringing the roses home, I began to wonder if I was supposed to deadhead the spent blooms. For those of you who don’t garden, “deadheading” means picking off the flowers and parts of stems after the bloom has faded. I did some research and learned that yes, deadheading promotes new growth, especially when you cut the stem at a particular point. In doing so, you allow the plant’s growth energy to be spent forming new shoots and buds, instead of forming seeds and moving towards dormancy.
Suddenly, something clicked and then, I was struck by a thought, which is one of the reasons why I love gardening: you get to quiet the noise for a bit and focus. What I realized is that this concept pertains to our lives as well. When a particular bloom in our lives has passed, it’s helpful to let it go and prune it. This way, we allow our energies to be used in a more fruitful manner to focus on and produce new growth.
Already, the bush has begun sprouting new leaves and buds. I watch with anticipation, awaiting the scent of success.
