Although I wait all winter for spring to arrive, it always seems to catch me off-guard. I find myself bubbling with enthusiasm for just about everything yet it’s hard for me to focus. There are so many things I want to do in spring, so much waiting for me to accomplish, that sometimes it’s a little overwhelming.
I have to admit that I make a lot of demands on myself in caring for my house and gardens. Creating and maintaining the “look” that I want, inside and out, takes a lot of time and effort. As I get older my energy wanes but my desire to do it all does not and so I must seek inspiration to help spur me into taking action.
Since there’s still snow on the ground, I have to put gardening aside for warmer days and focus on the house chores, but where to begin? Yesterday, after walking from room to room and reminding myself of all that needs to be done, I decided to pick just one task and see it through. Maybe that would provide me with the all-important impetus to begin my spring cleaning.
My chosen project was a bit odd but one I will share nonetheless. For about 20 years I’ve had a fragrant jasmine in my living room which eventually grew so large that it wound itself around the top of the plant stand it called home. Sadly, this beloved plant decided to give up on life this winter and I had been watching the slow and steady decline over many weeks. The leaves had begun to yellow and crisp, there were no signs of new life, and I had to face the fact that my jasmine was finally done with this world. I mourned the loss of my old friend but was forced to make funeral arrangements!
Clearing off all my other plants from the stand, I grabbed my trusty pruners and cut the main trunk of the jasmine; the winding branches soon followed it into a large plastic bag to be composted later. Once the plant was removed, I vacuumed the surrounding floor of debris and tackled cleaning the plant stand until it sparkled. After returning the other plants to their home, even they looked brighter.
Completing this small task, and one that I had been putting off for weeks, gave me such a sense of accomplishment! I had faced something unpleasant that needed to be done and made it through. I immediately started thinking about what other plants would fill that space to create a similar look. I was energized and inspired! And I think that’s what spring is really all about for me – that inspiration, that renewed joy of living! Once it strikes, there’s no stopping me, and the next few weeks will be a whirlwind of activity as I celebrate this wondrous season by once again springing into action!
I hope this first day of spring has brought you some inspiration as well!
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