Patience comes to us slowly. Have you noticed?
The Allysum and petunias which died back in the heat of July and August have reappeared, blooming for a few more weeks before frost.
As much as we may ask little ones for their patience, or try to teach its virtue,
Patience grows in our hearts over long experience.
We have to taste its fruits.
We have to have enough life experience to trust the process and know, to the marrow of our bones, that time is usually the critical ingredient to success.
Tiny starts of Viola and Heuchera just tucked into a pot.
Still waiting for the first flowers to appear on this Begonia.
It takes time to grow deep roots.
It takes time for our little starts to mature into their full beauty.
It takes time for strong branches to finally offer up flowers.
Sometimes things seem to go against us. A plant appears to die back in heat and drought.
Succulents take many seasons to multiply and fill in a pot.
Sometimes we give our best effort, yet still it doesn’t give what we expect.
A tiny begonia cutting, stuck into this basket of Fuschia, is finally blooming.
It may simply need a rest.
It may simply need more time to grow.
It may simply be waiting for the confluence of all the right conditions to manifest its beauty once again.
A Redbud tree seedling, planted with Heuchera, Viola, Autumn fern, and bulbs ready to burst into growth next spring.
Just as we put bulbs into the ground today, knowing their flowers are months and months away;
Just as we plant a seed, and keep it moist and warm until it awakens and begins to grow;
Just as we put a broken branch into water, and watch for roots to appear;
So we must trust that the plans and ideas we tuck into the moist soil of our own imagination will come to fruition in their own season.
Every thought and wish is a seed.
Every act of love and kindness to another prepares the way for beauty to manifest.
We are the gardeners of our lives; planting, watering, feeding, staking, pruning, and being patient; while we ourselves come to fruition.
Discarded from the kitchen windowsill in June, this Cyclamen is blooming once more out on the deck.
All Photos by Woodland Gnome 2013
Trust the Process
Related articles
- Practitioner of The Art of Patience (afromoves.wordpress.com)
- Gardening is waiting for the payoff (triblive.com)
Forest Garden 
What a lovely post 🙂
Thank you, Annie. Finally rain here today 😉