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Sowing The Seeds

Writer McWriterson

(of love) I didn’t want Tears for Fears to sue me because of the title.

I planted the seeds for the soul garden last week, and I must admit that it made me feel a little emotional (in a good way).

Ella helped plant the sunflowers 🖤

Sunflowers and black-eyed susans will grow in that garden up there. Those are the only two peonies that survived being transplanted from the front yard two years ago.

Soul garden before

The soul garden has been relocated to the back of the yard due to the installation of a pool near the patio. Not a fancy installed pool, but a four-foot-deep Amazon pool. Because it’s not my project, but Mike and Ella’s, I’m not sure what the dimensions are, but they’re hard at work on it. I’ll post more details once it’s up and running.

When it came to planting all of your seeds in the soul garden, I used a technique known as chaos gardening. I found out about it on TikTok from a variety of gardeners and plant “experts.”

Basically, you tend to the garden bed by loading your wheelbarrow with new soil, adding all of the seeds you want to plant, blending them together like a big seed cake, and then dumping it into the garden and turning it in through the soil.

Kind of like this:

@patricksplants

Getting ready for spring. I do a lot of plant stuff. Any type, follow for more. I also love questions! #houseplantcoop #wildflowers #flowers #gardening #landscaper #plantpeople

♬ Blitzkrieg Bop (Mono) – Ramones
That is a naturally growing wisdom violet. My mom called it a gift from the birds. DO NOT TELL ME OTHERWISE IN THE COMMENTS.

I almost turned off the comments because I don’t want any gardening “experts” to say things that will bring my soul garden down.

If you have something contrary to say, keep it to yourself.

That is not the vibe here. 😊

Yeah! What my mommy said!

Anyway, let’s get back to soul gardening….I really hope the birds drop some cannabis from the sky.

Let’s make that a reality for next summer.

My initial plans were to have neat rows of flowers so that I could say,“Oh look! Katie’s flowers are here! Have you seen Melanie’s flowers? “How lovely!”

But then the pool ruined everything.

Thanks Mike and Ella. Enjoy your floaties.

I KID.

I was running out of room. The bird-drop flowers had taken over the soul garden.

Then I just got tired. After planting two packets of black eyed susans and spreading all of my zinnias, I was exhausted. Nobody warns you about how exhausting gardening can be after menopause.

Maybe that should be my next book.

Gardening after Perimenopause. An “Expert’s” Guide.

I’m kidding. I don’t have the energy for that either.

Then I remembered the TikTok about throwing seeds into a wheelbarrow that I’d seen.
All of your seeds are waiting to be mixed up and thrown into the chaos that is the soul garden.

As enthusiastic as I am about intention, good vibes, and this soul garden, I am also aware that there is a chance of failure. I needed to be reasonable, so I decided that doing chaos gardening would increase the chances of the flowers surviving. I also didn’t plant any zinnias here, which freed up more space for all of the packets.

I discovered a cool playlist on Spotify called Gardening Mix (I wish I’d thought of that), and I was listening to it while working the soil and seeing all of the seeds go into the soil of my yard. It felt really cool, universal, and as if you were all here with me.

I was thinking of all of you as I added the seeds to the mix and how special it will be to remember you and your loved ones when each flower blooms. I purchased additional seed packets for my loved ones and the loved ones of loved ones who have passed away, and I cried as I added each packet to the soil in the yard because those beings felt like they were there with me.

I saved all of the seed packets I used so you could see what I added to the garden.

Before I threw away the packets, I made a sunshine out of them.

Then I noticed there was a rainbow on the floor. It’s kind of visible above. Rainbows never appear on our floors until later in the day, so it felt like a little sign.

I can’t wait to see how our garden turns out.

Our chaotic, soulful garden.

Thank you for being part of it.

61 thoughts on “Sowing The Seeds”

  5. Oh Kari!! I love this project and can’t wait to see how it unfolds over the year. AND I love the chaos method! It’s going to be so amazing!

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  7. I hope it’s amazing!! I have never ever managed to plant (and grow!) anything from seed as not one of my fingers, thumbs or toes are green.. but I have managed to keep most of the full sized plants I’ve planted alive so that’s good enough for me. I do not enjoy gardening at all but want those beautiful lush gardens I see at other’s people houses since I do so love flowers. I have contented myself to buying memberships and entries to large gardens and just enjoying all their hard work and blooms. I can’t wait to see flowers as things start to bloom– seems like something is bound to take hold!

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    1. I understand what you mean. I was concerned when I heard that many people had difficulty growing anything from seed. I began to wonder how I had such good luck last summer. But I’m trying not to freak out because I need to believe that I’ll have luck this year, because I honestly believe that a lot of gardening is luck, especially when it comes to seeds. I tried starting seeds indoors from an online nursery last year and grew them to plants before putting them in the ground, but they all died. So I’m not always good with plants and gardening. 😒

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      2. I just heard a girl say that you can start planting indoor plants without soil. Just bare-rooted plants in water. That was something I’d never heard before. That tells me that plants are more resilient than we give them credit for.

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    1. I echo the “brilliant”! Why would you be concerned about the comments? You know what how the old saying goes: “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today.” Same goes for gardens, methinks 🙂

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  12. Chaos gardening? That’s my kind of gardening! I scattered your zinnia seeds last week in random places in my back yard gardens, and I’m just letting Mother Nature take its course.

    I know you will be posting photos of your flowers, but I can’t wait to see it all in person, too. And maybe I’ll bring my floaty for your pool. JK! I don’t even have a swimsuit. 😉

    xoxo

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    1. That, in my opinion, is the best kind of gardening. I’m looking forward to seeing those zinnias bloom. This summer, I’d love to post pictures of everyone’s zinnias on my blog.

      YES!! This summer, you’ll have to come hang out with me at the pool! 😘❤️

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  13. Kari, I can’t wait to see how your soulful garden turns out too. And I am sooooooo envious because I have zero, and I mean ZERO talent with plants, flowers, etc. I think I told you before in one of my comments that I kill silk flowers. LOL!

    I LOVE the peace sign in the garden! Reminds me of growing up in the 60s!

    Adorable photo of your dog!

    Happy Monday and week, my friend! X

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      2. I’m sorry, friend. I really hope it gets better eventually. I have to say that if it weren’t for my anti-depressant, migraine preventatives, and magnesium, I would be right there with you.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. I can’t wait to see your photos of the flowers! I hope it turns out just how you picture it (or better). I suspect you are going to love that pool. I have a plastic kiddie wading pool that is just for my friend Lisa and me. When it gets too hot, she comes over and we fill the pool, put our feet in, and drink beer. No pool maintenance! Other than getting the winter scrim off the first time we use it. 🙂

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  16. Chaos gardening. This is the most genius thing ever!!
    I’m so excited to see how it turns out, and it if it doesn’t, we still have that rainbow and sunshine up there. All good. Oh, and Mike and Ella will have their damn pool! 😜😜😜
    Thanks for making me smile and giggle.

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  20. This is goona be so pretty. I can’t wait to see the results. I’m not great at planting. I usually get around to throwing some flowers in the ground, but it really isn’t my thing.

    I’m interested in the pool. I would be all about a 4 foot pool. Beware of any local racoons that might consider providing swimming lessons in it while you sleep. I suggest a camera to catch any furry friends taking late night dips.

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    1. I’m not usually good at gardening, so throwing seeds into the ground is perfect for me.

      I believe so. It will be equipped with a cover to keep racoons and skunks out. I may need to purchase a camera. 😊

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  21. Aw I think you’ve created a beautiful and meaningful beginning for your Soul Garden. The playlist and the remembering and the rainbow graced seed packet starburst and happily scattering the mixture of seeds around…. Just lovely.

    And Trying Things is the heart of gardening. Bird poo does some of the best garden design *ever*. 🙂

    This will surprise you (not!) But I love that Tears For Fears song. Gonna hum that all day. Thank you for the Tuesday gift!

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    1. This post took me ten minutes to write, which is nothing compared to how long it usually takes me. Those seem to be the posts that are closest to my heart. This was a lovely day, and I wanted to share it with all of you. I’m so glad it struck a chord with you. ❤️

      One of my blog friends made the observation that the birds simply dropped the violets, so why not simply toss seeds in the garden? I can’t believe I overlooked that connection. 

      I love that song as well! It was popular during the summer and fall of my move from Ohio to Illinois.

      You’re welcome, my friend. 😘

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  22. Such a great song! I get so jazzed when I hear it play on First Wave. I love the idea of a chaos garden and I’m excited to see updates. I’m with you; planting stuff wears me out. We have rocky soil, so between hitting rocks while digging, being careful with garden gloves to not break the plants, and then worrying that the deer will eat it…..too much stress!

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    1. I’ve been listening to it occasionally over the last few weeks. I also love First Wave. I’ll think of you the next time I listen.
      It makes me so happy to see little green leaves poking out of the ground in our soul garden! 

      I wish I was patient enough to garden. It takes a lot of work! 

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