Saturday, January 3, 2009

on decisions--- seed catalogs

In my classroom are students who have differing abilities to focus. They range from those with OCD, who can get stuck in search of certainty; and those who have ADD who are quite certain that they may be a bit impulsive. I am more like the latter so while trying to choose a variety of tomato out of the multitude can be difficult, I don't get stuck for long. But does my attention stay there long enough to get the order completed? It is not done yet.

Then today I am sitting in a library examining who got published in the best Short Stories of 1967. Raymond Carver, who my plant ecology professor would introduce me to in 1985 (24 years later I am still hooked on short stories and plant ecology, can we say MENTOR). Joyce Carol Oates, who was in the 1963 anthology (the year I was born), is back again. But I get distracted by a book on my wife's pile. Melons for The Passionate Grower by Amy Goldman. My wife was attracted by the amazing photos. I read the growing tips then page through the amazing photos of heirloom melons while waiting for my wife.

I do not despise melons, but I would not say I am passionate about them. What happened during 2007 still makes me wonder. I left a thriving melon bed to go on an August vacation. I came back to the school to be saddened by the sad state of the bed.

I sit in a library reading and wondering... we could try again. First, I have to stop and focus on the seed order.

It is a call to be in the present moment. Not being obsessed and not being distracted. A place many find hard to find, but a place full of life when we arrive.

15 comments:

tina said...

Yes, do try again-we gardeners are the eternal optimists when it comes to growing stuff-this year will be better!

Wayne Stratz said...

tina--- I am a man of hope, most of the time.

walk2write said...

I wonder sometimes if the ridiculous pace we set for ourselves has something to do with the focus problem. I don't know if you have visited Weeping Sore's site, but she posted recently about making haste slowly. Sounds funny but really has merit. And you are right about the present. It is the only time that we can control. By the way, what destroyed your melons?

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I like your humor about either being compulsive or easily distracted. My husband is usually the first, and I am the second, the queen of it, actually. I frequently use the word, "sidetracked".

Wayne Stratz said...

walk2write--- the pace doesn't help but for some the trouble with focusing goes much deeper. as for the melons... I am not exactly sure.


Sue--- It is true that most fall on one side or the other. The humor falls away when either being obsessed or distracted takes the fun out of life.

Anonymous said...

Hi Wayne an thank you for the visit in my blog.
I wish you a good start of this new garden year!

If you want to get a translation of my blog there is a translationdivice up on the right side of the blog where you can choose language its calleg - Välj Språk
Take care!
/Janne

Wayne Stratz said...

gardenlife--- I am thinking a translator would be a good thing for all of us bloggers.

walk2write said...

Mr. S, I think you're right about us (at least me) needing a translator. I hope you don't think I was belittling the reality and seriousness of psychosocial disorders such as OCD and ADD. They are real and affect many people, some of whom remain undiagnosed and untreated, which can lead to serious consequences for themselves as well as their families.

Wayne Stratz said...

walk2write--- thanks for stopping back. No I did not think you were belittling folk.

TC said...

I've heard melons do best when given plenty of fertilizer (all organic fertilizer of course). I've only grown them once, without much luck probably due to not enough fertilizer. We tried an heirloom variety, I forget the name, and although ours didn't make well, the few we harvested tasted great.

And speaking of the present moment, I must start a transcribing job...

Wayne Stratz said...

TC--- thanks for the visit. hope the transcribing job goes well.

Kylee Baumle said...

Wayne, I've got some seed from our Charentais melons we've grown for a couple of years. They have the BEST taste! Let me know if you'd like me to send some to you!

Kylee Baumle said...

I meant to mention that perhaps it was a borer of some sort that ruined your melon vines? We had that happen one year. One week, they're fabulous, the next week, wilted and dying.

Wayne Stratz said...

Kylee--- I would gladly accept some seeds. I have heard of those melons.

could have been borers... do non-gardeners no all that can go wrong!

Kylee Baumle said...

Wayne - Email me through my profile page with your address and I'll send them right out!

About the borers - I didn't know about them until they got my vines! Gardening is always a learning experience!