~Never Lose Hope ... with Gardening (in the title) 😉 ~
This is a spin-off of a thread posted in 2016 by
@Arico whom at that time was questioning if the struggles of gardening outweighed the joys.
The thread "Giving up" in
All Things Gardening forum We've all been there. At some point. "Why bother?" "It's a lot of work." "Just forget about it." I know I've contemplated "giving up" and "letting go" several times. Didn't actually act on it until this past winter when I let nature take its course on plant "heirlooms" passed down to me from several generations. Plants I plucked from 48 states and smuggled back home to my little nook in North Florida. "If doesn't want to grow here, why force it?" Was part of my reasoning.
Part.
The rest?
I've no idea what I was thinking. After it was all said and done I was devastated. Why!? Because in a moments flash of realization that my green thumb pride has been a part of me for so long and I ignored my silent greenery, that called out in terrifying whispers "help" as they froze. It was a lightning bolt that jolted my inner core. The remnants of the potted plant massacre, which would have filled a commercial nursery, had me cursing my error. So many memories and stories with each plant, leaf, blossom and shoot. What have I done!?
I gave up hope.
After pouring my heart out on the above mentioned thread,
@tx_flower_child heard my woes and tried to perk me up like a withered impatiens flower. With much debate on "giving up", "throwing in the towel", "letting go" and "not losing hope"
@greene inspired this thread that begs the question(s) "Have you ever been on the brink of giving up hope" "Have you ever felt the heartbreak of relinquishing hope in the garden?" "Has hope ever kept you afloat in a sea of green with life rafts made of blossoms?"
Never lose hope.
If you ever feel that there is no hope left in that pile of rusty garden tools, no hope left at the bottom of that soil bag or no hope in removing those store stickers off your new terra-cotta planter. Know this, we as gardeners unite. We're here to help each other. I know, that without each of you who have helped me over the years. From the old garden guides to here at NGA, you've been a blessing disguised as text and smileys. Thank you.
So?
Have you ever almost given up hope on your garden?
