Feeling very sick and dizzy I tripped over the couch and fell on the floor.   When I went to the refrigerator all that was palatable was the Pepto Bismol  in the refrigerator.    Every bone in my body said,  ”Don’t open today!”.     I trudged to the closet to pull out my shirt and jeans.   Dang!  I forgot to put them in the dryer last night.   Throwing on my shirt wet from the washer actually felt pretty good because my body felt like it had a fever.   I gulped down Pepto Bismol like kool-aid.  I put on my shoes and went outside.    Hmmm!  Things to do!

• Prep the cash register.   (Oops, forgot to get more dollar bills from the bank!)
• Turn on the sprinklers.  
• Make the coffee and set out the refreshments.
• Tidy up all the empty spots where perennials were sold the day before.
• Rearrange the sitting area.
• Sweep the selling lot aisles and inside the garden center.
• Make a list of people that I need to call.
• Turn on the peaceful music.
• Put up the highway signs.

 Every time I tried to hammer in a stake I hit a rock.   After 12-15 attempts, sick to my stomach, tired, headache and frustrated I sat down in the open field and prayed.  ”God see me through!”  After a bit, I stood up collected my thoughts and bingo the stake went in with ease.   Walking down the ditch to my truck I tripped over a rock and fell.  This time I laid on the thistle and weeds in the ditch and just laughed.  I wanted to cry and and scream, but instead and said,  whatever!.   I rolled back up in a sitting position and accidently put my hand on a ripe thistle.  Retracting my hand back, I could see the 50-60 thistles stuck in my hand.  Bit by bit they came out.  I glanced at my watch 6:52 a.m. and still one more large ten foot sign to put up.    With all my might, I said some self talk.    ”Dave,  get a grip this is just a road block it is not a fact.”  Now stand up and hold your head high.  You have a dream, and you desire to see other people find their dreams unfold.   Now 6:53 a.m., jumped in the truck, hand oozing with pain I grabbed a hold of the key and started up the truck.     Drove up to the garden center lot and  closed my eyes for what seemed like an eternity.   Pulling out the key to unlock the gate I pulled it back and set up the entrance signs.   My dogs came up to me and wagged their tails.   Dumb and Dumber names I have earmarked for them.  I sad down next to one of them and she licked my hand, I smiled.  I looked around and saw once again the beauty that I see every day.   The sun glistened from the wet mist of the sprinklers and the scents of the flowers brought to my attention that though the nite was a huge challenge that a new day is upon me.   6:57a.m.   I stood up and unlocked the garden center doors, took a deep breath and said,  it will happen.   Suddenly without notice the sprinkler fell off the stand and shot straight at me totally soaking me like a wet rag.   It felt good, still feeling sick I laughed and said, “Bring it on”.   I feltl like a  5 year old in a swimming pool.  Suddenly the dogs started to bark and in the distant I could hear my first customer of the day driving down the road.   The car pulled up to the parking lot and a lady came out and said,  ”Good Morning. I waited all week to get here to see this place, I have heard so much about it.”  She walked around for the longest time and kept making comments like  ”It is so calming around here and so beautiful”!     Tears came to my eyes and the words streamed through my mind as if to say, “Yes, it really is paradise”.     

It would be hard to believe that a president’s wife with all her prestige and standing in the United States would write such a profound statement regarding hope.   I look back at some of my own personal struggles that have challenged me from time to time.  When I was most frustrated, I would go out and visit my gardens. The soothing mesmerized feeling of solitude, peace and color would seem to melt away my fears and concerns. I woiuld come back to the house with new hopes of tomorrow.   Customers often make comments about the need to race home after work just to be able to dig in their gardens away from the complexities of life.   I believe the essence of  perennial flowers is that of true freindship and forgiveness.   Perennials like people seem to respond to the touch of a gardener.  When you reach out to them they reach back, a good lesson to remember when wanting to maintain good friendships.

I can hardly wait to have my first sale to see  all the excitement of the people breaking from their winter mood and come alive at all the potential flowers that will make their gardening dreams come true.   I have to gain as much as anyone else, I love to learn and from the simplest concept to the hardest concept, people are more than eager to share what they have learned in their gardens.     Gardeners have an appreciation for other gardeners and it is fun to be with people like this.  Most of the time  gardeners seem so up beat and like challenge to try something new and are not afraid to fail.  They just get up and start over again!   Join the family of gardeners and experience the joy of gardening.

Have a great day!

Dave Christensen

My GRRR photo!

Stay away from people that belittle your dreams, laugh at your creativeness, and discourage your ambitions!

Have a great day!

Perennials in pots waiting to be potted, and expand and grow in the lives of others.