Vicarious Gardening

This is Monty Don, known across the pond as "Britain's Gardener" (that's his dog, Nell, on his lap). Monty has become my new favorite person thanks to BritBox and an enforced hibernation due not only to surgical recovery time but now this insane virus that has propelled me into the high risk category. Just when I was on my way to an OK from my doctor to get out and about more, I am now forced to practice radial social distancing a.k.a. not going anywhere but downstairs for the mail and maybe a walk around the parking lot of my complex ... as long as I don't go near anyone coming or going. Enter my new BFF, Monty.

It's been quite a while since I've been able to garden the way I used to. My first and favorite garden, complete with vegetable patch, herbs, bulbs, flowers, shrubs, etc., is a distant memory as is my container garden housed on the enclosed porch of the apartment where I lived for 15 years. Circumstances have landed me in a sweet little studio apartment on the third floor of a walk-up with not even a tiny porch or speck of outdoor space. The exception is my window sills which would be perfect if they were not also the favorite resting place of my sweet cats, one of whom has already claimed any and all plants that live there as either part of her kitty salad bar or a plaything to be dug up and tossed across the room (this is previous experience speaking here). I own only two plants at the moment,  a small bamboo sitting is a big pot in the corner, and something that looks like the top of a pineapple - but isn't - that I rescued about 15 years ago from the desk of a co-worker who was laid off and not inclined to take it with her. To say it has grown on me is an understatement but I can't part with it. I am currently in the process of trying to figure out how I can use the wall for house plants according to space available and the amount of sunlight I get. The quest to play in the dirt continues.

 In the meantime, I happily discovered Monty's TV show on BritBox called "Gardener's World" and have been binge-watching Season 1 (29 episodes) with Season 2 in a holding pattern (32 episodes). He is also appearing on Netflix in three other different gardening shows. Needless to say that while I may not be able to enjoy the flowers of spring outside my home, I can enjoy what I call vicarious gardening. This is the ability to enjoy watching and learning from the pros while collecting ideas for the future. The real trick here is not to let it make me melancholy for the gardens I used to have or could have. Once again, it's all in how you look at it, and Monty makes it fun, informative, and leaves you begging for more. I have to admit I'm developing a bit of a crush on him!

It would be so easy to sit there in front of the tube and let myself get depressed or feel jealous. I have to confess that it did set in for the first episode or two. As I kept coming back each day I started to realize that I was robbing myself of pleasure by behaving like a child who has had her privileges taken away. After all, it's not about how you garden, it's about enjoying the process however you can. It's about learning new things, and coming up with new and innovative ideas that fit your needs. This isn't just true of gardening, but of anything you love to do but haven't been able to for one reason or another. It can either be a negative thing, or a challenge to find a different way to experience the same enjoyment. The amount of energy you use up will be the same either way, so why not make it the best alternative you can come up with, and then congratulate yourself for your creativity and courage. As I've always said, perspective is everything. 

As for me, I am doing a bit of online window shopping in search of wall-mounted plant holders. With summer just around the corner, I have a feeling that a little bit of basil and lavender will do just fine on the wall above my mystery plant ... and no feline will be able to reach it! The quest continues.

And so it is.