From Seed to Bloom: My Gardening Journey and Birthday Reflections
Today’s my birthday! My husband is working, and while I love the idea of celebrating, having a November birthday always falls during that time of year when we're saving up, juggling a million things, and before I know it, my special day kind of slips through the cracks. So, today, I decided to spoil myself a little. I headed down to Castaways Resort in Mission Beach to catch up on my admin work—and yes, have a sneaky beverage or two.
If you've never been to Castaways Resort, I highly recommend it. I'm sitting on their outdoor deck, overlooking the beach, and it’s such a calm and relaxing spot to update my income and expense spreadsheet (ha!). The breeze, the scenery—it’s the perfect place to inspire some creativity, which is why I’ve finally found the time to sit down and write this post.
For those of you who’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve recently dipped my toes into gardening and flower growing. I've always loved plants, and our house has always been a jungle of indoor greenery. But of course, caring for indoor plants that only need watering once a month is very different from nurturing something from seed and watching it bloom. I learned this the hard way, and I’m here to share some lessons I’ve picked up along the way.
1. Read Your Instructions—Seriously
It might seem obvious, but trust me—if you're anything like me, you’ll get excited about your garden and start imagining all the beautiful flowers without paying much attention to the specifics. I was so fixated on having full, bushy marigolds that I ignored spacing, depth, and positioning. I just buried the seeds in, thinking the closer they were together, the more full the flower bed would be. Wrong.
Yes, my beds are full, but my marigolds are tiny because they didn’t have enough room to grow to their full potential. The plants are competing for nutrients, water, and light, and they’re not getting enough airflow. Lesson learned: spacing is key for healthy growth!
2. Don’t Bury Your Seeds Too Deep
Another mistake I made? My snapdragons didn’t germinate at all because I buried the seeds too deep. Snapdragon seeds need light to germinate, so they only need to be lightly covered, not buried deeply. I wish someone had told me that before I started. I had a vision of tall, pink snapdragons, but instead, I ended up with nothing! Most flower seeds need to be planted at a shallow depth—usually just 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep—so always check the depth requirements for your seeds.
3. Learning From Mistakes and Watching Things Flourish
Despite my early mistakes, I learned quickly and adapted for the future. As I watched my flower beds slowly come to life and even start producing little flowers, I fell in love with gardening all over again. My obsession (I mean, "passion") grew, and I couldn't resist visiting the local nursery to grab more seeds and seedling trays.
My husband and I even expanded our garden bed, and this time, I was extra careful. I read all the instructions, used a ruler to ensure proper spacing, and made sure everything was planted at the right depth. The result? All of the seedlings are thriving, and I can’t wait until this new flower bed blooms with a variety of colors and shapes.
4. The Therapeutic Power of Gardening
What I didn't expect, but quickly came to love, is how much gardening has become a therapeutic escape from the chaos of everyday life. When I’m in the garden—hands covered in soil, Ziggy Alberts playing in the background—everything else just fades away. There’s something incredibly grounding about being physically connected to nature. It’s not just a metaphor; it’s the literal act of digging in the dirt that brings me peace and contentment.
I know gardening isn't for everyone, but I truly believe there's something magical about it. Whether it’s the sense of accomplishment, the beauty of watching things grow, or simply the act of taking a break from screens and deadlines, it’s a practice that has grounded me in ways I didn’t expect.
So, here’s to another year of growing—both in the garden and in life.