These days I'm spending a lot of time in the gardens. The vegetables haven't been planted yet but the flower beds all beg for attention. Me? I'm a sucker for any kind of garden. I indulge them, and myself, by burying my fingers in mulch and soil. My fingers work, the beds sparkle and my mind wanders. A good deal all around, I think.Yesterday I freshened up the side bed where this crocus blooms. There are orderly lines of crocuses, with daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and perennials primed for their moment of glory. All are waiting, ready for the unspoken signal that their turn has come.
The flowers look like planes lined up on a jetway. Motorists in traffic on the Expressway. Children playing Follow the Leader. All so organized, tidy and controlled. They reminded me of a plot outline I wrote recently. Everything in its place, all expectations clear and easily met.
You know what? It made me want to sweep my hand over the bed and disrupt the order. Introduce some chaos. Bring the unexpected to the serenity. I didn't do it, but I was tempted.
This afternoon I'm going to re-examine that chapter outline. I think it may need some tweaking, a twist or two or a non-conforming character. I'm actually pretty jazzed about the prospect, excited to introduce a disruption or two into the sanity my characters think is their due.
Ha.
Who would have thought a complete plot readjustment could be found among the weeds? I wonder what else lurks there? Hmm...
Have a great weekend!
8 comments:
What a beautiful metaphor, gardening and tending, to pruning your novel. Beautiful. I hope my experience with gardening is not reflected in my work - all the little plants at the garden centre cover their heads when I approach and tearfully cry out. "Don't buy me, don't buy me!" For rather than green fingers I am afraid I have devilish ones where plants are concerned.
And the difference in climate, when I was in Florida the spring flowers were gone and things like hibiscus (goregeous plant) was in bloom. At home here the daffs have all but finished...a few live on in the hedgerows but those in my garden have been and gone. Thank goodness for the lovely bluebells and wood anemoni to lighten my days. Your garden sounds delightful.
Margaret.
Sarita, you remind of Agatha Christie who wrote her plots while doing the dishes. Have a great weekend and happy spring
I think it is wonderful that you write in your head while your hands are busy in the soil. I'll bet you get lots of writing done that way since I know you do a lot of gardening. I wish I had your green thumb!
Beautiful photograph as well.
Pam
Yellow, my favorite color, what a beautiful crocus! I love flowers of any kind. Hubby doesn't, says they take too much time.
I had some beautiful lillies at Easter time but they were gone in the blink of an eye. Have some pink geraniums but I'm envious of my neighbor across the street, he has buckets of bright red ones. I couldn't find any when I was buying.
Soon we will have some home grown tomatos. Earl planted a few plants and they're loaded! Some are about to turn red. He kept the critters away with moth balls and mouse traps. Foil around the bottom stem keeps the worms away. Can't wait!
Bluebells and garden anemoni sound lovely, Margaret. It's so much fun to consider all the different plants growing on the globe. What you see daily would be cause to pull out the camera to me! Maybe someday I'll get to take a peek at your English bluebells. :)
Oh my gosh, Kathy! Agatha Christie wrote plots while washing dishes? I had no idea but right now I'm thinking I may need to learn to leave a plate or two in the sink from time to time! :)
Hope you had a wonderful weekend.
Pam, I'm so glad to see you here! Thanks for stopping by. :)
Oh Debbie, your tomatoes sound wonderful. Ours are still growing in the greenhouse, little spindly things with only a few leaves each. It will be a long time before we're picking tomatoes here.
*Sigh*
And your geraniums sound beautiful. :)
Post a Comment