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Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

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May Dreams Gardens

A Gardener’s Spring Time Pledge

May 11, 2011 By Carol Michel 20 Comments

Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I state your name, am a gardener.

I pledge and promise that:

I will not panic if one week off work in May is not enough time to complete all the projects I want to have to do in the garden. (It isn’t.)

I will faithfully weed in my garden so that at no time this summer will I have more weeds than flowers.

I will promptly plant any new plants within a few days of falling in love with them at the garden center, promising them a wonderful garden to grow in, and bringing them home.

I will not buy a plant unless I know where I’m going to plant, no matter how pretty, special, low-priced, it is.

I will water all my containers when needed, even if that is twice a day, and remember to feed those plants regularly and make sure someone else will water them if I am gone.

I will mulch.

I will remain calm when the Japanese beetles emerge as adults and begin devouring my garden. I will not resort to sprays or traps, but will use safe methods to at least control them.

I will harvest everything from my vegetable gardens and give extras away to family, friends, and food banks.

I will not whine, complain, cry or carry on (too much) if I don’t get rain exactly when I think my garden needs it, or if it falls on the weekends, or otherwise interferes with my gardening activities.

I will not whine, complain, cry, or carry on (too much) if it gets too hot this summer.

I will prune as necessary to preserve the natural shape of a plant and never shape it into a nice round ball unless it is a boxwood.

I will deadhead rampant self sowers promptly so they do not take over my garden.

I will share my knowledge of gardening with others, along with passalong plants.

I will attempt to spend at least one tenth of my time in the garden just sitting in it and enjoy it.

Thank you. Please sign the registry below to signify your acceptance of this pledge.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: gardening, humor

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Commonweeder says

    May 11, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Consider the registry signed. I will do my best to do my duty.

    Reply
  2. Gail says

    May 11, 2011 at 1:07 pm

    I had to scratch out the section on planting immediately~I will buy plants as they become available here~The garden centers insist on bringing plants in only during the spring and summer months. But, we are past planting time and I'll hold them till the fall! gail

    Reply
  3. Fairegarden says

    May 11, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    Duly signed and notarized. Maybe an exclusion cause on the whining part, though.

    Reply
  4. Cindy, MCOK says

    May 11, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Signed but don't hold me to it. Especially the no whining part. It's already gone up to 96 here and rain is a distant memory.

    Reply
  5. Wendy says

    May 11, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Signed. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    May 11, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I have issues with the prompt planting and no whining about the heat promises. I've already whined about the heat & it's not even the middle of May. Otherwise, I'm on board.

    Reply
  7. KnightMare says

    May 11, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Signed 😀

    Reply
  8. growingagardenindavis says

    May 11, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    So are we really allowed to sign if we can't make those promises? I'd like to THINK I could follow the pledge but the 4th over 100 day in a row and I know I will be complaining.

    Reply
  9. greggo says

    May 11, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    I take the 5th.

    Reply
  10. Calgary Garden Coach says

    May 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Very noble goals! I agree to do my best.
    Janice

    Reply
  11. floweringmama says

    May 11, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    Signed but pleading the fifth on those voracious japanese beetles!

    Reply
  12. Lynn says

    May 11, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    I'd like to take the pledge but doubt I can pass up buying pretty plants that I have no idea where I'm going to put them – after all isn't that part of having a "cottage garden"? – and West Texans are always talking about the weather. Staying on tops of weeds is a big goal this year though.

    Reply
  13. Cheryl says

    May 11, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    Do I really have to be nice to those japanese beetles? I can promise to try to be nice….

    Reply
  14. Theresa says

    May 12, 2011 at 1:28 am

    The spirit is willing, the wish to oblige is there. I can't help but to agree with your pledge but fear it will follow the way of New Years resolutions. Espcially the part about buying plants. I always want to rescue plants without homes late in the season.

    May I take a copy of your pledge to read to my garden club tomorrow?

    Reply
  15. Lisa at Greenbow says

    May 12, 2011 at 1:56 am

    I think I can do most everything except the no whining. It makes me feel better to whine. They have just done a study about how cursing makes one feel better. I think they would find the same thing about whining. I will try.

    Reply
  16. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening says

    May 12, 2011 at 2:15 am

    Signed, sealed, delivered! Like this part…I will attempt to spend at least one tenth of my time in the garden just sitting in it and enjoying it.

    Reply
  17. compost in my shoe says

    May 12, 2011 at 3:33 am

    Might sign it after a few too many cocktails, but otherwise, yeah, right…….

    Reply
  18. Donna says

    May 12, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Alright but I had to scratch out a few more…espcially the weeding and mulching in a timely fashion…I will try though

    Reply
  19. Lydia says

    May 14, 2011 at 12:46 am

    In addition, I promise not to tell my husband that the bunnies must be bathing in hot water based on the evidence they are considerably shrunk today

    Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    May 14, 2011 at 3:32 am

    I'll sign if I have to, but only if I can take exception to the No whining about the lack of rain. I do this every summer, and it's tradition here!

    Reply

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