Spring! The Joy of Change

Welcome to Where Stories Grow, my blog about writing, teaching, and creativity, all coming to you from my small backyard garden.

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Ah, the joy of change in season! Change can be scary, but when you are stuck in a winter funk, spring is such a welcome. I love when the weather finally shifts in New England, and it’s time to open all the windows for the first time in forever and let my home breathe again.

This week I basked in the glory of spring break at home. I really needed space and nature to jump start my energy, and this week showed up with 60-70 degree weather. And wow, the effect has been wonderful for my mental health. So much writing, so much gardening.

I cleaned the garden space and put up a screen tent for the season.

Seriously, I am going to live in this thing this summer. Since we don’t have a fenced in yard with full privacy, it adds a cozy nook for reading and dreaming, and an escape from the hot sun and mosquitoes. I ordered rechargeable lights for it to add even more ambience. It’s a bit flimsy and may only last a season or two, but this is my temporary solution until I can save up for a small, hardtop gazebo. I want to test out how much we’ll use the outdoor living space first to see if it’s worth it. So far, it’s a hit.

My aunt visited from Maine and gifted me a mini-greenhouse that I decided to use as a cold frame.

I squeezed in as many containers I could and started a bunch of seeds. I took this picture to remember what I planted where since I didn’t have plant tags—like the top of a box of chocolates that labels the flavors of each square.

And look! By the end of the week, I already had seedlings sprouting.

I planted an old packet of beans in my garden bed. No sign of life yet, but I thought I’d give it a shot.

I read somewhere that if dandelions are popping up, the soil is warm enough to plant. Is that true? Well, I spotted some dandelions in my lawn, so I’m testing that theory.

I bought some plants at a local market to start.

Rosemary, which I haven’t found a recipe that I like it in yet. (Nope, I don’t like it on chicken. Maybe bread?) I love the scent of it throughout the season, though, brushing my fingers through it each time I pass by.

Tomato and marigolds—classic pairing. I’ve never tried a Cherokee Purple tomato before, so that’s exciting.

Do marigolds really keep pests away? Guess we’ll see. Last year, my tomatoes and peppers were decimated by bunnies; squirrels, and other critters.

Green peppers and mint—don’t worry, I put the mint in a separate clay pot on the concrete patio. (Mint is invasive, if you didn’t know. Keep it in pots and away any soil. It can root over the side or through the drain hole.)

I love adding mint to my iced tea and lemonade in the summer. One of those little summer luxuries I look forward to every year.

The rest of the garden is beginning to bloom. By next week, it’ll be glorious, but I’ll be back in my windowless classroom. Welp, at least I get to come home to this.

Getting to see the sun again after a rainy winter and watch life reemerge is so good for the creative soul. A new novel idea popped into my brain this week (adult space opera), and I jotted down a bunch of notes, planetary systems, and family trees. Of course, that makes four possible projects in the works, and two finished manuscripts in my agent’s hands.

One thing you can say about me, I’m full of ideas. Ideas are like seeds to me—exciting growth potential, high possibility of failure, but under the right circumstances, so worth the time, energy, and risk.

Oh, by the way, I decided to change the official title of my Substack blog to Where Stories Grow. It feels more inspiring and accurate to me, and I hope it resonates with you.

Are you ready for spring? What are you planning and planting?