Is gardening like writing? I think so. This is what Carl Lennertz wrote in his blog, Publishing Insider:
Every 5 years or so, I get a truckload of topsoil dropped off so I can elevate a corner of the yard or start a new flower bed. And it occurred to me, sleepily, that the sound of a shovel going into dirt is one of the most satisfying, tangible sounds, of all. The shoosh of metal on dirt, then the creation of something new. And then it hit me that writing was like that, too. The sound of writing, the sense of building something, measurable bit by bit, and most of all, the going back and reshaping and redoing.
I wholeheartedly agree. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a garden emerge and grow after much labor and effort. I share Lennertz’s simple pleasure of digging and planting—although I do it with a professional’s sense of urgency to complete a project on time. But still, the “shoosh” of a shovel is a comfortable sound, like an old friend’s voice or rain on the roof.
The shovel and rake are my comrades in arms just like the words that flow onto a page. In my case, each calls up the other. I cannot put down the shovel nor can I stop the words that seem to tumble out like ½-inch gravel around a subsurface drainage pipe (Ha!).
Gardening is indeed like writing. Weeding, cultivating, and enhancing are tasks that they share. If you neglect any of these steps, the result will suffer. Flowery prose must be pruned. Overstuffed plant beds must be edited.
I agree with Mr. Lennertz’s notion that writing and gardening are quite similar—reshaping and redoing, both the earth and the words. It is the “building something, measurable bit by bit” that offers so much enjoyment.
A stand of perennial David’s Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. davidii) sends up lilac-purple flowers in July–August. The slightly wild look melds into the pond view beyond. These deer-resistant flowers prefer shade or partial sun. They need soil that is well drained and rich in organic material. David’s Chinese astilbe grows to 4 feet tall and spreads vigorously, which is great for naturalizing a space. It is perfect for woodland gardens and shaded borders. Leave the seed heads standing for interest in winter. This is at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.