Nature vs. Nurture

I’ve been thinking a lot about “Nature vs. Nurture” as I watch my daughters grow. The other night while pruning my roses I thought “why is it always nature vs nurture. Why can’t nature and nurture be friends?”. Haw Haw.

Anyway, it’s kind of true. You can’t nurture a rose bush into an apple tree (even if they are in the same family) and if humans didn’t start planting avocados we wouldn’t have them anymore cause giant armadillos aren’t pooping the pits out anymore (look it up — I learned that one at the natural history museum in NYC).

I’ve wanted to have a garden I think since I first learned to breathe - house plants have never really stuck with me, but the thought of having a gorgeous full garden (like in the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett) has been a top priority. It’s why we weren’t looking for anything less than a half acre when we were house hunting.

So is it in my nature to want this? I’m very much a can’t stop won’t stop person. I like my days filled with ‘git’er done’ and my rest time filled with the work I want to do.

I’m now in year 4 of gardening and I’m having a blast. This year I am actually going strong with my little produce cart - I’m hoping to sell bouquets of cut flowers next year.

I don’t think I’d ever want this to be my livelihood, but getting an extra ice cream cone here and there is nice.