I’ve started reading My Garden [Book]: by Jamaica Kincaid (an author I first heard of when I was an undergraduate in college). She writes about her gardening experiences (a pursuit she took up as an adult) and ties it to issues relating to colonialism, imperialism, feminism, racism, etc. It’s a fascinating book.
Ms. Kincaid doesn’t hide her disdain for certain subjects, and this is especially true for the cold (at the time of writing she may have been living in Vermont). She despises the cold and will not embrace it (instead, only allowing herself to love the spring-especially spring and summer) because the winter hides her garden. Even though I agree with Ms. Kincaid on that point, as a gardener, I have reluctantly learned to love and embrace the Minnesota cold. The reason is that there are many plants that I love and have in my garden (blueberry plants and daylilies), which requires a cold period in order for the plant to bloom. Therefore, many of these plants would not produce as well (or even survive) in a warm climate (such as Fresno, CA). Thus, I have learned, RELUCTANTLY, that I need to love the cold (at least for the sake of some of my plants).
Ms. Kincaid doesn’t hide her disdain for certain subjects, and this is especially true for the cold (at the time of writing she may have been living in Vermont). She despises the cold and will not embrace it (instead, only allowing herself to love the spring-especially spring and summer) because the winter hides her garden. Even though I agree with Ms. Kincaid on that point, as a gardener, I have reluctantly learned to love and embrace the Minnesota cold. The reason is that there are many plants that I love and have in my garden (blueberry plants and daylilies), which requires a cold period in order for the plant to bloom. Therefore, many of these plants would not produce as well (or even survive) in a warm climate (such as Fresno, CA). Thus, I have learned, RELUCTANTLY, that I need to love the cold (at least for the sake of some of my plants).
