No Sprinkler for Me

When it comes to watering, some gardeners want to have a hand in it.

Nancy Sweetland
From Birds & Blooms Magazine

No doubt sprinklers are efficient. I’ve got four of them, all designed for a special watering need. When I’m busy, I can put one in place, turn it on and go about my business as my plants get the sustenance they need. But what about me? Over the years I’ve become accustomed to being a principal player in my small patch of earth. It’s not enough to just plant and watch. No…I must be the nurturer to this tiny greening plot. If I could, I’d carry buckets of water from a natural reservoir…or pump the liquid life from a cistern of rainwater to keep it thriving. But because I life in the city, I can’t do those things, so I handhold my garden hose.

Getting in Tune

There’s a deep-down satisfaction in feeling life-giving water flow through my hands back to the earth. As I give my plants a good long soaking at their roots a couple of times each week, I become a part of the growing cycle. I observe each bud along the way, see the grass grow and the dandelions emerge. With my hose turned to a gentle rain-like spray, I wave it like a magic wand over each section of the garden. Along the way, I take mental notes: What’s different today? What’s coming into bloom? What’s in need of care?” As I make my checklist of things to do, a wren chatters at me. Must be to close to its nest. Sorry - I’ll move along in a moment. I test the length of the hose. Will it reach to wash the dusty leaves of my bittersweet vine climbing the back fence? Yes. The vine nods as if in thanks. “You’re welcome,” I reply. “Glad to do it.”

Heart of the Matter

Do my plants sense it’s a false rain? Probably. The water isn’t as soft, but it’s given with heart. Use the sprinkler? Only if I have to. There’s a part of me that needs to identify with every single inch of my garden…learn which alien insects are preying on my Eden…and welcome the lady-bugs and spiders that help keep them in control. And when my life goes awry, or there’s a problem that needs reflection, I step out to the backyard, unfurl the hose and water my garden. In return, it nourishes my soul.