Reason #30: Seasons matter.

As I write this, a fresh thick blanket of snow is covering the ground. Kids in our school district had an “E-Learning Day,” and there’s even talks of there being another snow day tomorrow. (Okay, maybe it’s just me talking about it).   

If you’re anything like me, you probably associate winter with death and darkness. And I’m not just saying that because I was cooped up with my kids all day. Everything is quite literally darker, bleaker, and slower. But you know what’s crazy? Things are very much still alive. They are just under the surface, and they don’t look as alive. Think about how much life is inside of a tiny seed under all that snow and some soil. Did you know that a sequoia tree can grow to 300 feet? And the seed it starts from is the size of a flake of oatmeal.  

But enough about seeds. Those are a miracle in themselves! I’m here to talk about seasons. Seasons matter! Seasons are one of the one hundred reasons I want to be a farmer! With each change in season, we are reminded that things change, and that can be really, really good.  

That oatmeal flake of a sequoia seed (among many other types of plant seeds!) actually needs a period of cold weather in order to germinate for a couple of reasons. Number one: the seed coating needs to break down. Two: Many seeds require a cold period as a survival mechanism so that the seed doesn’t sprout prematurely and is only killed as a young plant by frost and harsh temperatures. This same type of dormancy period happens in woody plants and herbaceous perennials.  

Happens in humans, too. When you look back on your life (which is the only way life really makes sense, I’m learning), don’t you see those periods of time when winter was necessary? I think about the period in my life before I had my first baby and how peaceful and lovely that time was. There were challenges, too, and I consider those metaphorical seed coatings that needed to be broken down to prepare me for what was next. There are seasons in life that are for getting ready. And that’s how I see winter.  

Then there’s spring. Beginnings. Life anew. Birds are chirping; there is sunshine for more hours, rain, mud, and planting! I feel as though I am mostly in the spring of life right now, big-picture speaking. Nothing but babies, babies, babies, and lots of growing, growing, growing. Some rain and mud, too. Things are new, things are a mess, and maybe I have seasonal allergies, I don’t know. ;) 

But if you’re a little sneezy and teary-eyed in the growing stage, just know you’re not alone. I’m right there with you, trying to figure it all out. Is the soil still too wet and cold to be worked? Is it too soon to plant? When should I stop breastfeeding? Why won’t my three-year-old use the toilet? Is my kindergartener doing okay in school? Am I doing okay in life?! 

One of the characteristics I’m trying to embody is to be patient during growth. With my plants, with my kids, with my career, with myself.  

And then, summer. Suddenly, all that patience and new growth becomes long, hot, sunny days: sweat, sunscreen, and weeds. The grass is always greener, am I right?! Kids are home, routines adjust (or collapse!), and everything is a bit hazier and lazier. Plants bloom abundantly, we almost forget how excited we were to see that first daffodil shoot peeking up three months ago (which feels like years ago at this point!). Because now the flowers are everywhere! And the kids are everywhere! And it’s so fun and bountiful but also...it’s a lot.  

It’s a LOT. And it’s hot. And it’s busy. And there are unending weeds to pull, plants to deadhead, birthday parties to attend, flowers to water, boo-boos to kiss, band-aids to apply, water bottles, and snack cups to fill.  

Plants bloom in order to reproduce by attracting pollinators. The beauty and joy of summer propels us into what’s next. We keep as busy as bees (and literally, the bees are busy!), and pollen is transferred. Plants can’t form seeds and fruit without this pollination. Then, seeds are dispersed by wind or by birds.  

I like to think of summer as the season that we, too, bloom and are dispersed into the wind. Be free. Have fun. Relax. Keep growing. Bloom and produce seed. Enjoy the warmth, light, and long days full of energy from the sun.  

Because then there’s fall. Change. More darkness creeping in. Preparations for the cold. Harvesting. Reaping the benefits from all that we worked so hard for in the previous seasons. Gratitude for the blessings therein. After the blooms fade and seeds are produced, we observe what looks a lot like death in plants. And, it is so, so inexplicably beautiful. The leaves change colors, the sunsets reflect it, and the coffee tastes like pumpkins. What could be more exquisite?   

But after all these musings...why do seasons matter?  

Because change is constant, and it’s hard. And transitions are hard. It’s good for us to be reminded to live in our current season. And to be in the present moment.  

That’s what flowers can do for us. You can watch, right on your kitchen table, as buds turn to blooms, and then flowers fade and fall. The whole cycle, right up close. What a sweet reminder of how beautiful change can be.  

This year, as we walk through another four seasons, may we deepen our awareness of what’s happening around us. What’s growing? What’s changing? What’s our season?  

This is why I want to grow flowers and why I want to share them with you. In locally grown flowers – you will get nature-inspired arrangements that reflect the season we are in. These flowers aren’t grown in a warmer faraway climate like Ecuador or Columbia and then flown here. You’re not going to get tulips from me in August or Peonies in February.  

But you will get a reminder of the current season. The present moment.  

Let’s connect with the seasons together and find joy and rejuvenation in everyday life. Sign up for my waitlist below to stay updated on what flowers are in bloom. 😊 And make sure to follow us on social media too!  

Here’s to seasons!!  

-Dana 

PS - Yes, there really are a literal list of 100 reasons I want to be a flower farmer. And you can read the full explanation and reason #1 here.  :)