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May flowers

Wanda Smith's column from this week's issue of The Moose Jaw Express
OnTheFrontPorch_WandaSmith
On the Front Porch by Wanda Smith

I finished potting my plants last night. That is, unless I hit another greenhouse or two. Honestly, I do have a couple spaces left to fill in. To top it off, it was such a calm, peaceful night to work outside.

Maybe it’s just me, but it has seemed that this spring has been extremely windy in my neck of the woods. Of course, living in the country adds to that. Just before I hit dreamland, the wind got up again so I brought all my pots in. I’m thankful I did since the wind was crazy in the night.

I have one plant I like to add to my pots that does not like wind at all. Did you guess it? It’s the sweet potato vine. I love how it cascades over the sides of my pots; I have one very large planter at my kitchen garden door where I can see it from the inside looking out. The sweet potato vine adds so much visual interest — it is a favorite for sure. However, I find it takes an extensive period of ‘hardening off’ to make it viable for the windy conditions we seem to have. Hardening off is a lot of work; carrying plants in and out of the house for several days isn’t fun by any stretch of the imagination. But it is what has to be done in order for those fragile plants to become accustomed to the outside conditions. Once they are acclimated, they tend to fare pretty well over the summer months.

As I planted my tender, young plants last night, I was thinking of how they have to put down roots to withstand the prairie winds that are inevitable in our area. What would cause the plant distress in the early days would have no effect once it is well-established. In fact, did you know that wind is good for plants? Wind disperses seeds. There are several plants such as milkweed, dandelion, samara and cattail seeds that depend on anemochory (dispersal of seeds by the wind). Wind is also used to create seeds. Pollen is dispersed that will travel and hopefully fertilize a viable egg, especially for pine and oak trees, essentially passing on the legacy of those trees. Many flowers are pollinated by the wind; they do not pollinate with the aid of insects, birds or mammals, but depend on the wind to act as pollinators. Aside from the reproductive benefits of wind, the effects of wind on a new spring plant or seedling, is that their stems become stronger. Each time the wind pushes on the plant, a hormone called auxin is released that encourages the growth of supporting cells. So we see that the prairie winds, albeit nasty at times, do boast of a few benefits.

As I contemplate the growth of my plants, I am reminded of the times in my life that I’ve felt tender and fragile; certainly not wanting to face the winds of adversity or change. I’ve been tempted to stay in a bubble (like the greenhouse) and hide from hurts and the rawness of real life; yet, realizing that truly, the only way I will become strong is to allow those winds to push my roots deeper, developing a firm foundation that will withstand the onslaught.

James 1:3,4 says, “The testing of your faith develops patience. Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete; lacking nothing.”

That is my desire. I want to be strong, able to withstand the storms; blooming beautifully all the while. Do you? Join me!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication. 

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