Stewardship–Caring for Something You Love
Posted by Laura Nelson on February 7, 2010
By Art Gara
When you spend time weeding and pruning, cutting back and carefully tending your plants, you are, in fact stewarding your garden. The meaning of the word “steward” applies to the watching over and maintaining of something that has been “entrusted to your care” It also means that you want to maintain that something by applying certain standards to it– probably pretty high standards. Yet sometimes you might ask yourself, why should I bother weeding, these are native plants, they can take care of themselves, right?
The answer is that if you don’t, or can’t, even some native plants may become aggressive and your wildflower garden would be in danger of losing it’s integrity and diversity. Many of us start out with the intention to maintain and watch over our new garden, but not all of us actually have the time and energy to do the best job that the garden beds deserve.
At Art and Linda’s we feel that one has to work at stewardship, just the way you would with the relationships you care for in life. It’s never a once-in-a-season attention that you give to family and friends, but more of an ongoing and thoughtful process. Once you have established your beautiful wildflower garden, you can familiarize yourself with its special needs and maintain its growth in order to keep it looking its best and / or you can consider the services of an outside “steward”– like us.
A professional steward has the knowledge of native plants as well as the materials and assistance they need to do the best job possible. A good steward is also one who watches out for the weeds, or the plant that has become too aggressive. We will certainly know when the occasional species that may have a showcase position in your garden needs to be thinned out or cut back.
In considering stewardship, consider applying a real “steward’s” knowledge to your gorgeous, growing wonder. Keep it thriving and healthy, as that will strengthen it for future enjoyment and also help to maintain the goals which you have in mind for your beautiful yard.
Reach Art Gara at (708) 785-2943, art@artandlindaswild flowers.com.
Tags:Home & Garden
