Kelly Ash is a horticulturalist, freelance garden writer, photographer and speaker. Kelly travels throughout New England teaching and lecturing about gardening and is an expert on herbs, kitchen gardening, bulbs and forcing.
I recently started writing a new feature article for my Master Gardener Newsletter, which I’ve titled … The Down and Dirty Gardener.
Ever since being a little girl I just love sticking my hands into the soil (I have garden gloves, but I rarely use them), smelling its earthy scent and seeing my garden grow (yes, I know how hokey that sounds, but it’s true!). When most people garden they may wear outdoor work clothes and get their knees dirty, however when I garden …. I make a complete mess of myself! The man cannot figure out how I get so dirty when planting, and the mud gets absolutely everywhere! I get dirt on my face, in my hair, my clothes-lets not even go there, even in my garden wellies. It doesn’t matter that I’m wearing socks and long pants tucked into my boots, when I take off the wellies, there is still a generous sprinkle of soil tucked in between my my pant folds, stuck to my socks and a few granules are exfoliating my feet. I don’t exactly know how this all happens, but I do know that when I garden, I have a marvelous time!
And as this is the middle of winter, I often look to one of my favorite quotes by Helen Hayes I have pinned to my bulletin board … “All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy and my spirits soar.” I am already looking forward to spring bulbs and summer flowers, I feel like my garden is an old friend returning from an extended holiday, who I just can’t wait to sit down and get dirty with!
Stay Warm!
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