A Year of Gratitude – June 3, 2024

Deep gratitude can be found in such humble places. Today, I found mine in bright green leaves.

Last year, we planted a Chicago Hardy Fig tree in the stone planter in front of the old farmhouse. We wanted to add something to the center of that large planter to be the center of attention. We looked for just the right plant and chose a fig tree.

Years ago, when I traveled to Arkansas to visit Moss Mountain Farm, I saw glorious fig trees. I loved their grand shape and the beautiful leaves they had. Of course, I also love figs and would love to have even a handful of them to cook and bake with each summer.

I hadn’t thought about having a fig tree here at the farm because I didn’t think that our planting zone could support one. So, when we discovered that this fig could indeed survive our harsh winters, I was hoping that everyone else would want one as much as I did.

We planted our tree and tended to it through the late summer and fall. We protected it during the cold winter as best we could, hoping that we could help it through its first winter here.

When the danger of frost had passed and warmer days were upon us, we unwrapped our tree and took a close look. We were concerned that there were no signs of spring growth, no green buds to be found.

We decided to wait and see if it just needed more time. We waited. The rest of our garden sprung back to life and health. Trees, bushes, and plants turned green, pushed forth new growth, and started to fill out. Yet there were still no signs of life for our fig tree.

We decided to give it more time. I was a bit worried that our winter had been too much for it. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, it started to produce these gorgeous, vibrant green leaves. Seeing them filled my gardener’s heart with joy.

This little fig tree made it through the first winter here. I don’t expect any figs this year, but it has already made me happy just by surviving, by finding the strength to create these lovely green leaves. I hope that it will be here for many more years, that it will keep growing bigger and stronger with each season.

These new green leaves filled me with joy and an equal dose of hope. I have hope for seasons to come. I look forward to watching this tree that I planted with my mom and my children grow and become a part of our landscape.

I am thankful for the lessons it has already helped me to learn. Among them, it’s important to be patient. Good things might be right around the corner if you only give them the time they need to develop.

I needed that reminder today. I also needed to be patient with myself, to give myself that gift. If I do, wonderful things just might take shape.

I hope that you found gratitude today and that the day landed gently.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.