Triumph, Dirt Spills, and True Neighborly Spirit

When the idea of building 36ft raised garden beds sprouted in my mind, I imagined glorious rows of thriving zinnias, sunflowers and Cosmos. What I didn’t imagine was the chaos that would unfold in the process!

Ambition vs. Reality: The Build Begins

With grand plans in hand, I dove headfirst into constructing the longest raised garden beds I’d ever attempted. Five of them at Thirty-six feet long each, built to hold enough soil to grow a thousand flowers — or at least, that’s how it felt shoveling buckets of dirt one after another.

But as I worked, the clock seemed to speed up while my energy slowed down. It didn’t take long to realize I was running behind my planting schedule. Would my carefully prepared seedlings have to wait too long? And what if my planting strategy wasn’t right? I found myself questioning spacing options to the types of beds I wanted. There are so many different options! Every decision felt weighty as time ticked on.

Disaster Strikes: Dirt, Dirt Everywhere

The moment of truth arrived when we started filling the beds with soil. At first, it felt triumphant—like we were nearing the finish line. But then came the unexpected catastrophe. Whether it was a slight oversight in structural reinforcement or just bad luck, the weight of the soil proved too much for the sides of the beds. Cue the great dirt spill of the century: soil cascading out like a landslide, leaving behind a mess and my dream garden hanging by a thread.

As the dirt spilled, I thought about the setback. Was the universe telling me to slow down and reconsider my approach? Perhaps this was the nudge I needed to take another look at my planting methods and give myself permission to experiment with spacing and design. The loss of time became a strange blessing in disguise—it was a forced opportunity to pause and recalibrate.

Enter the Neighborly Hero

Just when our energy—and patience—was running out, my neighbor appeared like a hero on the horizon. With their encouragement, tools, and a couple of extra sets of hands, we reinforced the sides and reworked the design. Their expertise turned disaster into laughter, and what could have been a discouraging moment became a lesson in resilience and community.

Lessons Learned and Growing Forward

Looking back, the experience was more than just building garden beds. It was a reminder of the importance of flexibility, teamwork, and accepting the realities of aging with a touch of humor. While my body might not perform like it used to, the camaraderie and the shared goal made the struggle worthwhile. And the extra time spent deliberating my planting strategy turned out to be invaluable, allowing me to refine my vision for the garden.

So now, as I stand admiring the finally-completed raised beds, I feel not just the triumph of a job done but the gratitude for the neighbor who came to the rescue—and the lessons learned from the setbacks. The blooms are now poised to tell their own story: one of trial, error, and eventually, triumph!

With love and blooms,

FOXY