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| Crocus tommasinianus |
I took my first steps in the garden. I don't mean when I was a baby. I don't know where I took those steps, as my mother never recorded it. But I feel like I must have felt way back then, when I took my first steps without crutches since I broke my foot on January 7. I had the worst case of cabin fever, trapped in the house for weeks, with only a trip to the doctor's office to break the monotony. Following foot surgery, I was on crutches and wearing a bracing boot. I must have looked like an indoor cat, sitting by the window, longingly gazing out at the world.
Finally, by the middle of February, I could take it no more, I had to see if my snowdrops were up and blooming. I hobbled out into the garden on crutches with a plastic bag over the boot. There was snow, there was pain. They couldn't stop me. I began to garden the next day, with a tiny bit of spring garden cleanup. That was the beginning of increasing forays into the garden.
By the last week of February, I was hobbling on one crutch Tiny Tim style. To go into the garden required a a plastic bag on the end of the crutch and one on the boot because of the mud. With one hand free, I could start carrying things.
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| view of the woodland garden with crocuses, snowdrops and winter aconites |
Yesterday, I went to the doctor again. He was so impressed with how well I was getting around without crutches and how well my foot had healed, and he also noted that my foot had even added bone. I'm back in shoes again, standing on my own two feet. I owe it all to the garden.
26 comments:
Yes, the garden is a super motivation to get out and DO something. I really think it is healing in many ways. And yay for dirt under the fingernails!! There's a fellow master gardener in my area who always (and I mean ALWAYS!) has perfectly manicured and painted nails. How the heck can she garden?!
Love the imagery of the gardener suddenly realizing she is walking! Thanks, MMD - for sharing the tale and congrats on gaining bone. Love those little crocus.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Verification word is bulabla ... garbled cheer for the little bulbs?
Barbara, I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling better and able to get into your garden! Several years ago I broke my ankle and it required 7 screws to put it back together. I too, was trapped inside my house. I know well the feeling of freedom that comes from being able to go outside and work in the garden again. And you are just in time for spring! Yay :)
It always helps to have something engrossing to take your mind off your body, and I think your body appreciates the encouragement
So glad to read of your recovery - there's nothing more beautiful than dirty fingernails - wishing you a wonderful, dirty spring :)
Delighted for you! I can only imagine what a painful journey it was for you (my daughter is off her crutches too ... healing well and in therapy). Yea Spring!
YAY!!! So glad you are walking again! Just be thankful you broke it in the winter. I can't imagine not being able to get into the garden in the summer.
Love the sight of your garden dirty nails! I celebrate with you Barb! xxoogail
A moving tale, beautifully told and illustrated, MMD! Congrats on those baby steps, and your metal lady is looking mighty fine as she rusts!!! :-)
Frances
Lovely to find your blog!
Glad you have healed well.
Ahh another gal that doesn't wear gloves YES!
We have had cabin fever here with sickness & I booked a visit to a garden without asking if it suited all the family - it didn't (needed to be taxi mum) but they have all said go - go I am heavy rain & all - soo looking forward to as you say the The Healing Power of garden.
Love Leanne
Yay for you MrMcD. I know it feels like you were released from prison. Happy Days.
Congrats! How great to be mobile just in time for spring!
I know EXACTLY how you feel. You broke your foot a little before I gave up my crutch. I hardly gimp at all now, but I do still know my foot is there, if you know what I mean.
Isn't freedom lovely!
Monica - 3 words: Lee Presson Nails.
Annie - thanks. The little bulbs need no cheer, they provide their own.
Carole - the only good thing about breaking my foot is that I did it in the middle of winter.
Kathy - mind & body are so connected, so it could be that my elevated mood from being in the garden helped with the healing.
Cyndy - thanks, it's starting off quite dirty, although this freezing weather isn't helping me get dirty.
Joey - I lucked out & don't have to go to physical therapy, just stretching exercises. I sometimes marvel at how we all got through this.
Greensparrow - Had it happened in summer, somebody would have filed for divorce. That's all I'm saying.
Gail - you can do the happy dance for me.
Frances - the "Greenwoman" is looking better & better, although her pegs did heave out of the ground a bit, so she's listing.
Cottage Tails - welcome! I have a confession to make. My nails got that dirty while wearing gloves. I usually, but not always, wear gloves to garden.
Lisa - prison or purgatory.
ROR - I'm not quite as mobile as I'd like, but this is good enough.
Sandy - Yes, I imagine we're both going to know whether we need to water or not this summer.
Barbara, it is so good to hear you back in the garden. I know it was brutal not being able to walk these 2 months plus. I hope we see more dirty fingernails!
H.
Wow, I can really relate to this post. There is something different about working with plants than with anything else in this world it is so beautiful, complex, sometimes perfect, sometimes haywire, and extremely rewarding. I tend to think that humans were made for the caretaking of all of the beautiful plants that feed us, keep us warm, and shelter us.
The crocus picture is beautiful! So glad you are able to walk through the garden again. Here's to a full and fulfilling garden season! ~~Rhonda :)
I can sense lots of sighs of relief...none of us wants a fellow obsessive gardener to be laid up. Wonderful post Barb!
Glad to hear you're recovering. I feel pent up in winter anyway, so I can't imagine dealing with a broken foot to make it worse. I'm jealous of your dirty fingernails--my soil is too cold yet. But that will be the ultimate therapy--digging in the dirt!
Yay! It must have felt really, really, _really_ good to get out there.
Lovely post and happy that you are getting down and dirty!
So good to hear that you are doing so well and back on your feet, Barbara! I heard a blurb on the news the other day about a study that found that gardeners live longer and are generally happier than other people. They could have saved some time and money and just read some blogs like yours for all the evidence they needed.
I have always said I find my garden theraputic and healing but I am talking about emotionally - however, you have proved that gardening is pyshcially healing.
So glad you are up and about now.
It's always nice to hear a healing garden story and getting out into an Illinois March garden is always motivating. I read somewhere recently that the birth of Spring in the Midwest garden has a much more heightened sense of glory and enjoyment for all of us cabin-fevered Midwestern gardeners! That is so true!! I love your blog.
Congratulations on your recovery. The garden is an inspiration and incentive but you have been a good patient in every sense. Continue taking care and enjoying the spring.
Fabulous, good for you! And just in time too...
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