Iceland Poppies, Pumpkins, and Pizza

Once (or maybe twice) when we lived in San Diego I was inspired to grow flowers in a thin patch of dirt that bordered the picket fence around our property.  I wanted to grow them from seeds – I thought it would be fun to watch them grow and bloom.  While I wanted to watch my little seedlings grow, I knew the kind of gardener I am.  I needed something easy, drought tolerant, and hardy.  So, after some pursuing the seed isle at Home Depot, I made my way to the cashier with large packets of sweet alyssum and Iceland Poppy seeds. 

It wasn’t until I got home and started reading ALL the information on the back of the packet that I learned Iceland Poppy seeds have a relatively short time to germination (Like 10 days) but they take nearly one year to bloom. 

Yes, one whole year before I would see even the hint of a flower.  Forget that!  I decided.  I had no intention of waiting an entire year for the gratification of growing flowers from seeds. If I had known that, I would have bought the pony pack!  This garden project was all about immediate success – instant beautification.  I wanted to plant seeds that would grow and bloom, practically, over night.  I didn’t have time to waste.  The sweet alyssum could stay, but the poppies would have to go. 

Last night our family joined the Sweeney family at the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm.  And I felt a little bit like an Iceland Poppy that was just starting to bloom. 

We’ve been up here in the Bay Area for 26 months, to be exact.  Just a little over two years.  And it hasn’t felt like home.  And I think park of me has been wondering if it ever will.  That is, until last night. 

Last night all four of us piled in our good ole’ Camry and traveled up Clayton Road to the Pumpkin Farm.  And I smiled the entire way.  Here we were, two adults and two toddlers, meeting friends who we no longer call “our new friends” and who now are our “friends”.  We were doing something again, something that is likely going to be a tradition for us.  It seems we were growing our roots deeper, instead of farther out – and it feels like this new life for us is becoming a little less new and a little bit more familiar. 

You see, I don’t like change and I don’t really like trying new things (boring, I know.)  I like to know what to expect and I like consistency.  I always order the same things at restaurants and I seldom take a different way home from the store – even if the light is red.  I like predictability, I thrive in routine, and I thirst for familiarity. 

So this year when we visited the pumpkin patch AGAIN, and drove the same car we drove last year, passed our church on the way, and greeted the owners like old friends, well, it goes without saying, I felt like for the first time in 26 months I was joyful without having to try.  My “cup of joy”, in those moments, stopped leaking like a sieve.  It appears to be holding steady, without so much effort. 

Thank you, Sweeney family for making the pumpkin patch feel so familiar!  The pumpkins and pizza made my entire year.  It might be too much to expect – but I hope we can do it again next year. 

Maybe I should have been more patient with those seeds when we lived in San Diego.  Sometimes it takes a while to bloom.